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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. 



CROSSBILL, COMMON. 



LOXIA CTJBYIBOSTRA, 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 



