46 BRITISH BIRDS. 



leaves ; a lining of feathers is invariably added before 

 the eggs are laid, but many nests are deserted before 

 reaching that stage. Eggs : usually 5 to 7 ; shell, glossy, 

 white, more or less speckled around larger end with pale 

 red ; size '68 by '50. The loud merry song may be heard 

 nearly all the year. Usual note a quick chit-chit-chit- 

 chitr. 



56a. T. troglodytes hirtensis (Seebohm). 



ST. KILDA WREN. 



Hab. Island of St. Kilda. 



This race is restricted to St. Kilda (off the west coast of 

 Scotland), but since the late Henry Seebohm separated 

 it specifically as T. hirtensis (Zool. 1884) it has probably 

 been well-nigh exterminated. Few authorities regard it as 

 a valid species, yet it is certainly entitled to sub-specific 

 rank. It is much paler than the type, the general tint 

 being greyish in place of reddish, causing the transverse 

 bars on upper parts to be more pronounced ; the bill is 

 also slightly longer than in the type, and possibly more 

 straight, while the bird itself appears to be appreciably 

 larger. 



i 

 Family Certhiidae. 



GENUS XXIV. CERTHIA, Linnsius (1766), 

 Bill tolerably long, slender, pointed, somewhat com- 

 pressed and moderately decurved ; wings moderate, 

 rounded ; tail pointed, of 1 2 long, stiff, tapering feathers ; 

 feet large ; tarsus short ; hind toe rather short ; claws 

 much curved ; plumage lax. 



57. Certhia familiaris, Linn. TREE-CREEPER. 

 Hab. Northern temperate regions of Old World, north 

 to Arctic Circle, south to Mediterranean, Persia, the 



