CERTITIAD.E — THE CREEPERS. 1^7 



Dr. Kennorly, in his Report on the hinls ohserved hy him near the 3r»tli 

 parallel, states tliat he IoiuhI our (toninion Creeper very abundant amony the 

 rougli-barked cedars in the Aztec Mountains. It usiuiUy attracted notice, 

 and its ])lace of retreat was discovei 1, by iiis heariuf^ its quick and siiarp 

 notes. A clo.se and careful search ^^cnoruliy enabled him to perceive; it j)n)- 

 ceeding leisurely ujjward and downward, in straiglit or spiral lines, towartl 

 the top of the tree, d(jdgin>,' dexterously to the opposite side from the ob- 

 server, and only resuming its occupation when assured of solitude and safety. 



The observations of Dr. Kennerly, if they are to be received as character- 

 istic of the AVestern (,'reepers, do not corres])ond with those of our Ea.stern 

 birds, as far as we have observed tliem. Noim of our birds are more easily 

 approached, and when they are pursuing their search, for food, none are more 

 regirdless of observation. The statement that our ( 'reeper, when watched, 

 moves to the opposite side of the tree from tlie looker-on, has ff)und a certain 

 currency in our books. We are, however, of the opinion that this is owing 

 to its restless activity, prompting it to constant changes of place and position, 

 and not to its timidity or caution. We have uniformly found them either 

 unconscious or regardless of our near presence. 



They are solitary in their habits, and frequent, especially in the summer, 

 deep woods, searching for their favorite food in high places where it is difli- 

 cult to reach them, but this is no necessary evidence of tiieir shyness. Tliey 

 often hunt for their food in very exposed places, with equal courage and 

 recklessness. It is an active, restless bird, associating with Titmice and the 

 smaller Woodpeckers, moving with great rapidity from side to side and from 

 place to place. They breed in hollow trees, in the deserted holes of tiie Wooil- 

 peckers, and in the tlecayed stum])s and branches of trees. Their nest is a 

 loose aggregation of soft, warm materials, not interwoven, but simply col- 

 lected witii regard to no other requisite than warmth. 



In the summer of 18.") 1 our jiarty, in their visit to one of the smaller 

 Grand Mcman Islands, was so fortunate as to meet witli the nest of this bird. 

 It was built in a decayed birch-tree, only a few feet from the ground, and 

 contained five eggs nearly ready to hatch. This was on the 20th of June. 

 Tlie nest was an intermingling of decayed wood, the fur of small quadrupeds, 

 and feathers, but with so little adherence or consistency of form that it was 

 impossible to retain the materials in position after removal. 



So far from evincing any timidity, the birds refused to leave tlieir nest, and 

 could hardly be prevented from following it when remoxed from the woods 

 to a house on the i.sland. One of our companions, returning to the woods in 

 order to secure the birds for the sake of identification, found the pair still 

 lingering round the place of their rilled nest. Upon liis approacli they began 

 to circle round his head with rejH'oachful cries, and continued to keep so 

 close to him tliat it was imf)ossible to shoot one without mutilating it. At 

 length one of the birds aliglited on a small branch held over his head by 

 a lad who accompanied him, and in this position was secured by shooting it 



