FAMILY OF CRFF.rKKS. 23 



distiiiL;uislK'(l by its more slLiulcr form, its sliort 

 cut tail, wt'clLie - shaped head, and harsh, ii<'^oty 

 voice. Its color is clear ashy - blue above, and 

 reddish - brown below, crown black, and white band 

 over the eye. These birds have the peculiar 

 habit of fastening a nut or seed in a chink of 

 a tree, and then pecking it to pieces at theii- 

 leisure. From this their name is derived. When 

 early spring suns begin to warm the dark In- 

 wood, the Ntithatches will mount the tallest sum- 

 mit, and, hitching round and roimd in an excited 

 manner, rattle out their harsh httle notes, like a 

 perfect scolding frolic. 'I'heir mode of nesting is 

 similar to the Chickadees'. S<Miie seasons the)- 

 are rare with us ; in 1889 the) were very com- 

 mon, exceeding the Chickadees in number. 



Jjivnuli) of Crcc|jcc6. 



The Brown Creeper (CcrtJiia familiaris) is a 

 small, brown bird, streaked and spotted with 

 white, somewhat resembling the Woodj^eckers in 

 its manners and habits. It lives on insects which 



