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CREEPER, COMMON. 
TREE CREEPER. 
CERTHIA FAMILIARIS, Lin. 
The Creeper, next to the Golden-Crested Wren 
or Regulus, one of the least of British birds, is 
generally distributed throughout the country, but 
is very secluded in its habits, frequenting groves 
and plantations. In search of its food it scales 
trees in the same manner as the Woodpecker, and 
like that bird is supported behind by a stiff pointed 
tail. The bill is hooked, the legs slender, the toes 
and claws very long. It breeds in hollow trees, 
and lays from five to nine dull white eggs, diversi- 
fied at the larger end with small reddish spots. 
CROSSB LE L. COMMON, 
Loxta CURVIROSTRA, Lin. 
The great peculiarity of this bird is its remark- 
ably shaped bill, which, notwithstanding its appa- 
rently awkward and useless form, is found to be 
most admirably adapted to the peculiar habits of 
the bird. The two mandibles, instead of lying in 
a straight direction, cross each other in a similar 
manner to a pair of scissors, an arrangement which 
enables the Common Crossbill to obtain its food 
