THE WAIX-CRICKI'EU. 283 



moderate height. According to Teinminck, It is never found in the north. This hird is 

 common in Pi-orence, and may ho seen creeping on the outer walls of St. Peter's 

 at Rome. 



This hird does against the vertical faces of rocks what the common creeper docs on 

 trees. To these surfaces it adheres hrmly, without, however, mounting or descending by 

 creeping. Clefts and crevices of rocks are its favourite hauntSj'and sometimes, but very 

 rarely, the trunks of trees. It feeds on insects, their caterpillars and chrysalises, and is 

 particularly fond of spiders and their eggs. 



HEAn OF THE WALL CllEKPKR. 



The wall-creepers moult twice in the year. In the spring only the throat of the bird 

 is attired in black : this ornament disappears before the other feathers fall. It is impios- 

 sible to distinguisli the sexes after pairing and breeding time. The young may be 

 distinguished from their parents before their first moult, but in winter no difference is 

 observable. 



