PERCHING-BIRDS. 125 
North America, Europe, and Asia are their home, and eastwards, allied 
forms (Neositta) (2279-81) occur in New Guinea and Australia, while 
one genus (Hypositta) is found in Madagascar. Like its allies, the 
Common Nuthatch is a resident species, and ranges from Central and 
Southern Europe to North-west Africa. As its name implies, it is 
extremely partial to hazel-nuts with which it varies its msect diet. The 
nut is firmly wedged by the bird in some chink of bark and the shell is 
then broken by repeated blows from the strong bill. The nesting-site 
is almost always a hole ina tree, and should the entrance be too large, it 
is neatly plastered up with clay and reduced to the required size. The 
extraordinary nest (2282) exhibited in the Case was placed in the side 
of a haystack and measured thirteen inches in length, the weight of 
clay being eleven pounds. The Australian Neosifta makes a small 
funnel-shaped nest placed in a forked branch of a tree (2281). 
Family XXIII. Curtuip#. Treu-Creepers. 
The typical Tree-Creepers (Certhia) (2348-50) are distinguished from 
other Acromyodian Passeres by having long s¢7//-pointed tail-feathers, 
like those of a Woodpecker, but all the other members comprising this 
family, though they climb with equal facility, have a soft, nearly square 
tail. The bill is long and curved, well adapted for extracting insect- 
food from crevices in the bark of trees or in rocks. The family ranges 
from North and Central America, Hurope, and Asia, eastwards to New 
Guinea and Australia, and the majority of the species inhabit wooded 
districts. The Common Tree-Creeper (Certhia familiaris) (2348), a well- 
known British resident, places its nest in holes and crevices in trees and 
walls aud lays white eggs spotted with red and lilac. The beautiful Wall- 
Creeper (Tichodroma muraria) (2858), which inhabits the mountains of 
Southern Europe and Asia, nesting in some crevice of the rocks, has 
on two occasions visited England. 
Family XXIV. Zostprorip®. WHuurts-5yes. 
The numerous sniall species of Zosterops (2283-1) derive their name 
“White-eye ” from the ring of white feathers which encircles the eye in 
all. The sexes are alike in plumage and the predominating colours are 
olive-green and yellow. The various species range from Africa and 
Southern Asia to Japan, and through the Malay region and Polynesia 
to Australia and New Zealand. Their habits and notes are Tit-like 
and they generally feed in small flocks, searching the trees and bushes 
for insects. 
[Case 
~I 
[Case 77. 
4 
