CERTHIIN^E. 213 



thelium dense and longitudinally rugous ; intestine ra- 

 ther short ; coeca very small, or obsolete. Tarsi short, 

 slender ; toes long, slender, four ; the anterior parallel, 

 and more or less united, the hind toe very stout ; claws 

 large, arched, extremely compressed, very acute. Plu- 

 mage soft, more or less blended ; wings short, concave, 

 rounded ; tail of ten or twelve feathers. 



Several natural groups enter into this order, namely, 

 the MELLIPHAGIN^E, CERTHIIN^E, DENDROCOLAPTIN^E, and 

 SITTING. Of these, however, we have representatives of 

 only the second and last. 



FAMILY XXV. CERTHIIKE. CERTHINE 

 BIRDS, OR TREE-CREEPERS. 



The Certhiinse, which are closely allied to the Syl- 

 viinse, are all of small size, with the body slender, the neck 

 generally short, the head rather large and ovate. Bill of 

 moderate length or elongated, slender, arched, with the 

 notches obsolete, the tip acute. Both mandibles inter- 

 nally very narrow and concave ; tongue very slender, 

 emarginate and papillate at the base, channelled above, 

 tapering, with the point thin-edged, bristly, rather ob- 

 tuse ; oesophagus of moderate and nearly uniform width ; 

 proventriculus oblong ; stomach elliptical, moderately 

 muscular, with dense, longitudinally rugous epithelium ; 

 intestine short and wide ; coeca very small. Trachea with 

 four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles. Nostrils linear 

 or oblong, exposed. Eyes of moderate size. Aperture 

 of ear large, roundish. Tarsi short, slender ; anterior toes 

 united at the base, extremely compressed, the outer longer 

 than the inner, the hind toe very long ; claws long, arched, 

 extremely compressed, acute. Plumage soft, blended ; 

 no bristles ; wings rather short, broad, concave, much 



