84 CERTHIOLA f LAVE OLA. 



the Shrike by his more erect carriage while sitting, and stouter, shorter form while flying. The 

 Loggerhead breeds in Florida in the latter part of April, and I have taken the newly fledged 

 young about the 15th of May. 



FAMILY XIII. CCEEEBID^E. THE HONEY CEEEPERS. 



Sill, not notched, equal in length to the head and very acuminate, with both mandibles considerably arched. Tongite 

 thin' and horny, cleft for one-third of its terminal length; while the tip is provided with long delicate cilia, which extend 

 along the sides. 



The position of this family is doubtful, but I have placed it near the Tanayridx, as presenting some characters 

 which are similar to those of that family. I have never seen a sternum of any of the species, and therefore cannot 

 judge whether they are similar to those of the succeeding family. The tongues are peculiar, being pencillate and 

 quite different from those of any other birds that I have examined. 



GENUS I. CERTHIOLA. THE YELLOW-HUMPED CREEPER. 

 GEN. CH. Wings, long. Tail, short. Feet, largn. 



CERTHIOLA FLAVEOLA. 



Yellow-rump ed Creeper. 

 " Certhiola flareola SUNDEV^LL, 1835;" GOSSE, Birds of Jamaica, 1847, 84. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. CH. Form, slender. Size, small. Bill, moderately long. 



COLOR. Adult. Above, dark plumbeous. Spot on the base of tail and tips of tail feathers, cxctptirg the two 

 central, white. Chin and throat dark ash. Under wing coverts, axillaries, under tail and superciliary stripe, 

 white. Remaining under parts bright yellow, which become green on the abdomen and flanks. 



Young. Lighter above than the adult, and with the tertiaries and secondaries narrowly tipped with white. 

 Throat, white in place of dark ash, while the flanks and abdomen are dirty white. Bill and ftet black in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Readily known from any other f-peCies by the above description. I have no specimens marked for sex, but judge 

 that the female is similar to the male. A native of the West Indies; but a single instance on record of its being 

 taken in Florida; this one was found by Dr. Wurdeman on Indian Key, Jan. 31, 1858. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Two specimens in my collection measure as follows ; No. 942, taken by Dr. Bryant ; Length, 4-50 ; wing, 2-50 ; tail, 

 1*60; bill, -62; tarsus, -75. A specimen from St. Thomas measures: Length, 4-45; wing, 2-25; tail, 1-40; bill, -50; 

 tarsus, -60. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, dome-shaped, composed of bits of palm leaves and dried grasses lined with fine grasses. Dimensions : 

 external diameter, (i inches, internal, 3. 



Eggs, four in number, roundish-oval in form, white in color, spotted and blotched with reddish-brown. 



HABITS. 



Probably every American ornithologist is familiar with the name of Indian Key, for nearly 

 every naturalist who has visited this section of the country has labelled many of his specimens 

 as coming from this spot. Therefore through reading about the numerous birds that were said 

 to have been taken there, 1 came to look upon the place as a wonderful collecting ground, and 

 was quite anxious to see it. About four o'clock in the afternoon of January 4, 1871, this desire 

 was gratified, for I found myself off the island on board a little coasting vessel which carries the 

 mail between Key West and Miami. The wind being ahead the captain decided not to go any 



