194 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



The Creeper is a very timid bird: on a stone being thrown against 

 the trunk of the tree on which it is climbing, or when a heavy 

 blow is struck with a cudgel or other weapon, it will remain quite 

 still as if greatly alarmed until almost laid hold of. It breeds 

 early in the year, often constructing its nest in holes of trees 

 before the branches have thrown out their leaves. Mr Alston 

 tells me that a few years ago a pair of creepers built their 

 nest in a wooden shed which had been erected over a saw- 

 pit. The female sat close even when the men were at their noisy 

 work within a yard of the nest : it was placed behind a board 

 leaning against the side of the shed. This board was twice 

 removed by mischievous boys, but still the poor bird sat with a 

 courage worthy of a better success, for her young fell victims to a 

 marauding cat. 



Until recently this species was considered identical with that 

 found in North America, and some ornithologists still entertain 

 doubts as to the propriety of separating them. Mr Baird, how- 

 ever, not only gives Certhia Americana as a good species, but 

 indicates another American variety under the name of C. Mexicana 

 (Glloger) of which he says that "additional specimens from the 

 west all show a much longer bill than eastern ones, tending to 

 substantiate the existence of a second (American) species." 



The song of the Creeper is somewhat like that of a gold-crest, 

 but less feeble: it is uttered while the bird is busily engaged in 

 foraging for insects. I have never observed it indulging in music 

 when at rest its notes being but a merry accompaniment to its 

 highly curious movements. 



THE WREN. 



TROGLODYTES VULGARIS. 

 Dreathann. Dreollan. Dreadhan Donn. 



THIS hardy little bird is everywhere common, inhabiting the most 

 densely wooded glens of the mainland and the barest rocks of 

 the distant islands, alike at home in both haunts, and flitting 

 about with amusing briskness, even in the severest weather. I 

 have heard it singing in places where there were but few elements 

 to attract birds of its size, and none certainly to provoke their 



