CERTHIAIJ.K — THE CUEEl'EK.S. 125 



C. famUiuris is more ashy heneatli tlian any others, and (J. rosfa; is purest 

 wliite beneath of all. Nearest C./(imiliaris, in tlic American series, as regards 

 tints of the upper parts, are the Pacific coast specimens of V. tnticrimtia, — 

 wliile the latter are most like tlio Atlantic region specimens of the same. 

 C mcriruna is to he compared only with the North American forms, thougli 

 it is the only one approaching /fo«//<V//-v',s" in tlie ashy lower parts. 



C. familiar is is at once separated from the rest by having the tail shorter 

 than the wing. 



C. costa', is almost precisely like Eastern specimens of C. nmcricana in 

 coh)rs, but is absolutely pure wliite below, and without the distinctly yellow- 

 ish crissum of the American bird. The bill and claws, however, are consid- 

 erably longer than in Kastern amerimna, though their size is almost e(pialled 

 by those of Western specimens ; the colors are, however, more decidedly 

 difi'erent. 



There is never any deviation from the generic pattern of coloration ; but 

 the variation, amonij individiiah of each form, in length of the bill and claws, 

 as well as the tail, is remarkable. 



Certhia familiaris, var. americana, Hdxai'. 



BBOWN CBEEFEB. 



Verthiii funca, Baiiton, Fraginonts of tlit' Xatuial Flistorv of Pennsylvania, 1799, 11. Cfr- 

 fliin /iiMili<irLs, ViKri.i.. Uis. Am. Sciit. II, 180/, 70 (not the European bird); also of 

 Wii.si.N and AuiiuiKiN. — Maynaui), Birds E. iMass. 1870, 9:3. Certhia amcrkumi, 

 BciNAl'. ('oinp. List. Ksa.s. _K|.;i,i,. Handb. I, 18.-)a, 21)5, pi. dc.w, ligs. 4102, 4103. 

 — Baiud, Birds N. Am. 1858, 372; Review, 89. — iMa.x. (.'ab. Jour. 1858, 105.— 

 ('ooi'KU&SucKl.KY, P. H. |{. Kep. XII, ii, 1859, 192. - IIamms, Pr. Best. Soe. X. II. 

 18(i4 -OG, 80. Cert/iia mexkruM, Cixii'Ki!, Orii. Cal. I, 1870, 58. 



k 

 Si'. Ciiah. Bill about llii', l^nn;tli of tlu: head. Ab.ne ilark brown, with a .slif;litly 

 rid'ou.s shadi', oaeli rcalhcr .struakiMl centrally, but not abruptly, with wliitisli; riinii> rust v. 

 licneatli almost .sjlky-wliitL' ; the under tail-oovcrt.s with a liiint rusty tiii<rt'. A wliitu 

 streak over the eye; the ear-eoverts streaked with whi.ish. Tad-1'eatliers brown een- 

 lially, the e<lges paler yellowisii-browii. Winjis with a transver.se bar of pale reddLsh- 

 whitc .'ieros.s both web.s. Leuijtli, .")..")0 ; winjr, 2.(iO ; tail, 2.00. (\o. 8'J7.) 



Yomuj. (r)!)4r), Steilaeooni, \V. T. ; Dr. J. 8. Cooper.) ResenibHng the adult, but 

 streaks Ml)ove indistiuet, and the leathers thi're tipped iudistiuetly with blaekisii ; the 

 ruloMs restricted to tiie upjjcr tail-coverts. IJreasl and JultuIuiu with very niiuulo blackish 

 waving.s or indistini^t bars. 

 IIau. Whole of United States, to Red River .Settlement. 



Specimens from the far west arc purer white beneath, much as in foda\ 

 Imt those from the northwest coast have the wliite tinged with light rusly. 

 Tiiough purer white below, these specimens are mucii browner tdiove thiin 

 Eastern ones, — sometimes more so than in famifiaris, Imt then there is 

 the yellowish crissum never seen in this " species," and the i)roportions are 

 quite difi'erent. Thus it will be seen the C. amevinuia nniy alway;', be dis- 



