116 TENUIROSTRES. 



FAMILY V. 



Certhiad.e. The Tree-creeiJers. 



Gen. Charac. — Bill more or less long, and generally slender, with the tip 

 entire and slightly arched ; nostrils usually small, and covered by a mem- 

 branous scale ; the wings sometimes rounded and sometimes rather pointed ; 

 the tail varying very much in length and form ; the tarsi and toes differ 

 much in length, especially the latter, forming characters whereby the sub- 

 families of this large group are distinguished. 



The Creepers somewhat resemble the Wood- 

 peckers in the mode of progression^ which is by 

 extremely rapid short hops or starts upon the bark 

 of trees^ to which they cling with their sharp claws, 

 at the same time using their tail to assist them in 

 climbing. To adapt it to such an office, the tail- 

 feathers are stift' and strong, and the shafts project 

 as sharp points beyond the webs. The tarsi are 

 generally short, the toes long, and armed with long 

 curved claws. This is especially the case with the 

 more typical species, which are organized for running 

 on the trunks and branches of trees in search of 

 insects that constitute their food. It is from this 

 circumstance they have received their name of 

 '^ Creepers." Indeed, their movements and general 

 aspect, when engaged in hunting for their sub- 

 sistence, are so like those of small quadrupeds, that 

 at the first glance they might be easily mistaken 

 for mice. Many of them make a nest in the holes 

 of trees, where they rear a numerous progeny. 



This family, which is rather numerous, embraces 

 the Oven-birds, the Sharp-tails, the Tree-creepers, 

 the Creepers, the Nuthatches, the Mohouas, and the 

 Wrens. 



