TROGLODYTID^E. XXIV. 53 



pale rusty below. L. 4; W. 2J; T. 1J. South Atlantic 



States. 



FAMILY XXIII. CERTHIID^E. 



(Creepers.) 



Primaries 10, first less than half second. Bill slender, 

 as long as head; without notch or bristles, decurved. 

 Tarsus scutellate, shorter than middle toe. Claws all 

 very long, curved and compressed. Wings about as long 

 as tail; tail feathers pointed, with stiffened shafts, almost 

 wood- pecker like, and used for support in the same way. 

 A small family of a dozen species, widely distributed. 

 Habits similar to those of the Nuthatches, but the voice 

 dill erent, being small and fine. (The above diagnosis 

 does not strictly apply to some foreign birds usually 

 placed in this family.) 



/. CERTHIA, Linnaeus. BROWN CKKKPERS. 



1. C. familiaris, Linn. Buowx CREEPER. Plumage 

 dark brown, much barred and streaked; rump clear 

 tawny; L. 5J; W. 2f ; T. 2f. N. Am. and Europe. A 

 curious little bird, recognizable at once by the scansorial 

 tail. 



FAMILY XXIV. TROGLODYTID^E. 



(TJie Wrens) 



Primaries 10, the first short but hardly spurious. 

 Wings rounded, usually about as long as the graduated 

 tail. Bill more or less slender, usually elongated, not 

 notched in any of our species. Nostrils oval, unbristled, 

 overhung by a scale -like membrane. No rictal bristles. 

 Loral feathers bristly. Tarsus scutellate. Lateral to* s 

 nearly equal ; middle toe usually united to half the basal 

 joint of inner toe, and to the whole of the basal joint of 

 the outer, or more. Quills barred in most of our species. 



