388 SINGING BIRDS. 



States about the middle of April, it commences the nest in the 

 hollow trunk or branch of a tree which has been exposed to 

 decay by injury or accident. Here in the accidental cavities 

 or deserted holes of the squirrel or Woodpecker the Creeper 

 deposits her eggs. The young creep about with great caution 

 previous to taking to their wings. 



The Brown Creeper is a common bird in New England, though 

 in the southern portions it is less numerous in the breeding season 

 than during the colder months. It is common in Ontario and 

 Quebec, but less abundant in the Maritime Provinces. An inter- 

 esting account of the breeding habits of this bird, written by Mr. 

 William Brewster, appeared in the Nuttall Bulletin for July, 1879. 



BAHAMA HONEY CREEPER. 



Certhiola bahamensis. 



Char. Above, dark brown ; rump yellow ; stripe over eyes and under- 

 parts dull white ; breast and edge of wing pale yellow ; tail broadly 

 tipped with white. Length 4^ inches. 



Nest. In a low tree or bush ; a large, pensile, dome-shaped structure, 

 the entrance at the side ; made of weed-stems and grass, and lined with 

 plant down. 



Eggs. 2-4 ; white, tinged with green and speckled with rufous : 0.65 

 X 0.50. 



The home of this species is on the Bahamas, but it is found 

 regularly along the southeastern coast of Florida. Mr. Gosse in 

 his " Birds of Jamaica " gives an interesting account of its 

 habits. He describes it as obtaining its food in much the same 

 manner as Humming Birds, — by probing the flowers ; but in- 

 stead of hovering in front of a flower, the Creeper alights on the 

 treco When examining a flower for the insects which are at the 

 bottom of the cup, the bird throws its body into a variety of posi- 

 tions, sometimes with the back downward, the better to reach the 

 interior of a blossom with its curved bill and peculiar tongue. The 

 bird is unsuspecting and familiar, and freely resorts to the blossom- 

 ing shrubs of a garden. 



