EGGS, FOOD AND SONG OP THE CREEPER 151 



parison with its linear dimensions, the eggs appear rather 

 small for its size, being about 0.5.5 in length by 0.4i in breadth. 



The insectivorous diet of the Creeper is occasionally varied 

 with vegetable substances. Audubon speaks of finding particles 

 of lichens in its gizzard, and Mr. Gentry affirms that he has 

 frequently seen the bird upon hemlock, spruce and birch trees, 

 feeding upon the seeds which are contained in the cones of the 

 two former, and upon the catkins of the latter. According to 

 the same writer, the following insects have been identified 

 among the contents of its stomach : — Cratonyclms oincreus, C. 

 IJertinax, Ehynchcenus pinus, Bostrichus pinus, Platynus cuprei- 

 pennis, Harpalus conipar, Formica sangioinm and F. subterranea. 

 Ants appear to be a favorite article of its diet, and are devoured 

 in such quantities that at times the body of the bird has been 

 found to smell of these creatures. 



The Creeper's musical ability is not conspicuous. I have 

 never recognized its song, and most authors say nothing on 

 this score. But it seems that, besides its well-known harsh 

 call-note (more easily learned and recognized than described), 

 it has " a very distinct and varied song". This observation 

 seems to have been first made, in the case of the American bird, 

 .by Mr. William Brewster, of Cambridge, who states that he 

 has heard the birds singing, in different parts of New England, 

 from the middle of March to June. "Their notes are varied 

 and warbling and somewhat confused ; some of them are loud, 

 powerful, and surpassingly sweet, others are more feeble and 

 plaintive; their song usually ends with their accustomed cry, 

 which may be represented by creS cree-cre-ep.'" The same thing, 

 however, had been noticed in the case of the European Creeper ; 

 its song during the pairing season being, according to Pro- 

 fessor Newton, "loud and pleasing, though not often heard, 

 and pitched in a high, shrill key"- So it seems that this 

 obscure, hard-working and very practical little bird has found 

 time amidst its absorbing pursuits to cultivate some of the 

 accomplishments. 



