BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 313 



izen of swamps, published in the February number (1887) of the Orni- 

 thologist and Oologist, have been kindly given to me by Mr. Jackson for 

 publication in this report : 



"During- the latter part of May, 1886, while exploring an extensive 

 swamp within a few miles of West Chester (Chester county), my atten- 

 tion was attracted by a strange, unfamiliar bird note coming from a 

 clump of calamus that grew in about two feet of water. Pausing a 

 moment to listen for the song again, the bird flew from its hiding place 

 to a tree near by, uttering at the same time its harsh, rattling song. In 

 it I recognized the Long-billed Marsh Wren. * * * * A further 

 search revealed a number of finished, though unoccupied nests, located 

 in clusters in various parts of the swamp. At this time there were 

 probably eight or ten nests in different stages of composition, but none 

 of them contained eggs. About three weeks later, on the 12th of June, 

 in company with a friend, I again visited the locality. The birds were 

 still there ; one of them, probably the male, singing constantly, and flying 

 restlessly from one spot to another. After searching the whole ground 

 over, and examining twenty or more nests, we at last came upon the 

 right one in a bunch of tall calamus, containing six eggs. Five of these 

 were well advanced ; the sixth perfectly fresh. It is possible that there 

 might have been two or more pairs of these birds in the swamp, as it 

 seems almost incredible that a single pair of them could construct so 

 many nests ; but I could not find any more birds. This set of eggs was 

 a typical one of the Long-billed Marsh Wren, though probably some- 

 what darker than the average. The nest was composed mainly of coarse 

 blades of grass (tussock) woven in with the leaves of the calamus, and 

 lined with pieces of dead leaves, a few feathers and other soft material. 

 It hung about eighteen inches above the water, and was by no means a 

 conspicuous object" Thos. H. Jackson, West Chester, Pa. The Long- 

 billed Marsh Wren feeds on different kinds of aquatic insects, particu- 

 larly beetles and spiders. 



FAMILY CERTHIID-ffi. CREEPERS. 



GENUS CERTHIA LINNJSUS. 

 Certhia familiaris americana (BONAP.). 



Brown Creeper. 



DESCRIPTION (Plate 92). 



Tail-feathers long, rigid and acute quite like a woodpecker's ; bill slender, acute, 

 compressed and decurved, urmotched and without bristles ; hind toe and claw 

 largest and longest; inner toe longer than outer, three toes in front, one behind. 

 Length about 5^ ; extent about 8 or little less; maxilla brownish-black: mandible, 

 except tip which is blackish, yellowish flesh color ; legs and feet pale brown ; eyes 

 brown. Above brownish and blackish, each feather with white central streak ; rump 



