204 Brewster on the American Broivn Creeper. 
ous, and frequently presented equally good accommodations. Again, 
in no instance did the tree resorted to retain more than three or 
four pieces of bark, while oftentimes the scale that sheltered the 
nest was the only one that remained. The height varied from five 
to fifteen feet, but this particular was perhaps sometimes determined 
more by necessity than by any individual preference, as I noticed 
that when several equally suitable bark-scales occurred on the same 
tree, the lowest was invariably the one taken. In one such case the 
nest was so low that I could easily look into it by standing up in 
my boat. As before indicated, the size and shape of the different 
structures varied with that of the cavities in which they were placed. 
When the space between the bark and trunk was very narrow, the 
foundation of sticks was entirely dispensed with, the nest being then 
entirely composed of bark. Of the five examples now before me, 
only two are feather-lined, the remaining three being simply fin- 
ished with shreds of the reddish inner fir *bark of a somewhat finer 
quality than those which make up the outer part of the structure. 
The most striking feature of all is the prolongation of the upper 
corners, already described. In one extreme specimen these horns 
rise four inches above the central cup that contains the eggs. They 
are, perhaps, designed to act as stays or supports, as they are firmly 
attached to the rough inner surface of the bark which sustains the 
nest. 
In the article previously referred to, Dr. Brewer, in speaking of 
the nest found at Taunton, says : “ The opening was nearly closed 
with chips of bark and other substances forming its foundation,” etc. 
From this I infer that the birds entered the nest from beneath or 
between the bark and the edge of the nest. If this was actually the 
case, the Taunton nest must have been differently planned from any 
of my Maine examples, for in all of these the opening beneath was 
so effectually closed that no bird, however small, could have forced 
its way in from that direction, and ample opportunities for observa- 
tion convinced me that the Creepers themselves never attempted to 
do so. They invariably entered at a point on the side, several inches 
above the nest and between the edge of the bark-scale and the stem 
of the tree. In most cases some inequality in the edge of the bark 
offered a convenient opening ; but I remember one instance where 
there was only a straight, narrow crack that seemed far too small 
for any bird to pass through, yet I repeatedly saw the Creeper go in 
and out without apparent difficulty. 
