Certhia f. americana. Lake Umbagog, Maine. Beginning a nest. 1896. On the way over to Osgood's camp ground I found a Brown May 29. Creeper's nest under a scale of bark on a small balsam stub about 30 yards from the Lake. The female was hard at work taking strips of the inner bark from an arbor vitae which stood only a yard or two from the stub. She took only one at a time but they were all large pieces (4 to 6 inches long). She had a good deal of difficulty in getting them in under her bark roof and after struggling for a moment with an especially heavy piece she dropped it. She regularly made at least one trip each minute. I think she was laying the foundations for the nest but I did not dare go examine it. The male kept close by her the whole time flying with her back and forth between the two trees but not offering to help her so far as I could see. Both birds eyed me suspiciously and I should not be surprised if they deserted this nest. It is strange that I have not heard the male singing on the point. The Brown Creeper is apparently one of the rarest birds of this region this season. June 8. Visited the nest of May 29th this morning. 4 eggs today. Spent nearly an hour photographing it, Birds not seen. Have heard the male singing only once (on June 3) and then he sang only two or three times. Have found but this one pair this season. June 11 Visited the nest of May 29th. Took seven fresh eggs. Cut from the stub and took the section containing the nest.