OF VICTORIA. 139 



series of short jumps. Looking at it for a few moments 

 you will gradually see it disappear on the other side of the 

 tree trunk, to reappear in a few seconds on the same side 

 as previously, but higher up. In the search for insects this 

 staircase movement goes on till the bird has ascended well 

 into the branching forks. From there it flutters down to 

 the base of another tree and repeats its previous perform- 

 ance. Insects, to elude the diligent search of the bird, 

 must be very well hidden, but I feel sure many an insect 

 that is not exactly in this "corkscrew " course escapes for 

 the time being. Such insects afford an opportunity for the 

 Tree-runners (Sittellae), as they come and work the trunk 

 downwards, in contradistinction to the Tree-creepers. Such 

 a case I observed one Saturday afternoon at Doncaster ; but 

 it is by no means a rule for one species to oblige the other 

 in this way. The cry of this creeper is shrill and piping, 

 and quite unlike that of the other birds with which it is 

 found associating. 



JSest. — At the bottom of the shallow hollow of a tree 

 branch ; grasses without and feathers within. 



Eggs. — Three to the sitting; dull white, with spots of 

 reddish-brown. Length, 08 inch; breadth, 0-65 inch. 



