144 GENERAL ECONOMY OF CREEPERS 



habit of climbing is the most prominent trait; the action is pre- 

 cisely similar to that of the Woodpeckers, and quite unlike that 

 of their much nearer relatives, the Nuthatches for the Creep- 

 ers iiever scramble about head downward, and never move 

 without being propped up by the stiff, elastic tail, which is 

 pressed against the support. The structure and grasping power 

 of the feet are much the same as in the Nuthatches. The bill 

 differs altogether from the stout, chisel-like instrument with 

 which both Woodpeckers and Nuthatches bore into wood 

 either to procure food or to construct a nesting-place, being 

 weak, slender, curved and sharp pointed. The mandibles may 

 be likened to an extremely delicate pair of forceps, which may 

 be insinuated into the narrowest crevices of the bark to pick 

 out the most minute objects and a very efficient tool it proves, 

 as used by its skillful and indefatigable owner. The food of the 

 Creepers consists chiefly of small insects ; sometimes, it is said, 

 they feed upon particles of vegetable matter, such as lichens 

 or mosses. Their nidification is like that of the Nuthatches 

 and typical Titmice, inasmuch as they nest in holes; but their 

 weak bill is unfit for the labor of digging into wood, and they 

 consequently occupy such natural excavations as they find in 

 decayed wood, or the deserted homes of Woodpeckers and 

 other animals. The eggs are numerous, white, speckled. The 

 birds inhabit woodland, and seem to prefer trees of large size. 

 They are not. highly musical, and are generally considered 

 songless ; yet some close observers say they have heard a suc- 

 cession of modulated notes, by no means unmusical. In plum- 

 age, the sexes are alike, and the regular changes are not 

 decided; while the variegated tints, harmonizing with the 

 colors of the bark, are a great safeguard. The activity, or 

 rather the industry, of the Creepers is a strong trait ; yet they 

 have none of the vivacity and turbulence of the Titmice and 

 Nuthatches, being, in fact, very sedate and almost demure 

 birds, gliding stealthily about the trees, and likely to elude 

 observation unless narrowly watched. Our species is not regu- 

 larly migratory. All the species of the genus resemble each 

 other so closely that it is difficult to say how many there are ; 

 we have but one in the United States, believed to be identical 

 with that of Europe ; there is another species or variety in the 

 warmer parts of America, and several are ascribed to Asia. 



