:^feA 



y^^y'-} 



4[f -^f^'K' 



THE TEEE CKEEPER. 



CERTHIA FAMILIARIS. 



Upper plumage mottled with yellowish brown, dark brown, and white ; a pale 

 streak over the eyes ; throat and breast buff-white, becoming dusky towards 

 the tail ; wings brown tipped with white and barred with white, brown, and 

 dull yellow ; tail-feathers reddish brown, stiff and pointed. Length five inches, 

 breadth seven inches. Eggs white, with small yellowish red spots. 



The Tree Creeper, though, a common bird, is less fami- 

 liarly known than many others of much rarer occurrence, 

 yet, if once observed, can be confounded with no other. 

 In size it ranks with the Tits, Willow Wren, &c., but 

 is less likely to attract notice than any of these, as it 

 never alights on the ground, nor perches on the. small twig 

 of a tree. Its note, too, is weak, simple, and unpretending, 

 amounting to no more than an occasional " cheep," which 

 it utters from time to time while hunting for food, and 

 v^hile performing its short flights. Any one, however, 



