TREE-CREEPERS. 



bottom and running upwards in a straight or spiral direction, using 

 their stiff-pointed tail to assist them in the ascent. Sometimes 

 they may be noticed on the branches, along the under surface of 

 which they are able to run with perfect facility, in search of the 

 insects that lie concealed in holes and crevices of the bark. 

 The type of this sub-family — 





Fic. 48. —The Common Ckeeper {Certhia familiaris). 



The Common Creeper [Certlda familiaris) is a most active and restless 

 little bird, ever on the alert, and climbing about the trunks and branches of 

 trees, intent on picking up its insect food. Though comparatively common, 

 and a constant resident in Britain, it is not easily seen, for its celerity in shift- 

 ing its position makes it very difficult to follow it with the eye. At one instant 

 it is before the spectator, and the next is hidden from his view by the inter- 

 vening trunk or branch, to the opposite side of which it has passed in a mo- 

 ment. The form of the tail and structure of the feet are beautifully adapted 

 for this sort of rapid locomotion. In its disposition it is a fearless little bird, 

 common in groves or orchards, where it is always busy searching for food, and, 

 if closely watched, may be seen probing with its slender bill the chinks and 

 crevices in the bark, from which it extracts the lurking insects. Having finished 

 its examination of the stem of one tree, the upper part of which it has rapidly 

 attained, it does not attempt to descend, but flits away to the next, and cling- 

 ing to the bark not far from the ground, commences a fresh scrutiny and spiral 



