BLACK AND WHITE CREEPER. 69 



trees from destructive insects; though it cannot serenade him 

 with its song. 



The length of this species is five inches and a half, extent 

 seven and a half; crown white, bordered on each side with a 

 band of black, which is again bounded by a line of white passing 

 over each eye, below this is a large spot of black covering the 

 ear feathers; chin and throat black; wings the same, crossed 

 transversely by two bars of white; breast and back streaked with 

 black and white; tail, upper and also under coverts, black, edged 

 and bordered with white; belly white; legs and feet dirty yel- 

 low; hind claw the longest, and all very sharp pointed; bill a 

 little compressed sidewise, slightly curved, black above, paler 

 below; tongue long, fine-pointed, and horny at the extremity. 

 These last circumstances, joined to its manners, characterize it, 

 decisively, as a Creeper. 



The female and young birds of the first year want the black 

 on the throat, having that part of a grayish white. 



