348 



THE CREEPER. 



'^"''^'Wm 



and beautifully constructed of cotton fibres and other soft and warm 

 substances. As is the case with the nests of almost all the species of 

 Trochilidte, the rim is so made as to curve slightly inward, and is, in 

 all probability, constructed for the purpose of preventing the eggs from 

 rolling out of the nest when the " procreant cradle" is rocked by the 

 tempestuous winds of the tropics. 



We now arrive at the Certhid^ or Creepers, the best known of 

 which is the English Creeper. 



This little bird is one of the prettiest and most interesting of the 

 feathered tribes that are found in England. It is a very small bird, 



hardly so large as a sparrow, 

 ^^^1/y ',^J\'llinilLfL'.l'J'!!l¥€l~. aiid beautifully slender in 



shape. The bill is rather 

 long, pointed, and curved,- 

 and the tail feathers are stiif 

 and pointed at their extrem- 

 ities. Tlie food of the Creep- 

 er consists chiefly of insects, 

 although the bird will some- 

 times vary its diet by seeds 

 and otlier vegetable sub- 

 stances. Tlie insects on 

 which it feeds live princi- 

 pally under the bark of 

 various rough-skinned trees, 

 and when it is engaged in 

 seeking after its food it runs 

 spirally up the trunk with 

 wonderful ease and celerity, 

 probing every crevice with 

 ready adroitness, its whole frame instinct with sparkling eagerness, 

 and its little black eyes glancing with the exuberance of its delight. 

 While running on the side of the tree which is nearest to the spectator, 

 it presents a very curious appearance, as its dark-brown back and quick 

 tripping movements give it a great resemblance to a mouse, and ever 

 and anon, as it comes again into sight from the opposite side of the 

 trunk, its b3autifully white breast gleams suddenly in contrast with the 

 sombre-colored bark. Its eyes are wonderfully keen, as it will discern 

 insects of so minute a form that the human eye can hardly perceive 

 them, and it seems to possess some instinctive mode of detecting the 

 presence of its insect prey beneath moss or lichens, and will persever- 

 ingly bore through the substance in which they are hidden, never fail- 

 ing to secure them at last. 



The Creeper is a very timid bird ; and if it is alarmed at the sight of 



The Common Tree Creeper {Certhia 

 familiar is). 



