CREEPERS AND DIPPERS 
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726. Brown Creeper, le grimpereau brun. Cerlhia familiaris. L, 5 ■ 66. Plate 
LII B. A small, wood-brown bird, white below and evenly striped with white above. A 
long, curved, delicately pointed bill (Figure 410), and a long, stiff tail of pointed feathers 
(Figure 409). 
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 Dominion 
except on the treeless prairies. 
SUBSPECIES. Four subspecies of Brown Creeper are accredited to Canada. The 
Eastern Brown Creeper (le Grimpereau brun de l’Est) 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 (le 
Grimpereau brun des Rocheuses) 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 (le Grimpereau brun de la Californie) Certhia 
familiaris occidentalis is brown and tawny and should occur on the British Columbia 
coast. The Sierra Creeper (le Grimpereau brun des sierras) 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, larvse, and insect 
eggs. The skill with which this bird can cling to smooth surfaces is remark- 
able. The writer once saw a Brown Creeper climb the polished corner of 
a black walnut bookcase with as little concern as if it had been the roughest- 
barked oak in the woods. 
Economic Status. The Brown Creeper is purely insect-eating in its 
habits and its constant microscopic attention to every little crevice in 
the rough bark must account for innumerable insect pests. Host of 
its work is done in the woods, but as the bird frequently appears in the 
orchard and on shade and ornamental trees about the town and house 
the species has a powerfully beneficial influence. 
FAMILY CINCLIDAE. DIPPERS OR WATER-OUZELS 
A small but remarkable group in which warbler and thrush-like 
characters are blended with, and modified by, singular aquatic habits. As 
only one species is here under consideration the specific description will be 
sufficient for recognition. 
701. American Dipper. American water-ouzel, le cincle d’amIsrique. Cinclus 
mexicanus. L, 6 • 50. Plate LIII A. A little smaller than the robin, blit with short, stubby 
tail, solid dull, dark grey all over, faintly browning on head in adult and slightly lightening 
below in juvenility. No pattern or defined detail anywhere. 
Distinctions. Solid grey all over without other defined marking, and short stubby 
tail not extending back to tips of outstretched toes. Can be mistaken for no other Cana- 
dian species. 
Field Marks. About the size of a large sparrow or small robin; slaty coloration; 
water-frequenting habits about mountain streams; diving, flying, and walking under 
water; dipping or bobbing habit when on land. 
Nesting. In the rocks, near water or behind waterfalls. Nest of moss lined with 
fine grasses, arched over, with entrance in the side. 
Distribution. Mountains of western North America. In Canada, British Columbia 
and adjacent Alberta foothills, north to Yukon River. 
76916—21 
