339 
intruder it mounts a tall, solitary stalk to reconnoitre and then launches 
itself into the air some 10 or 15 feet and gurgles out a rippling melodious 
little song as it gently sinks on fluttering wings to another station. This 
bubbling song of the Marsh Wren is one of the pleasantest characteristics 
of the marsh lands. 
FAMILY — -CERTHIIDAE. CREEPERS 
The name of the only Canadian Creeper, the Brown Creeper, describes 
the bird very well. It is a small brown bird that creeps or climbs wood- 
pecker-fashion on the trunks and larger branches of forest trees. It is 
smaller than any Canadian Woodpecker and the bill is comparatively long, 
light, delicately tapered, and sickle-shaped (Figure 311), adapted for 
extracting small insects and insects’ eggs from narrow cavities but not for 
chiselling in even the softest wood or bark to reach them. The tail is rather 
long and stiff (Figure 310) and the claws are quite long and much curved. 
Figure 310 
Tail of Brown Creeper; natural size. 
Figure 311 
Brown Creeper; about natural 
size. 
726. Brown Creeper (Including the Rocky Mountain, California, and^ Sierra 
Creepers). Certhia familiaria. L, 5-66. Plate LXXVII B. A small, wood-brown bird, 
white below; and evenly striped with white above. A long, curved, delicately pointed bill 
(Figure 311), and a long, Btiff tail of pointed feathers (Figure 310). 
Field Marks. Our only small brown bird with pronounced tree-creeping habits. 
Nesting. Behind the loose bark of trees in nest of twigs, strips of bark, bits of dead 
wood, moss, etc. 
Distribution. Greater part of northern hemisphere. In Canada, across the Do mini on 
except on the treeless prairies. 
SUBSPECIES. Four subspecies of Brown Creeper are accredited to Canada. The 
Eastern Brown Creeper Certhia familiaris americana extends as far west as Manitoba. 
It is not known whether it, or any Brown Creeper, extends north of the prairies or to the 
mountains. The Rocky Mountain Brown Creeper Certhia familiaris montana should 
occupy from central Alaska, through central British Columbia and to Alberta and along 
the mountains. It is a pale greyish bird. The California Creeper Certhia familiaris occi- 
dental is is brown and tawny and should occur on the British Columbia coast. The Sierra 
Creeper Certhia familiaris zelotes is even browner and should range over the interior of 
southern British Columbia. The distinctions of these races are rather fine for popular, 
recognition. 
Pressed tightly to the trunk of forest trees the Brown Creeper may 
be seen spiralling up the perpendicular trunk and industriously gleaning 
from every crack and crevice in the bark. Reaching the section where 
the branches begin to grow smaller and the bark smooth it drops down 
to the base of an adjoining tree and works upward again, never hurrying, 
never pausing, filling its stomach with small beetles, larvae, and insect 
01054 — 22 $ 
