BROWN CREEPER. 81 
second season, when the males begin to become lighter yellowish. 
which gradually brightens to crimson; the female always retains. 
nearly the same appearance. The young male bird of the first year 
may be distinguished from the female by the tail of the former being 
edged with olive green, that of the latter with brown. A male of one 
of these birds, which I kept for some time, changed in the month of 
October from red to greenish yellow, but died before it recovered its 
former color. 
BROWN CREEPER. —CERTHIA FAMILIARIS. — Fie. 29. 
Little Brown Variegated Creeper, Bartram, 289.— Peale’s Museum, No. 2434. 
CERTHIA FAMILIARIS. — Linnxus. 
Certhia familiaris, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. 469. Bonap. Synop. p. 95.— The Creeper, 
Bewick, Brit. Birds, i. p. 148.—Le Grimpereau, J'emm. Man. i. p. 410.— 
Common Creeper, Selby Jil. plate 39, vol. i. p. 116. 
Tuts bird agrees so nearly with the Common European Creeper, 
(Cote fore that I have little doubt of their being one and the 
same species.* J have examined, at different times, great numbers of 
these birds, and have endeavored to make a correct drawing of the 
male, that Europeans and others may judge for themselves; and the 
excellent artist to whom the plate was intrusted has done his part so 
well in the engraving, as to render the figure a perfect resemblance 
of the living original. 
The Brown Creeper is an extremely active and restless little bird. 
In winter it associates with the small Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, 
Titmouse, &c.; and often follows in their rear, gleaning up those 
* Thave compared numerous British specimens with skins from North America, 
and can find no differences that will entitle a separation of species. In this country 
they are'very abundant, more so apparently in winter, so that we either receive a 
greet accession from the more northern parts of Europe, or the colder season and 
iminished supply of food draws them from their woody solitudes nearer to the 
habitations of man. It is often said to be rare — an opinion no doubt arising from 
the difficulty of seeing it, and from its solitary and unassuming manners. A. short 
quotation from a late author will best explain our meaning, aad confirm the account 
of its manners, so correctly described above. ‘A retired inhabitant of the woods 
and groves, and not in any way conspicuous for voice or plumage, it passes its days 
with us, creating scarcely any notice or attention. Its small size, and the manner 
in which it procures its food, both tend to secrete him from sight. In these pursuits 
its actions are more like those of a mouse than of a bird, darting like a great moth 
from tree to tree, uttering a faint, trilling sound as it fixes on their boles, running 
round them in a spiral direction, when, with repeated wriggles, having gained the 
summit, it darts to the base of another, and commences again.” ae 
The present species will form the type and only individual yet discovered of the 
genus Certhia. The other birds described by our author as ‘Certhice, will all rank 
elsewhere ; and the groups now known under the titles Cinyris, Nectarinia, &c., 
which were formerly included, making it of great extent, and certainly of very varied 
forms, will also with propriety hold their separate stations. ‘The solitary type ranges 
in Europe, according to Pennant, as far north as Russia and Siberia, and Sandmore 
in oe In North America, it will extend nearly over the whole continent. 
— ED. 
