The Brown Creeper 281 



The brown creeper is a migrant whose range extends from 

 the Gulf States north into Canada. It goes north in April 

 and returns in September. It breeds in the northern part of 

 its range, and the breeding season begins about the middle of 

 May. Its nest is built in crevices where the bark has start- 

 ed from a dead tree and is built of felted material, soft feathers, 

 moss, twigs and spider cocoons. The eggs, six to eight in 

 number, are of a yellowish white color, with irregular purplish 

 dots, especially at the larger end. 



In the winter they come into our towns and cities, and 

 may be seen doing their good work on the boles of the trees. 

 I have seen them quite frequently in my native city and with 

 interest have watched them making their spiral ascent of the 

 trees in our parks. In the spring, before departing north to 

 .breed, they often sing their little song to us, which, however, 

 we are lucky to hear. Of their song at breeding time, Mr. Wil- 

 liam Brewster says : "Their notes are varied and warbling, 

 and somewhat confused ; some of them are loud, powerful and 

 unsurpassingly sweet, others are more feeble and plaintive. 

 Their song usually ends with their accustomed cry, which 

 may be represented by 'cree-cree-cre-ep.' " 



Their principal food consists of ants, larvae and small 

 insects and particularly those species which affect the trunks 

 of our trees. Among other things they have been found to 

 have eaten beetles, bugs, spiders, pine seeds, fungi and parti- 

 cles of lichens. 



