BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
313 
izen of swamps, published in the February number (1887) of the Orni¬ 
thologist and Oologist, have been kindly given to me by Mr. Jackson for 
publication in this report: 
“During the latter part of May, 1886, while exploring an extensive 
swamp within a few miles of West Chester (Chester county), my atten¬ 
tion was attracted by a strange, unfamiliar bird note coming from a 
clump of calamus that grew in about two feet of water. Pausing a 
moment to listen for the song again, the bird flew from its hiding place 
to a tree near by, uttering at the same time its harsh, rattling song. In 
it I recognized the Long-billed Marsh Wren. * * * * ^ further 
search revealed a number of finished, though unoccupied nests, located 
in clusters in various parts of the swamp. At this time there were 
probably eight or ten nests in different stages of composition, but none 
of them contained eggs. About three weeks later, on the 12th of June, 
in company with a friend, I again visited the locality. The birds were 
still there; one of them, probably the male, singing constantly, and flying 
restlessly from one spot to another. After searching the whole ground 
over, and examining twenty or more nests, we at last came upon the 
right one in a bunch of tall calamus, containing six eggs. Five of these 
were well advanced; the sixth perfectly fresh. It is possible that there 
might have been two or more pairs of these birds in the swamp, as it 
seems almost incredible that a single pair of them could construct so 
many nests; but I could not find any more birds. This set of eggs was 
a typical one of the Long-billed Marsh Wren, though probably some¬ 
what darker than the average. The nest was composed mainly of coarse 
blades of grass (tussock) woven in with the leaves of the calamus, and 
lined with pieces of dead leaves, a few feathers and other soft material. 
It hung about eighteen inches above the water, and was by no means a 
conspicuous object”— Thos. H. Jackson , West Chester , Pa. The Long¬ 
billed Marsh Wren feeds on different kinds of aquatic insects, particu¬ 
larly beetles and spiders. 
Family CERTHIIDiE. Creepers. 
Genus CERTHIA Linnjsus. 
Certhia familiaris americana (Bonap.). 
Brown Creeper. 
Description {Plate 92). 
Tail-feathers long, rigid and acute quite like a woodpecker’s; bill slender, acute, 
compressed and decurved, unnotched and without bristles; hind toe and claw 
largest and longest; inner toe longer than outer, three toes in front, one behind. 
Length about 5^ ; extent about 8 or little less ; maxilla brownish-black ; mandible, 
except tip which is blackish, yellowish flesh color ; legs and feet pale brown ; eyes 
brown. Above brownish and blackish, eacli feather with white central streak ; rump 
