38 CERTHIA FAMILIARIS. 



keep on the further side of the tree, but seldom flies off. Should 

 it meet with a horizontal branch, it can easily proceed along its 

 lower surface, although in that case it usually prefers the sides 

 or upper part. When it has searched the branch, it flies off to 

 another, or continues to ascend the stem ; and when it has 

 attained the higher brancheSj it flies off to the base of a neigh- 

 bouring tree, and thus proceeds unceasingly. Indeed I have 

 seldom observed one a single minute at rest. Yet, like other 

 birds, it has its periods of cessation from labour, and in the 

 breeding season it is amusing to observe the gambols of a pair, 

 which may be seen chasing each other along the trunk of a 

 tree, perching for a moment on the branches, and then scudding 

 along, all the while emitting their shrill and feeble cries. 



These birds are easily shot, for, like the Gold-crested King- 

 let and Coal Tit, they seem to pay little attention to a person 

 approaching them, insomuch that I have been within six feet 

 of one, which yet did not fly off, but merely crept round to the 

 other side of the tree. While thus employed, it utters every 

 now and then a very low cheep, and when flying from one tree 

 to another, repeats this cry more frequently, and somewhat 

 more loudly. I suppose that it is destitute of song, never having 

 heard it emit modulated sounds. Its flight is generally short 

 and rapid, from the top of one tree to the base of another ; but 

 it may sometimes be seen traversing a space of several hundred 

 yards, which it does with a quick and undulatory motion, at 

 a considerable elevation. 



It is a permanent resident, occurs in all the wooded parts of 

 the country, but is nowhere numerous, and never appears in 

 flocks. In winter it shifts about from place to place, generally 

 accompanying a flock of Tits or Kinglets, but sometimes seek- 

 ing for its food solitarily, seldom entering small gardens, but 

 often appearing in woods near houses, hedgerows, or even on 

 large single trees. It pairs in April, and about the beginning of 

 May begins to construct its nest, which it places in some hole 

 in a tree, or rock, or among the roots in a mossy bank. It is 

 composed of withered stalks and blades of grasses, moss, fibrous 

 roots, and other materials, and is lined with feathers. The 

 eggs, from five to seven or eight in number, are seven and a 



