PERCHING-BIRDS. 125 



North America, Europe, and Asia are their home, and eastwards, allied 

 forms (Neositta) (2279-81) occur in New Guinea and Australia, while 

 one genus (JBypositta) is found in Madagascar. Like its allies, the 

 Common Nuthatch is a resident species, and ranges from Central and 

 Southern Europe to North-West Africa. As its name implies, it is 

 extremely partial to hazel-nuts, with which it varies its insect diet. The 

 nut is firmly wedged by the bird in some chink of bark and the shell is 

 then broken by repeated blows from the strong bill. The nesting-site 

 is almost always a hole in a tree, and should the entrance be too large, it 

 is neatly plastered up with clay and reduced to the required size. The 

 extraordinary nest (2282) exhibited in the Case was placed in the side 

 of a haystack and measured thirteen inches in length, the weight of 

 clay being eleven pounds. The Australian Neositta makes a small 

 funnel-shaped nest placed in a forked branch of a tree (2281). 



Family XXIII. CERTHIID^E. TREE-CREEPERS. 



The typical Tree- Creepers (Certhia) (2348-50) are distinguished from [Case 77.] 

 other Acromyodian Passeres by having long stiff-pointed tail-feathers, 

 like those of a Woodpecker, but all the other members comprising this 

 family, though they climb with equal facility, have a soft, nearly square 

 tail. The bill is long and curved, well adapted for extracting insect- 

 food from crevices in the bark of trees or in rocks. The family ranges 

 from North and Central America, Europe, and Asia, eastwards to New 

 Guinea and Australia, and the majority of the species inhabit wooded 

 districts. The Common Tree-Creeper (Certhia familiaris) (2348), a well- 

 known British resident, places its nest in holes and crevices in trees and 

 walls and lays white eggs spotted with red and lilac. The beautiful Wall- 

 Creeper (Tichodroma muraria) (2353), which inhabits the mountains of 

 Southern Europe and Asia, nesting in some crevice of the rocks, has 

 on two occasions visited England. 



Family XXIV. ZOSTEROPID.E. WHITE-EYES. 



The numerous small species of Zosterops (2283-7) derive their name [Case 77.] 

 " White-eye "from the ring of white feathers which encircles the eye in 

 all. The sexes are alike in plumage and the predominating colours are 

 olive-green and yellow. The various species range from Africa and 

 Southern Asia to Japan, and through the Malay region and Polynesia 

 to Australia and New Zealand. Their habits and notes are Tit-like 

 and they generally feed in small flocks, searching the trees and bushes 

 for insects. 



