Wayne: Birds of South Carolina. 189 



which are ultra-typical as the upper parts are very dark and the 

 breast heavily barred and spotted. The birds that occur on this 

 coast, however, differ from Florida examples in having more 

 white on the under parts. This form, which is the darkest of the 

 genus Telmatodytes, breeds on the coast of North Carolina and 

 hence between two paler races, which is very strange indeed. 



The birds arrive with great regularity in September, my earliest 

 record being the 16th, when several were shot, but I suspect that 

 they reached the neighborhood of Charleston about the 10th of 

 the month. They are common until the beginning of November, 

 when the great majority migrate southward, but a few winter 

 regularly among dense reeds which grow in profusion on some 

 of the coast islands. I have not detected it in the spring later 

 than May 8, but believe that many remain until shortly after the 

 middle of the month. 



These wrens, as well as the Seaside and Sharp-tailed Sparrows, 

 can only be pursued successfully when there are spring tides. 

 At such times the birds that frequent the marshes are driven on 

 the shore and seek protection among the broom grass, reeds, and 

 maritime bushes which grow close to the water's edge. As soon 

 as the tide recedes all the birds betake themselves to their favorite 

 salt marshes. 



FAMILY CERTHIID^E: CREEPERS. 



293. Certhia familiaris americana (Bonap.). Brown Creeper. 



The Brown Creeper, a winter visitant, arrives with great regu- 

 larity in October, the 21st, 1898, and 17th, 1900, being my earliest 

 records. It is common all through the winter and a few remain 

 until early in April if the season is backward, but if the weather 

 is mild the majority migrate by March 25. 



This species prefers a swampy country which has a deciduous 

 forest growth, rather than pine woods with an undergrowth of 

 scrubby oaks and bushes. It is a diligent explorer when searching 

 for insects and their larvae, and while engaged in this occupation 

 seldom leaves a tree until it has thoroughly searched it from the 

 base to the topmost branches. When in a pine tree the pro- 

 tective coloration is so great that it can be distinguished with 

 difficulty. The birds are rarely in song while they sojourn here, 

 but sometimes sing in March with some energy, if the weather 

 is favorable. 



