104 Description of an American Creeper. 



Wings of a dark-dusky or black colour, variegated 

 with oblique bars of white on the primary and se- 

 condary quill-feathers. The tips of the feathers 

 of the spurious wing (ala nothaj, and the first and 

 second coverts are likewise elegantly marked with 

 white. 



Tail of a reddish- brick, or cinnamon colour : the 

 feathers of unequal length ; the middle or upper 

 one longest, the others, on each side, gradually di- 

 minishins: : each feather terminates in a slender 

 sharp point, which (like the Woodpecker's) assists 

 the bird in climbing and ascending trees. 



Legs and feet of a dark flesh- colour, and formed as 

 in other birds of this family, having four toes, 

 three forward, and one backward, armed with 

 strong talons. 



Length of the bird, from the bill to the extremity of 

 the tail, about five inches. 



This species of Certhia is an autumnal bird of 

 passage, from the north. They arrive, and appear in 

 the environs of Philadelphia about the first of Octo- 

 ber (sooner or later, according to the severity of the 

 season), and continue with us during the winter, if it 

 be temperate. Or they pass on, southerly, as far as 

 Carolina and Florida, where they winter, but return 

 northerly in the spring, to breed, and rear their 

 young. I have not heard of their breeding in Pcnn- 



