CERTHIA. 557 



FAMILY CERTHIID^. THE CREEPERS. (Page 322.) 



Genera. 

 (Characters same as those given for the Family) Certhia. (Page 557.) 



GENUS CERTHIA LINNAEUS. (Page 557, pi. CXXIL, fig. 6.) 



Species. 



COMMON CHARACTERS. Above brownish, streaked with paler, the rump plain 

 rusty or fulvous ; tail-feathers light grayish brown, with a darker mesial stripe ; a 

 broad bar or band of pale rusty, buffy, or whitish across both webs of quills and 

 secondaries, the wing with various other light markings; a white superciliary 

 stripe ; lower parts plain whitish, the under tail-coverts usually more or less buffy ; 

 length about 4.80-5.50. Nest behind loosened bark or similar cavities about dead 

 tree-trunks or stumps, composed of felted materials, soft feathers, etc. Eggs 5-9, 

 about .60 X -48, white or creamy white, speckled or spotted, chiefly on or round 

 larger end, with reddish brown. 



a 1 . Lower parts white, without grayish tinge (unless adventitiously .stained or 

 soiled) ; primary coverts distinctly tipped with whitish (except very rarely 

 in Pacific coast specimens) ; rump tawny, and colors paler throughout ; 

 length 5.00-5.75, wing 2.40-2.70, tail 2.30-2.90, culmen .60-.82, tarsus .5S-.65, 

 hind-claw .2S-.35. Hab. Whole of North America, in wooded districts, down 

 to southern border of United States, but breeding only from northern border 

 of United States northward, except in higher mountains. 



726. C. familiaris americana (BONAP.). Brown Creeper. 1 



1 With nearly one hundred and fifty specimens now before me, I have no difficulty in recognizing very de- 

 cided constant differences in colors and proportions according to region, my separation of the North American 

 bird into three geographical races, besides that peculiar to Mexico and Guatemala (see Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. v. 

 1882, pp. 111-116), being thus fully justified by the evidence of abundant additional material. One of these 

 races (C. familiaris occidentalis) differs quite as much from the typical (eastern) bird as does the Mexican 

 form, to which it cannot be referred ; while the other, although less distinct in plumage, is sufficiently different 

 in its proportions for recognition as a geographical race. The characters of the three races may be expressed 

 as follows : 



a 1 . Lighter and more grayish in general cast of plumage, the lateral lower parts scarcely, if at all, tinged with 

 brown, the streaks on upper parts clearer whitish or pale grayish, the rump more tawny, superciliary 

 stripe more decidedly whitish, and wing-markings whitish or pale buffy. 



6 1 . Browner above, with tawny of rump less distinctly contrasted with color of back ; bill shorter and 



stouter, and wing and tail shorter; wing 2.40-2.70 (2.53), tail 2.50-2.90 (2.63), culmen .60-.70 

 (.66). bill from nostril .3S-.47 (.39), tarsus .55-.60 (.59), hind-toe .27-.32 (.29), hind-claw .2S-.35 

 (.31). Eggs .60 X -48. Sab. Eastern North America, breeding from northern border of United 

 States northward C. familiaris americana (BONAP.). Brown Creeper. 



6 2 . Grayer above, with tawny of rump more distinctly contrasted with color of back ; bill longer and 



slenderer, and wings and tail longer ; wing 2.50-2.65 (2.56), tail 2.65-2.75 (2.71), culmen .70-.82 



