46 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



and, from their help to the bird in climbing and 

 holding on to the bark of trees, often worn quite 

 bare at the ends. Chin, throat, breast, and belly 

 greyish- white, inclining to rusty reddish-white on 

 the flanks and vent. Legs, toes, and claws, which 

 are very long, light brown. 



The female is similar in size and colour to the 

 male. 



Situation and Locality. In a hole in a tree ; 

 behind a loose piece of bark still clinging to a 

 decayed tree ; amongst piles of stacked timber ; in 

 niches and crevices of buildings, and behind half- 

 detached pieces of plaster. The one in our illus- 

 tration was placed behind a sound piece of the 

 outer shell of a decayed pollard. The bird could 

 either slip off from the front, or up a kind of 

 chimney, having its exit just under the face 

 of the inquisitive onlooker. Found in nearly 

 all well-wooded districts throughout the British 

 Isles. 



Materials. Fine twigs, dead grass, sometimes 

 little chips of decayed wood, wool, moss, feathers, 

 and rabbits' down. 



Eggs. Six to nine, white, spotted and speckled 

 with reddish-brown and sometimes dullish purple 

 spots, generally in a kind of zone round the larger 

 end, but occasionally more distributed. Size about 

 .66 by .47 in. (See Plate III.) 



Time. April, May, and June. 



Remarks. Resident. Notes : song not often 

 heard, but high, shrill, and not unpleasant. Local 

 and other names : Creeper, Tree Climber, Common 

 Creeper. Sits very closely. 



