190 WALL CREEPER. 



the bill rather long in proportion to the bird, slen- 

 der, slightly curved, and of a black colour, as are 

 likewise the legs. The male is distinguished from 

 the female by a broad longitudinal black stripe on 

 the throat. 



The Wall Creeper is considered as one of the 

 rarer European birds, and its principal residence 

 seems to be in Italy and Spain, where it is ob- 

 served to frequent ruins, creeping about the walls 

 of old buildings, &c. in quest of insects, and parti- 

 cularly spiders. It is of a solitary disposition, as- 

 sociating only with its mate, and has a loud, but 

 not unpleasing note. According to Aldrovandus 

 it is not uncommon in the territory of Bologna in 

 Italy, flying in the manner of a Hoopoe ; almost 

 always shaking its wings like that bird ; never 

 resting long in a place, and building in the holes 

 of walls. 



The best figures of this species are those of Bris- 

 son and the Planches Enluminees. 



