THE TREE CREEPER 303 



who wishes to see the bird, and knows what to search 

 for, can scarcely fail of success if he look well about him 

 during a stroll through almost any wood of full grown trees. 

 Half-way up the trunk of a rugged elm or oak he will 

 observe a small portion of bark, as it were, in motion j the 

 motion, and not the colour, betrays the presence of a 

 small brown bird, which is working its way by a succes- 

 sion of irregular starts up the trunk. Frequently it 

 stops for a few seconds, and is evidently pecking at some 

 small insect, quite noiselessly however. Its beak is not 

 adapted for hammering ; it confines its attention there- 

 fore to such insects as live on the surface of the bark. It 

 utters a low " cheep," arid proceeds, not in a straight line 

 up the tree, but turning to the right or left according as it 

 descries a probable lurking-place of its prey : presently it 

 disappears on the other side of the trunk, and again comes 

 in view a few feet higher up. Now it reaches a horizontal 

 branch; along this it proceeds in like manner, being 

 indifferent whether it clings sideways, or hangs with its 

 back downwards. Arrived at the smaller subdivisions of 

 the bough it ceases to hunt ; but, without remaining an 

 instant to rest, flies to the base of another bough, or more 

 probably, to another tree, alighting a few feet only from 

 the ground, and at once beginning a new ascent. This 

 mode of life it never varies : from morning to night, in 

 winter and in summer, it is always climbing up the boles of 

 trees, and when it has reached the top, flying to the base of 

 others. On one solitary occasion I observed one retrace its 

 steps for a few inches, and stand for a second or two with 

 its head downwards : but this is a most unusual position, 

 as indeed may be inferred from the structure of its tail, the 

 feathers of which are rigid, and more or less soiled by 

 constant pressure against the bark. It frequently visits 

 orchards and gardens in the country, displaying little fear 

 of man, preferring perhaps to hunt on the far side of a 

 tree when any one is looking on ; but not very particular 



