Perching Birds. 



Old World, only three of the sixty odd species being found in this 

 country. Our Pipit or Titlark is our best known, most widely distrib- 

 uted species. 



Like other members of its family it has the habit of wagging or tip- 

 ping its tail both when walking (for it should be noted that these birds 

 are ground-inhabiting and walkers) and at rest. 



The Dippers (Family Cinclidce) though numbering only twelve 

 species are distributed throughout the larger part of the world from 

 the Andes of South America to the mountains of Alaska, Europe, Asia 

 and Africa. 



Everywhere they are haunters of streams, usually dashing mountain 

 torrents, over and under which they seem equally at home. Darting 

 into the rushing waters they fly beneath the surface or feed on the 

 bottom with perfect ease, their thick, dense plumage evidently forming 

 a waterproof covering. Their nests are great balls of moss often 

 placed so near some boiling cascade as to receive frequent showers of 

 spray. The opening, however, is at the side, and the eggs and young 

 are well protected by an effective roof. 



The Wrens, Thrashers, and Mockingbirds, (Family Troglody tides) 

 form two well defined subfamilies. The Wrens, (Subfamily Troglody- 

 tintz) number about one hundred and fifty species all but a dozen of 

 which are confined to America. The Thrashers and Mockingbirds, 

 (Subfamily Miminez) number some fifty species, all of which are con- 

 fined to America. 



As their dull, neutral colors would lead us to suppose, both Wrens 

 and Thrashers are inhabitants of the lower growth rather than of the 

 tree-tops, and while they may seek an elevated perch whence to deliver 

 their song, their food is secured and their time consequently largely 

 passed near or on the ground. 



Few families of birds contain so many noted musicians, nearly every 

 member of this family being a singer of more than usual ability. 



The Creepers, (Family Certhiidtz) number twelve species, only 

 one of which is found in America. This, however has a wide range 

 and, presenting more or less climatic variation in color, is recognized 

 under several subspecific names. Its habits, nevertheless, are much 

 the same everywhere. It climbs the trees of the mountains of Mexico 

 or of California with the same ceaseless energy it shows in Maine. 



The sharply-pointed, stiffened tail-feathers of the Creeper are of 

 evident use to it as it ascends trees and pauses here and there to pick 



168 



