64 



BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



Comnion Creeper. 



The Common Creeper {Certhia faniiliaris, Linnaeus) is a 

 more or less commonly distributed resident species in the 

 British Islands, and throughout most parts of Europe. The 

 adult has the crown of the head dark brown, with whitish 

 centres to the feathers ; stripe over eye, whitish ; nape and 

 mantle, rufous -brown, streaked in centre of feathers with 

 buffish-white; wnngs, brown, barred with paler brow^n ; 

 secondaries, tipped with whitish ; under parts, silvery-white, 

 tinged with buff on the flanks ; tail, graduated with stiff 

 points, and dull reddish-brown in colour, the feathers having 

 yellowish shafts ; irides, hazel ; bill, strongly decurved, 

 dark brown ; beneath, yellowish ; legs and feet, pale 

 brown. Length, about five inches. 



