5 
“Mr. Ridgway found this Creeper inhabiting both the pine-forests of the Sierra Nevada, 
where it was the more common, and also, in winter, among the willows of the river-valleys. 
He did not meet with it east of the Truckee river, nor until he had reached the Wahsatch 
Mountains.” 
In Texas I found it not uncommon in the southern and south-western districts. I often 
noticed it on the Medina and San Antonio rivers. I have two specimens, which I shot in March ; 
and Dr. Heermann informed me that he has found the nest of this bird near Howard’s rancho, 
on the Medina river. These two specimens, and one from Jalapa, in Mexico, agree very closely 
with our European bird. The Guatemalan birds, however, differ considerably from northern 
examples, as well as from that obtained in Mexico. This form was found by Mr. Salvin in the 
pine-forests of the upper zone of the Volcan de Fuego; and he also observed it frequenting pine- 
trees in the district of Chilasco, Vera Paz, at about 6000 feet above the sea. 
Quiet and unobtrusive in its habits, the Creeper may often be overlooked by any one not 
greatly interested in ornithology; but to an observer accustomed to rove through the woods its 
presence is made known by its low feeble note, which it utters now and again whilst busy 
searching for insects in the crannies of the bark, or when flitting off from one tree to recom- 
mence its search on another. Always on the moye, it is a most indefatigable climber, ascending 
up the trunk of a tree in a spiral direction, advancing by short jerks, every now and then 
uttering a shrill, feeble cry, never for a moment appearing to rest, but ever busy, ever eager, 
seeming to hasten on so as to get through as much work in the day as possible. It climbs with 
the greatest facility and ease, not appearing to labour in its efforts whilst ascending a tree. It 
usually works upwards until it reaches the top of a tree, sometimes diverging to examine a large 
branch, along which it moves with ease, even though it may be horizontal and it has to move 
back downwards under the branch. When it has reached the summit of the tree, and thoroughly 
investigated the surface of the main stem and larger branches, it flits down to the lower part of 
the trunk of an adjacent tree and recommences its search as assiduously as ever. If followed, it 
is careful to keep the trunk of the tree between itself and the intruder, and knows well how to 
keep out of harm’s way. In the winter season it consorts with the various species of Titmice 
and Goldencrests which wander through the woods and groves, being usually the last of the 
long straggling train of small birds which join together in their wanderings. 
In general it commences to breed early in the season, having eggs in April or early in 
May, six being the number usually deposited. The nest is usually placed between the detached 
bark and the trunk of a large tree, a sufficient space being left in which to place the nest; but 
other situations are sometimes chosen. Lord Lilford (Ibis, 1866, p. 389) writes that he found a 
nest in the foundation of a Cinereous Vulture’s nest in Spain, which was unusually deep for that 
of a Raptor. When discovered the Creeper’s nest contained young birds. 
It breeds not unfrequently in the neighbourhood of Altenkirchen, near Coblentz, on the 
Rhine, where, as elsewhere, it is an early breeder. Mr. Carl Sachse informed me that he has 
found its nest on the outside of the peasants’ huts, which are built of a sort of basket-work of 
sticks and plastered over; and in some instances the outer shell becomes somewhat detached, 
leaving a narrow open space, into which the bird can enter through a convenient crack or hole. 
He has also taken nests in old bundles of pea-rods, and under the eaves of straw roofs, and in a 
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