CHEEPERS. 



495 



tail. The family comprehends several genera and sub-genera, of 

 which the principal are the Climbers, properly so called, as the 

 Creepers (Certhia), the Wall-Creepers (Tichodroma), the Picum- 

 nus, the Furnarius, the Sucriers, the Soui-mangas, and the Nut- 

 hatches (Sitta). 



The CREEPERS (Certkia) are small Climbing birds which live 

 and build their nests in the holes they bore in the trunk or in 

 the natural hollows of trees : the insects to be found under the 

 bark are their food. Looking at the form of their slender beak, it 



Fig. 208. The Creeper (Certhiajamiliaris, Linn.). 



is difficult to imagine how it can penetrate the hard covering 

 of an oak, for which they exhibit a marked preference. The Tree- 

 Creeper (Certhiafamiliaris) is spread over nearly every European 

 country, and is very common in France. The Wall- Creeper 

 (Tichodroma muraria, C. Bonap.), called also Wall-Climber (the 

 Grimpereau des Mur allies of French authors), owes its name to 

 its habit of climbing the walls of dwellings. Supporting-points 

 are not found in their tails, as in the Woodpeckers. Grasping 

 the tree with their claws, they assist their feet by a slight move- 

 ment of the wings. They feed on insects, and lead a solitary 

 life on the mountains, only descending into the plains with the 



