THE PASSERINE BIRDS 117 



Tree-creeper's beak, indeed, could never be used hammer-fashion, for 

 it is slender and curved, and is used for the capture of insects. 



Though tolerably common throughout Great Britain, it is not often 

 seen, and this owing to its small size, sober colours, and the skill 

 with which it contrives always to keep the trunk of the tree between 

 itself and inquisitive human visitors. The beautiful Wall-creeper 

 (Plate XXII. fig. 6) has occurred in Britain only three times. 



FAMILY TROGLODYTID/E {Wrens) 



The Wren family includes a number of small birds spread over 

 the greater part of the globe, and especially abundant in the Americas 

 — North and South ; but they are absent in the Australian and 

 African regions. They all build domed nests. The Common Wren 

 of Great Britain (Plate XXIV. fig. 6) — commonly known as "■ Jenny 

 Wren " — serves as a good example of this family, which is generally 

 distinguished by the sober colours of its members, the short, rounded 

 wings and short tail, which is carried in a vertical position. 



FAMILY AMPELID/E {Waxwings) 



A very remarkable family is that which comprises the *' Wax- 

 wings " of North America and North Europe and Asia. Numbering 

 but few species, and of uncertain lineage, the birds of this family 

 have acquired a certain notoriety on account of the fact that the 

 inner wing- quills and tail-feathers are tipped with horny plates, 

 having the appearance of small drops of red sealing-wax. 



One species of this family, known as the Waxwing, or Bohemian 

 Chatterer (Plate XXI. fig. i), has visited Great Britain periodically 

 for upwards of two centuries, sometimes in great numbers. It is 

 an inhabitant of the Arctic regions, and extends across into North 

 America. In temperate North America the place of this species is 

 taken by the " Cedar-bird " — a smaller bird, and having neither the 

 white nor the yellow markings in the wings that distinguish the 

 British species. The British bird feeds on insects in the summer 

 and berries in the winter. 



