86 JIUIUS OF 1LL1.N018. 



FASfTiA CERTHIIDJE.— The CRKEPKnR. 



CiiARACTERs. Bill gloDdor And urcliud: hind too lonKOr than middle toe, the claw 

 lengthened and stronKly arched. Tull lenirthened, graduated, the feathers atltt und 

 iicumlnate at tipB. 



The above brief diagnosis is sufficient to characterize the family 

 Certhiidie if we exclude from it the European genus Tichodroma, 

 which differs in short, even tail, with feathers broad and rounded 

 at ends, and in other characters. As thus restricted, the family 

 includes only one genus, Certhia, the single North American species 

 of which is qi^ite circumpolar, thoutjh modified into more or less 

 distinct geographical races in different parts of its habitat. 



Genus CERTHIA Lixn;t:us. 



Certhia LtKN.EUB, Syst. Nat. 10th ed. 1758, 112. Type. C. /amiliaria LiNN. 



"Qen. Chad. Plumage soft and loose. Bill as lone as head, not notched. comproRsed; 

 all Its lateral outlines decurved. Nostrils not overhune by fealhers, linear, with an In- 

 cumbent thickened scale, as in Troglodyle.i. No rictal bristles, and the loral an^I frontal 

 feathers smooth, without bristly shafts. Tarsus scutellate anteriorly, shorter ihan mid- 

 dle toe, which nKain is shorter than hind toe. All claws very long, much cuivod and 

 compressed; outer lateral toe much the longer; basal joint of middle too entirely adher- 

 ent to adjacent ones. WlnKS rather pointed, about equal to thi< tail, the feathers of which 

 are much pointed, with si ilToned shaft.x. Primaries ten; first less than half the second. 

 Nest In holes of trees; eggs white, sprinkled with reddish." ilfist. N.Am. B.) 



The genus Certhia is readily distinguished by the decurved, com- 

 pressed bill ; absence of notch and bristles ; exposed linear nostrils 

 with incumbent scales ; connate middle toe, very long claws, short 

 tarsi, pointed and stiffened tail feathers, etc. 



Certhia familiaris amei'icana (Bonap.) 



BROWNnCREEPER. 



Fopolar synonyms,— American Tree Creeper. 



Certhia ritiniliai-i.i Wit.s. Am. Orn. I. WtS. Vii. pi. 7. Ilg. 1.— Nittt. Man. I. ISC, SSB.— 

 AUD. Orn. lilog. v. IS3!i. l.')S. pi. 415: Synop. IS)!). 7:!; B. Am. ii, 1S41, 109, pi. ll.'i.-CoUEs, 

 Key. 1872, 84; Check List, 1S73. No. 42; 2d ed. 1882, No. 62; Ii. N. W. ls;4. 215, 230; B, Col. 

 Vol. 1878, 145. 



