APPENDIX 505 



smtl have similar habits to (his species. They build their nests in holes of trees, in North- 

 ern New England, often some distance from the ground, and they are said to place pitch 

 around the entrance, but lor what reason, it is uncertain. The eggs are deposited the flrst 

 or second week in May, and though a few of the birds probably remain in Massachusetts 

 to breed, the majority go north. 



CEHTHIA FAMILlARIS. 



Brown Creeper. 



Certhia familiaris Linn., Sys. Nat.; 1735. 



Si>. Cu. Form, slender. Size, small. Bill, long and curved. Tail feathers, long and acuminate. COLOR. Adult. 

 Above, dark-brown, becoming rufous posteriorly. Streaks above, tips of wing feathers, band across all but three outer, 

 and beneath, white with under tuil coverts rusty. Ms, bill, and feet, brown. Young, similar, but more rufous above. 



Otiserratians. Recognized by the curved bill and acuminate tail feathers. Breeds from Massachusetts northward; 

 wintering from this point, southward. DIMENSIONS. Length, 5-50; stretch, 7'90: wing, 2'60; tail, 2'3ll; bill, "65; tarsus, '55. 

 Nests anil Eyys. NESTS, generally placed behind loose strips of bark on trees, composed of fine strips of burk, moss, etc. 

 Kta:s, four to six in numl>er, rather elliptical in form, white in color, spotted and blotched with reddish-brown. Dimen- 

 sions from -50x -70 to '52 x "73. 



HABITS. 



Although the Brown Creepers are quite common in Massachusetts during winter, the 

 majority go north to breed. The nests, according to Mr. Brewster and others, are almost 

 always placed behind loose strips of bark which so often are found in the woods of Maine, 

 and the eggs are laid about the first week in June. These birds have the habit of alight- 

 ing at the base of a tree, in search of insects, and winding upward, something after the 

 manner of the Nuthatches. In winter, the Brown Creepers emit a sharp, rather low, whis- 

 tling note, but in summer, they have a remarkably sweet song. 



TROGLODYTES BEWICKI. 



Bewick's Wren. 

 Trogloditex Beiaicki AUD., Orn. Biog. I; 1831, 96. 



Si- Cu. Form, rather robust. Size, medium. COLOR. Adult. Reddish-brown above, with the wings handed with 

 dusky. Tail, dark-brown, banded with white on outer webs of outer feat hers and on tips of all, but eentral pair which are 

 barred throughout with reddish-ash. Beneath ashy, barred on under tail coverts with dusky. Superciliary line, white 

 edged above with dark-brown. Iris, bill, and feet, brown. 



Observations. Recognized by the ashy under parts and white bandings on tail. Breeds from Pennsylvnia, south- 

 ward anil westward. Winters in the South. DIMENSIONS. Length, 5'00; stretch, 7'(>0; wing, 2'12; tail, 2 15; bill, -55; 

 tarsus, -60. 



Nesti and f'f/ys. NESTS, placed in holes or houses, composed of sticks, grass, etc. Eccs, four to six in number, oval 

 in form, white in color, spotted and dotted with reddish-brown and lilac. Dimensions from "55 x '70 to '57 x ^. 



HABITS. 



Bewick's Wren is quite local in distribution, being very common in some sections of 

 its range, and rare in others. I never found it in Pennsylvania, but Mr. Koch sent me a 

 specimen taken at Williamsport in April, and it doubtless occurs throughout the State. It 

 resembles the common House Wren in general habits, nesting in houses, breeding in early 

 May, and frequenting towns and villages. 



EREMOPHILA ALPESTRIS. 



Horned Lark. 



Eremophila a/]tcstn.< Hoie, Hs, 183ft, 322. 

 N-. Cu. Bill, shorter than head tod rounded. Tufla of featbora on xidee of orown, ekmgttad. Form, robust Size, 



me'liiim. Coi.ou. Atlult. Above and on sides, pinki.-h-lirown, brightest on nape and rump, .-trcaked wit h dark-brown. 



and tail, brown, edged with pinkish and tipped with \\ hite. I'Wcliead, line OUT eye. -ides of the head, and 

 sulphury-yellow. Crescent on crown, line from base of bill through ear and broad shield on brcn-t, Mark. l!> nmndrr 

 of tinder parts, white. Iri^, bill, and feet, In-own. In winter and Youny. Similar but the color.-, are olix -un-d and the 

 breast is frequently tinged, more or less, with dusky. 



*. Known by the yellowish of head, and tul't- on erowr.. Breed- from WcMern New York, e i >, 



