CHAPTER VIII.— CREEPERS 



Fam. CERTHIID.^ 



THIS is a small, well-defiued group, of four or five genera 

 and about a dozen species, usually divided iuto two sub- 

 families. Oue of these is the Tichodromliue, represented by the 

 Europeau Wall Creeper, TicJiodroma muraria, and some species 

 of the chiefly Australian genus CUmcicteris. The other is the 



Sqbfamily CERTHIIN.E: Ti-picAL Creepers 



These are represented by the genus GertJUci, and one ov two 

 others; they are confined to the Old World, with the exception 

 of a single species of the typical 



Genus CERTHIA Linnaeus 



Chars.— Adaptation to scausorial habits by the structure 

 of the tail and feet. Tail long and strong, formed of 12 rigid, 

 acuminate feathers graduated in length ; the shafts are stout, 

 curved and elastic, the points extremely acute, and the whole 

 structure of the feathers closely resembles that seen in the Wood- 

 pecker family. Tarsus scutellate, shorter than the middle toe 

 and claw ; anterior toes connate at base for the length of the 

 1st joint of the middle one. Lateral toes unequal in length, the 

 inner being much shorter than the outer. Hind toe shorter 

 than its claw. Claws strong, much curved, very sharp, the 

 hinder one of great size ; 

 wing with 10 primaries, the 

 first not half as long as the 

 2d, which is shorter than 

 the 3d ; point of the wing 

 formed by the 3d-5th quills. 

 Bill about as long as the 

 head, extremely slender, 

 acute, curved ; nostrils ex- 

 posed, narrow, scaled. No 

 rictal vibrissje. 



The general economy ot the Creepers is peculiar. 



Fig. 22. — Head, foot and fail-ft-nther ol' the Creeper' 



Their 



