112 EXPERT CLIMBERS. 



that a few Tree Creepers will be found at no great distance. There, 

 clinging to the rough bark at the base of that old elm, you see one 

 advancing upwards by short jerks. At each movement it emits a 

 shrill, but feeble cry. See how it climbs, searching every crevice 

 now proceeding directly upwards, now winding round the trunk, 

 presently passing behind it, and in a short time appearing on the 

 other side. Observe it well, and you will see that it crouches close 

 to the surface, presses its tail against it, now and then picks some- 

 thing from a cleft, jerks itself forwards, never rests for a moment, 

 but seems in the utmost haste, and expresses its anxiety by con- 

 tinually emitting its lisping cry. Yet its efforts are not laborious ; 

 it seems to hold on with perfect ease and unconcern, and although it 

 is now half-way up, it exhibits no sign of fatigue. There, it passes 

 off from the trunk, creeps along a nearly horizontal branch, 

 winding round it, and adhering even to its lower surface, with its 

 back toward the ground. Having gone as far as it finds convenient, 

 it flies back to the trunk, which it ascends until you lose sight of it 

 among the twigs at the top. What next ? Will it creep .down 

 again ? No, there it comes, with headlong flight, glancing like an 

 arrow, curves as it comes near the ground, alights at the very root of 

 the next tree, and commences its ascent. You may watch it for an 

 hour, and you will find it as fresh, as lively, and as keen as ever. 

 Should it happen to observe you, and suspect you mean it no good, 

 it will run up the back of the tree, appearing now and then at the 

 sides, until it is perhaps half-way up, when it will search all parts 

 alike, being free of apprehensions of injury. But now, hearing its 

 friends the Tits and Reguli at a distance, it looks abroad for a 

 moment from the top of the tree, and, uttering a few cries, sweeps 

 away in a curving somewhat undulating manner. 



Gilbert White says : l A pair of Creepers built at the 

 end of the parsonage house at Greatham, behind some 

 loose plinths. It is very amusing to see them run creep- 

 ing up the wall with the agility of a mouse. They take 

 great delight in climbing up steep surfaces, and support 

 themselves in their progress with their tails, which are 

 long and stiff, and inclined downwards.' Knapp has no- 

 ticed that this little bird, though always active, seems to 

 possess most animation and restlessness in the summer 

 months. In the early part of spring, when food is com- 

 paratively scarce in the woods, it will frequent the mossy 

 trees in our orchards and gardens ; but after a short exami- 

 nation of them, is away to its usual retirements, seeking 

 no familiarity with us, notwithstanding the social epithet 

 it has obtained. This author says the female bird lays 

 eight or nine eggs. 



