CERTIIIAD.E — THE CRB:EPEK8. 127 



Dr. Kenncrly, iii hia Heport on tlie ])ir(ls observed by him near the 3r»th 

 par.illel, states that lie found our eoniniou ('ree|>er very abundant amonj( the 

 rou<:jli-barked eedars in the Aztec >rountains. It upsially attractetl notice, 

 and its j»hice of retreat wjis discovered, by l»is hearing' its (juick and sharp 

 notes. A ch»se and careful search j^'enerally enabknl him to perceive? it pro- 

 ceedinj^ U^isurely upward and downward, in straight or spiral lines, toward 

 the top of the tree, dodj;in<^' dexterously to the opposite side from the ob- 

 server, and only resuming its occupation when assured of solitude and safety. 



The observations of Dr. Kennerly, if they are to be received as char.icter- 

 istic of the Western (.'reepers, do not corres|Mind with those of our Eastern 

 birds, as far as we have observed them. None of our birds are more easilv 

 approached, and when they are pursuing their search, for focul, none are more 

 regardless of observation. The statement tliat our ( 'reeper, when watched, 

 moves to the opposite side of the tree from the looker-on, luvs found a certain 

 currency in our books. We are, however, of the opinion that this is owing 

 to its restless activity, i)rompting it to constant changes of place and position, 

 and not to its timidity or caution. We have uniformly found them either 

 unconscious or regardless of our near presence. 



They are solitary in their habits, and frequent, especially in the summer, 

 deep woods, searching for their favorite food in high places where it is ditti- 

 cult to reach them, but this is no necessary evidence of their shyness. They 

 often hunt for their food in very exposed places, with equal courage and 

 recklessness. It is an active, restless bird, associating with Titmice and the 

 smaller Woodpeckers, moving with great rapidity from side to side and from 

 jdace to place. They breed in hollow trees, in the deserted holes of the Wood- 

 peckers, and in the decayed stumj)s and branches of trees. Their nest is a 

 loose aggregation of soft, warm materials, not interwoven, but simply col- 

 lected with regard to no other reipiisite than warmth. 



In the summer of 1851 our party, in their visit to one of the smaller 

 Grand Menan Islands, was so fortunate as to meet with the nest of this bird. 

 It was built in a decaveil birch-tree, onlv a few feet from the jn'ound. and 

 contained five eggs nearly ready to hatch. This was on the 20th of June. 

 The nest was an intermingling of decayed wood, the fur of small quadrupeds, 

 and feathers, but with so little adherence or consistency of form that it was 

 impossible to retain the materials in |X)sition aft^r removal. 



So far from evincing any timidity, the birds refused to leave their nest, and 

 could hardly be prevented from following it when removed from the woods 

 to a house on the island. One of our companions, returning to the woods in 

 order to secure the birds for the sake of identification, found the pair still 

 lingering round the place of their rifled nest. Upon his approach they began 

 to circle round his head with reproachful cries, and continued to keep so 

 close to him that it was impossible to shoot one without mutilating it. At 

 length one of the birds alighted on a small branch held over his head by 

 a lad who accompanied him, and in this position was secured by shooting it 



