THE CREEPER ASLEEP IN SOCIETY 149 



of the tree again, or making off to another; sometimes, how- 

 ever, the tree seems to be not to its liking, when, as if actuated 

 by a sudden impulse, it abandons an unprofitable search, and 

 flies to a more promising feeding ground. 



In thinking about the extraordinary activity of many small 

 birds, one is tempted to ask himself the question, Do they ever 

 rest? Who ever saw a Creeper, Nuthatch, Titmouse or Gold- 

 crest motionless for any considerable length of time! Very 

 few, I suspect. In the present case of the Creeper, however, 

 Audubon has left a note of his observation, showing that even 

 this most indefatigable of insect-hunters requires its period of 

 repose: "I have observed it when satiated," he says, "remain 

 still and silent as if asleep, and, as it were, glued to the bark, 

 for nearly an hour at a time. But whether the bird was really 

 asleep, or wished to elude us, is more than I can affirm, though 

 I am inclined toward the latter supposition, because toward 

 night it retires to a hole, where frequently as many as a whole 

 brood repose together, as I have on several occasions wit- 

 nessed.' 7 Mr. T. G. Gentry has noticed the same thing: "On 

 the outskirts of Philadelphia," he says, " stands a certain hol- 

 low birch-tree, which has afforded lodgings for a half-dozen 

 individuals of this species for several successive winters. On 

 the return of night, the birds will precipitate themselves into 

 the cavity, and closely huddle en masse, until day-break." 



The Creeper differs from most of its relations in having very 

 little sociability; it seems to be too much occupied with its 

 pressing affairs to have any time for social relaxations. Though 

 it is often found with Nuthatches and Titmice, it seems that 

 the association is not sought on its own part, but is rather the 

 intrusion of the other birds, or the casual coming together of 

 species whose resorts are similar. I think it is decidedly a shy 

 and solitary bird. Audubon's remark, that the members of one 

 family usually remain together until the following spring, is 

 contrary to my experience ; but it derives some probable sup- 

 port from Mr. Gentry's above-quoted observation. The birds 

 that the Creeper is oftenest seen on the same tree with are 

 probably the smaller species of Woodpecker, commonly called 

 " sapsuckers ". The infestation of particular trees by insects 

 probably calls the' two kinds of bird together in community 

 of interest ; though it is supposed by some that the wily little 

 Creeper takes advantage of the superior ability of Woodpeck- 

 ers to find insects, and follows in their wake to trees where it 



