CEKTIIIID.E. 32" 



Family CERTHJID/E. 



The intrinsic muscles of the syrinx fixed to the ends of the 

 bronchial semi-rings ; the edges of both mandibles perfectly smooth, 

 or with a simple notch in the upper one; hinder aspect of tarsus 

 bil animated, the laminae entire and smooth ; wing with ten pri- 

 maries ; tongue non-tubular; nostrils clear of the line of the fore- 

 head, the space between the nostril and the edge of the mandible 

 less than the space between the nostril and culmen ; plumage of 

 the nestling resembling that of the adult female, but paler ; nostrils 

 bare ; rictal bristles absent. 



The Certhiidce comprise the Creepers and the Wrens, two groups 

 which are closely allied to each other. With the exception of 

 Ticliodroma all the Ctrthiidce found in India are resident species 

 and have but one moult a year. 



The Certhiidce have the feathers of the forehead short and closely 

 set together, and they have no hairs over the nostrils nor any 

 vestige of rictal bristles. The wing varies in shape, being some- 

 times, as in Salpornis, extremely pointed and sometimes very blunt 

 and rounded, as in the true Wrens. The toes and claws in all are 

 much lengthened. The number of tail-feathers varies from twelve 

 to six in this family. 



The Certhiidce are found over a considerable portion of the 

 world, and they are probably a very ancient group. 



Key to the Genera. 



a. Tail of 12 feathers. 



a'. Tail composed of stiff, pointed feathers . . CEI.ITHIA, p. 328. 

 b'. Tail composed of soft, rounded feathers. 

 ". First primary not more than a quarter 



the length of the second SALPORNIS, p. 332. 



b". First primary equal to, or longer than, 



half the second. 

 a'". Wing more than four times the 



length of the tarsus TICHODROMA, p. 334. 



b'". Wing less than three times the 



length of the tarsus. 

 a 1 . Tail and wing of much the same 



length SPHENOCICHLA, p. 335. 



b 1 . Tail very much shorter than the 



wing. 



a 5 . Tail less graduated, the outer 

 feather being three-quarters 

 the length of the tail ANOBTHUEA, p. 337. 



