546 Mr. CoUingwood Ingram on 



It has been stated that the Short-clawed Tree- Creeper "^^ 

 never, or hardly ever, ranges above 1000 metres, but this is 

 not a fact. I have several times shot C. brachydacti/la at a 

 greater height, and possess two examples taken in the 

 Maritime Alps at 1700 metres ; while representatives of both 

 this and C. famUiaris were obtained by Mr. Hothschild's 

 collector near Canterets in the Pyrenees at an elevation of 

 about 1400 metres. As a breeding species, however, the 

 southern race of C. brachydactyla is found alone on the 

 plains below, just as C. famUiaris reigns supreme in the still 

 more elevated pine-forests. 



The Long-clawed Tree-Creepers of the Continent are said 

 to have a predilection for coniferous trees, while the various 

 forms of C. hraclujdactyUi are supposed to prefer other kinds 

 of timber. In my experience this certainly seems to he true, 

 but in connection with this alleged preference we must not 

 forget that conifers usually predominate at the high elevations 

 frequented by the former species, in which case, of course, 

 they would have no choice but to affect these trees. The 

 English C. famUiaris britannica, at any rate, displays no 

 such partiality for conifers. Dr. Hartert has also pointed 

 out that C. famUiaris is not invariably found in pine-forests, 

 but may be sought for in mixed woods and especially among 

 beeches. 



Bailly declares that the Alpine bird is more wary than 

 the lowland species, and that its call-note is softer in tone — 

 " son cri de rappel est constamment mains aigu et plus duux " 

 (Orn. de la Suvoie, ii. p. 491). I have met with both 

 species in the same wood in the Maritime Alps, and I 

 frankly admit I did not then detect any difference in their 

 voice or habits 3 but, as I did not, at that time, appreciate 

 that the two birds were distinct, 1 might have easily over- 



* On account of Breliurs specific name, br achy dactyl a, this bird lias 

 often been unhappily termed the Shovi-toed T)-ee-Creeper. Of course I 

 cannot change its recognised scientific appellation, hut I do not propose 

 to further perpetuate an obvious error by translating it into my own 

 language, for it is well known that it is the date and not the hind toe, or 

 hallux, that is slightly shorter in this bird. 



