CREEPERS. 89 



gtilaris). Some species {Psophodes), while engaged in rifling from the flowers 

 their honied stores and insect occupants, carefully conceal themselves from 

 observation by keeping in the midst of the closely-set foliage, amidst which 

 they move about with the greatest ease, exhibiting much sprightHness, raising 

 their crest and spreading out the tail as though in full enjoyment of their happy 

 mode of life. Occasionally they may be observed upon the ground, turning 

 over fallen leaves and small stones for the purpose of obtaining the insects that 

 lurk beneath. Their voice is a sort of chattering, generally ended by a loud 

 sharp note, somewhat resembling the cracking of a whip. 



FAMILY V. 

 THE CREEPERS. CERTHID.E. 



General Characteristics. — Bill more or less long, and generally slender, with the 

 tip entire and slightly arched ; nostrils usually small, and covered by a membranous 

 scale ; the wings sometimes rounded and sometimes rather pointed ; the tail varying 

 very much in length and form ; the tarsi and toes differ much in length, especially 

 the latter, forming characters whereby the sub-families of this large group are dis- 

 tinguished. 



The Creepers somewhat resemble the woodpeckers in their 

 mode of progression, which is by extremely rapid short hops or 

 starts upon the bark of trees, to which they cling with their sharp 

 claws, at the same time using their tail to assist them in climbing. 

 To adapt it to such an office, the tail-feathers are stiff and strong, 

 and the shafts project as sharp points beyond the webs. The tarsi 

 are generally short, the toes long, and armed with long curved 

 claws. This is especially the case with the more typical species, 

 which are organized for running on the trunks and branches of 

 trees in search of insects that constitute their food. It is from 

 this circumstance they have received their name of " creepers." 

 Indeed, their movements and general aspect, when engaged in 

 hunting for their subsistence, are so like those of small quadru- 

 peds, that at the first glance they might be easily mistaken for 

 mice. Many of them make a nest in the holes of trees, where 

 they rear a numerous progeny. Mr. Vigors and Mr. Swainson 

 consider this family as belonging to the Scansorial or climbing 

 birds, the former of these ornithologists regarding it as a link be- 

 tween the Tenuirostres and the Woodpeckers ; there is, however, 

 no part of their structure which would indicate such relationship : 

 their toes are not arranged in pairs, neither does their tongue 

 differ in its conformation from that of ordinary .species. 



