CREEPER 



THEE CHEEPER. COMMON CHEEPER. FAMILIAR CREEPER. 

 TREE CLIMBER. 



Ccrthia familiaris, PENNANT. MONTAGU. 



Certhia ? ItatnKaurfa Familiar, common. 



Tins moclest and retiring little bird is, so to speak, neither 

 common nor uncommon. Even where it is to be seen, it 

 often is not seen, for, not only is its dress of a sober and 

 unpretending character, bearing' resemblance, likewise, as is 

 the case with many of nature's animate works, to the less 

 highly-organized substances on which it plays its part, but, 

 it also, more shy apparently than fearful, shuns observation, 

 and, oil coining within the range of your glance, withdraws 

 at once from sight. By watching for its return, you will 

 often catch a glimpse of it, but, frequently, hid by the tree, 

 it flies off to some neighbouring one, on which you next see 

 it. It is more frequently detected by its note than by its 

 appearance. 



It is found plentifully throughout Europe; as for north as 

 Uussia, Xonvay, Denmark, and Sweden; and southwards in 

 Germany and Italy. It is also found in North America, and 

 occurs in all parts of our Islands. 



Wooded districts, and the larger kinds of trees, providing 

 it with food, are its resort. 



The Creeper, though in other countries it moves from 

 exposed to more sheltered localities, for the purpose of 

 roaring its young, arriving thereat in March, and departing 

 in September or October, remains with us throughout the 

 year. 



These little birds are mostly seen singly, or in pairs, and 

 sometimes in company with the Titmice, almost always en- 

 gaged in creeping up the trunks of trees, or Hitting from 



