C^REBID^ — THE CREEPERS. 429 



and sides of neck and on crissum ; on flanks somewhat soiled and rather darker. A broad 

 supercihary white stripe (not crossing the forehead) from bill to nape, but little lighter 

 than the throat ; the line of featliers immediately behind the nostrils, and a small patch at 

 base of lower mandible under the tips, with the usual stripe from bill through the eye, 

 being blackish. White spot at base of quills very distinct externally ; the posterior out- 

 line on each outer web of the primaries not quadrate, but running out obliquely behind 

 and on the outermost quill reaching the shaft. Edges of quills narrowly margined with 

 grayish-white ; on the secondaries continued round the tips. No distinct bands on the 

 coverts. Outer tail-teathers broadly tipped with white ; this even involving the innermost, 

 but reduced to a narrow edge. Total length, 4.40; wing, 2.30; tail, 1.80. 



Bill: Length from forehead, .62 ; from nostril, .41 ; along gape, .59 ; depth at base. .17. 

 Legs: Tarsus, .75; middle toe and claw, .58; claw alone, .17; hind toe and claw, .45; 

 claw alone, .20. 



Hab. Bahamas and Keys of southeast coast of Florida. 



A specimen from the Florida Keys (10,367) is rather darker than those 

 from the Bahamas, the wliite less extended, and not quite reaching the shafts 

 in the outer quills. 



Habits. This species, belonging properly to the Baharaan group of the 

 West Indian Islands, was found at Indian Key, Fla., January 31, 1858, by 

 Mr. Wlirdemann, where it appeared to be not at all rare. Nothing is known 

 of its habits, but they are doubtless nearly the same as those of the allied 

 species. The C. Jlaveola is known in Jamaica as the Banana Quit, Honey- 

 Sucker, and Black and Yellow Creeper. According to the description of 

 them given by Mr. Gosse, these birds, scarcely larger than the Hunnning- 

 Birds, are often seen in conq^any with them, probing the flowers for similar 

 purposes, but in a very different manner. Instead of hovering like the Hum- 

 ming-Bird in front of the blossom, for which its short wings would be in- 

 competent, these birds alight on the tree and proceed in a very business-like 

 manner. Hopping from twig to twig in an active manner, they carefully 

 examine each blossom. In doing this they throw their bodies into a variety 

 of positions, often clinging by the feet with the back downwards, the better 

 to reach the interior of a blossom with their curved beaks and peculiar tongue. 

 The objects of these researches are the small insects which are always found 

 in the interior of flowers. This bird is unsuspecting and familiar, and very 

 freely resorts to the blossoming shrubs of the gardens and yards. Mr. Gosse 

 mentions, in evidence of this familiarity, that a large moringa-tree under his 

 window^, as he was writing, and which all through the year was profusely set 

 with fragrant blossoms, and was a favorite resort of these birds, was being 

 carefully scrutinized by two active little Creepers. Although within a few 

 i'eet of his window, they pursued their examinations, perfectly undisturbed 

 Ity his looking on. As they move about they utter a soft sibilant note. 



The nests of this little bird are usually built in those low trees and bushes 

 to which are fastened the nests of the brown wasps, and in close contiguity 

 to them. Mr. Gosse regards this singular predilection as a remarkable ex- 

 ercise of instinct, if not of reason, as the evident object of it is the protection 



