84 TROGLODYTIDA, WRENS.— GEN. 17. 
which is less than the 3d; point of wing formed by 3d, 4th and 5th quills; tail 
rounded, equal to or longer than wing. Restless, active little forest birds that 
make a living by picking bugs out of cracks in bark. In scrambling about, they 
use the tail as woodpeckers do, and never hang head downwards, like the nut- 
hatches. Lay numerous eggs in knotholes ; 
not migratory ; no song; slight seasonal or 
sexual changes of plumage. 
17. Genus CERTHIA Linnezus. 
Brown Creeper. Plumage above sin- 
gularly barred with dusky, whitish, 
tawny or fulvous brown, and_ bright 
brown—latter chiefly on the rump; below, white, either pure or soiled, 
and generally slightly brownish-washed behind; wings dusky, oddly varied 
with tawny or whitish bars and spots; tail plain; about 53; wing and tail 
about 22. North America. Wuts., i, 122, pl. 8; Nurr.; Aup., ii, 109, 
Ne IMU RR oa Me) eer cei to Gs oS tof a. fy. IMTITATETS. 
Fic.28. Brown creeper; nat. size. 
Family TROGLODYTIDA. Wrens. 
Embracing a number of forms assembled in considerable variety, and difficult to 
limit with precision. Closely related to the last two or three families ; known from 
these by non-acuminate tail feathers and exposed nostrils. Very intimately re- 
sembling, in particular, the mocking group of thrushes—those with scutellate tarsi 
and not strictly spurious first primary ; but all our wrens are smaller than any of the 
Mimince, and otherwise distinguished by less deeply cleft toes, as stated on p. 73; 
‘the inner toe is united by half its basal joint to the middle toe, sometimes by 
the whole of this joint; and the second joint of the outer toe enters wholly or 
partially into this union, instead of the basal only.” Nostrils narrowly or broadly 
oval, exposed, overhung by a scale resembling that of the Galline; bill rather or, 
very slender, straight or slightly decurved, from half as long to about as long as 
the head, unnotched in all our genera; no evident rictal bristles: wings short, 
more or less rounded, primaries 10, the 1st short, but not strictly spurious; tail 
variable in length, much or little rounded: tarsus scutellate, hind toe very long. 
Excluding certain Old World forms sometimes placed with the Wrens, but prob- 
ably better assigned elsewhere; and excepting the European wren and its con- 
geners, the Troglodytide are confined to America. If thus restricted, the family is 
susceptible of more exact limitation, as shown by Baird in his elaborate ‘ Review’ 
(p. 91). There are about a hundred recognized species or varieties, usually referred 
to about sixteen genera or subgenera; most of these belong to tropical America, 
where the family reaches its maximum development; for instance, over twenty 
species of Campylorhynchus alone are described. Of the North American forms, 
genera 18, 19 and 20 are confined to the West, and represent a section distin- 
euished by the breadth of the individual tail feathers, which widen noticeably 
towards the tip. Species of all our other genera are common and familiar eastern 
birds, much alike in disposition, manners and habits; the house wren may be taken 
to typify these. They are sprightly, fearless and impudent little creatures, apt to 
show bad temper when they fancy themselves aggrieved by cats or people, or any- 
