CREEPERS. 385

them—~have doubtless been charming you with their rippling, bub- bling, gurgling song. It is quite beyond their control; they seem filled to overflowing with an inexhaustible supply of music. Some- times, like a mine of melody, it explodes within them and lifts them from the dark recesses of the flags up into the air above.

7251). C. p. gl'lseus Brewst. WORTHINGTON’s MARSH WREN.— “ Black of upper parts much duller and less extended than in paluetris, USU.- ' ally confined to the extreme sides of the crown and a short, narrow area in the middle of the back, and in extreme specimens almost wholly absent. Brown of sides, flanks, and upper parts pale and grayish. Dark markings of the under tail-coverts, flanks, sides, and breast faint, confused, and incon- spicuous, sometimes practically wanting.” W., 1'80 ; T., 1'53; B., '50 (Brew- ster, Auk, x, 1893, p. 218).

Range—Coast of South Carolina and Georgia.

725.1. C. p. W (Scott). MARIAN’s MARSH Wham—Similar to 0. palustris. but with the upper parts darker, the sides and flanks of about

the same color as the rump; the under tail-coverts, and sometimes the breast,

barred or spotted with black. W., 1'85; T., 1'75; B., ‘52. Range—Gulf coast of Florida, and probably westward to Louisiana.

FAMILY CERTHIIDJE. CREEPERS.

This is an Old-World family, numbering about twelve species, of which only one is found in America. Our bird and its several races belong to the northern group containing the species with stiffened tails. It is a true tree-creeper, and, like a Woodpecker, uses its tail as a prop in climbing.

726. Certhia. flunlliarls americana. (Bonap). BROWN Gasman. (See Fig. 56.) Ad.—Upper parts mixed white, fuseous, and oehraceous-bufl'; rump [vale mfous ,' wings with a band of cream-buff; tail pale grayish brown, the feathers stafenerl and sharply pointed ,' under parts White; bill slightly curved.“ L., 5-65; W., 2°56; T., 2-65; B., ~63. '

Range—Eastern North America; breeds from Minnesota and Maine north— ward, and southward in Alleghanies to North Carolina; winters from Canada to Gulf States.

Washington, common W. V., Sept. 25 to Apl. 25. Sing Sing. tolerably common W. V., Sept. 20 to May 7. Cambridge, common T. V., rather com- mon W. V., Sept. 25 to May 1.

.Nest, of twigs, strips of bark, bits of' dead wood, moss, etc., placed behind the loose bark of a tree. Eggs, five to eight, white, spotted and speckled with cinnamon- or ruf'ous—brown and lavender, chiefly in a wreath at the larger end, '62 x '47 (Brewster, Bull. Nutt. Om. Club, iv, 1879, p. 199).

The facts in the case will doubtless show that the patient, plod- ding Brown Creeper is searching for the insects, eggs, and larvae which are hidden in crevices in the bark ; but after watching him for several

minutes one becomes impressed with the thought that he has lost the 26