ments. 



177 



with on the low ground, and also on the slopes of the Jura up to about 

 1000 ft., but not higher, and it has also been recorded from Austria. 



Usually behind loose bark, but ocasionally in holes of buildings, Ne»t. 

 under eaves etc. as in the case of C. familiaris. Hartert found a nest 

 near "Wesel in a hedge, not far from the ground, in an accumulation of 

 dead leaves, stalks etc., and the late Dr. Kutter knew of a similar instance. 



Generally 5 to 7 in number, but as many as 8 to 12 eggs are said Eggs. 

 to have been found in one nest, probably the produce of two hens. 



Deichler {Journ. fur Orn., 1896, p. 449) asserts that the eggs 

 are distinguishable from those of the other species by stronger and 

 bolder markings, with a tendency to form a zone at the big end, like minia- 

 ture eggs of Hirundo rustica. whereas the eggs of C. familiaris as a rule 

 have the spots fainter and more evenly distributed, something like those 

 of Parus major. Probably the comparison of larger series of well authen- 

 ticated eggs will show that these differences are not constant, but at 

 present the material is insufficient to decide. 



Probably similar to that of the other species, but in Switzerland, Breeding 

 where it inhabits lower ground, the eggs are naturally laid rather earlier. 



Average of 16 eggs (12 by Deichler and 4 by Rey) 16.3x12.3 mm., Measure- 

 Max. 16.9x12.1 and 15.9x12.6; Min. 15.9x11.9 mm. As far as can 

 be judged from such a small series, the eggs are more elongated in form 

 than in the case of C. familiaris. 



b. Southern Short toed Creeper, C. brachydactyla ultramontana Hart. 



Foreign Names: Greece: Murmikologos. Italy: Bampichino. 

 Portugal: Trepadeira. Spain: Trepatroncos. 



Breeding Range: The Iberian, Italian and Balkan peninsulas. 



In the wooded parts of Portugal this bird is a very common resi- con 

 dent, and is also found throughout Spain, wherever old timber exists, 

 from the cork oak woods near Gibraltar to the wooded sierras of north- 

 ern Spain. In Italy it is also a common resident in deciduous woods 

 in the mountains, and in the Balkan peninsula is found in S. Dalmatia, 

 Montenegro, and Albania, breeding generally in the oak forests in the 

 mountains, but also in small numbers in the wooded lowlands (von Fiihrer). 

 In Bulgaria it appears to be scarce, but is common in Macedonia, breeding 

 in the mountains and resorting to the low ground in mnter. In Greece 

 it is very scarce, and nests in the highest mountain forests of the Pelo- 

 ponesus, Mid-Greece, and Euboea, but may possibly breed in Corfu. 



Very little has been recorded with regard to the nesting habits of Nest 

 this race, which however probably differ but little from those of allied 

 forms. An abnormal nesting site is mentioned by Camusso, in a bank, 



12 



tinental 

 Europe. 



