Il8 TREE-CREEPER. 



iv. pp. 136-139) distinguishes by trinomials five subspecies in 

 Europe, an indefinite number in Asia, and five in North America, 

 from about 50° N. lat. to Mexico and Guatemala. 



Towards the middle of April the Tree-Creeper makes its nest ; 

 usually selecting a crevice between the partially detached bark 

 and the trunk of a tree, or a narrow cleft in the bole ; but not 

 unfrequently placing it behind loose plaster, or under the eaves 

 of a shed or dwelling ; sometimes in the foundations of the nests 

 of Birds of prey and Rooks, and in piles of timber or bricks. Fine 

 straw or twigs, roots, grass and moss are the materials employed, with 

 a lining of wool, feathers, and strips of inside bark — often that of 

 the birch-tree. The 6-9 eggs are white, spotted, zoned and blotched 

 with reddish-brown and dull purple, especially towards the larger 

 end : measurements "62 by '47 in. Incubation is assiduously per- 

 formed by the female, who is, however, rather shy, slipping off her 

 nest if she sees an intruder ; but sometimes when the young are 

 fledged, even though still in, or close to their home, the parents 

 show remarkable indifference. Two broods are often reared in 

 the season. The food, as already observed, consists principally 

 of insects, and occasionally of seeds of the Scotch fir. The 

 song of this little bird is shrill, but rather pleasing ; and I have 

 noticed that in the bright climate of the south of Europe, in the 

 gardens of the Alhambra at Granada, for instance, it is much more 

 prolonged and joyous than in the north. The call-note is a feeble 

 cheeps cheep. When climbing, the stiff-pointed feathers of the tail 

 are depressed ; the bird ascending by their assistance and by that of 

 its long curved claws, with a short jerking movement, and generally 

 in spiral curves. In winter the Tree-Creeper may often be 

 observed in company with various species of Titmouse, or with 

 Golden- and Fire-crested Wrens. 



The adult has a dull white streak over the eye ; feathers of the 

 head, neck, and back dark brown with pale centres ; lower back 

 rufous-brown ; wing-quills dark brown, barred and margined ex- 

 teriorly with buffish-white ; tail of twelve stiff-pointed feathers, dull 

 reddish-brown, with paler shafts ; chin to belly silvery-white ; flanks 

 and vent suffused with buff; the rather long, slender, curved bill 

 dark brown above, yellowish below ; legs and feet, light brown. 

 Length about 475 in. ; wing 2-5 in. The sexes are alike in plumage. 

 The young have a more rufous-yellow tinge than the adults. 



