CERTHIIDA. — CLXXVI. 309 
Famity CLXXVI. CHRTHIIDAN. (Tue Creepers.) 
Primaries 10, first less than half second. Bill slender, as long as 
head, without notch or bristles. Tarsus scutellate, shorter than 
middle toe. Claws all very long, curved and compressed. Wings 
about as long as tail; tail feathers pointed, with stiffened shafts, 
somewhat like the tail of a wood-pecker, and similarly used for sup- 
port. Genera 5; species about 12, widely distributed. Habits 
similar to those of the Nuthatches, but the voice different, being 
small and fine. (The above diagnosis applies rather to the sub- 
family, Certhiine.) 
a. Bill decurved, about as long as head. . . . . . . . CERTHIA, 526. 
526. CERTHIA Linneus. (Lat., a creeper.) 
1007. C. familiaris L. Brown Creeper. Plumage dark 
brown, above much barred and streaked with whitish ; pale below; 
rump clear tawny. L. 5}. W. 23. T. 23. N. Am. A curious 
little bird. The E. American form (white below) is var. americana 
(Borap.). (Ku.) 
Famitry CLXXVII. PARIDAN. (Tue NvutHAtTcHEs anp 
TITMICE.) 
Primaries 10, the first short. Bill not notched nor decurved ; 
loral feathers bristly ; nostrils concealed by dense tufts. Tarsus 
scutellate ; plumage more or less lax, subject to few variations. 
Small birds, apparently allied to the jays on the one hand and to 
the wrens and thrushes on the other. Species 100 or more, in 
most parts of the world ; insectivorous and usually not migratory. 
a. Bill slender, as long as head; hind toe ia than middle toe; tail much 
shorter than wing. (Sibi. Wiezec-< cohen io: FEAL ergs 
aa. Bill stoutish, much shorter than head; ne. toe a ter than middle; tail 
not sheer than wing. | (Paring. ec si, a, a ay ARR Oeee 
527. SITTA Linneus. (oirra, nuthatch.) 
1008. S. carolinensis Latham. WHITE-BELLIED NUTHATCH. 
“Sap-sucKER.” Ashy blue above, white below; crissum with 
rusty brown ; crown and nape black, unstriped ; middle tail feathers 
like the back, others black, blotched with white; 9 with less or no 
black on the head. L..53. W. 33. T. 2. U.5S., abundant 
everywhere. An active, nimble little bird, running up and down 
trees, and hanging in every conceivable attitude, the head down as 
often as up. 
1009. S. canadensis L. REep-BELLIED NuTHaAtcu. Ashy blue, 
brighter than the preceding, rusty brown below; crown glossy 
black (¢), or bluish (@), bordered by white and black stripes. 
L. 44. W. 22. T.14. N. Am., chiefly N. 
