518 



P.vssEniis.- 



-BIRDS.- 



-CEnTiii-\n.r:. 



loosened bark of a tree ; one of these nests, dcsciibed 

 liy Mr. Yarrell, consisted of small twigs, lined with a 

 thick layer of fine grass, mixed with wool and feathers. 

 The Creeper lays from seven to nine eggs of a white 

 colour, with a few palo-red spots ; it breeds as early as 

 the month of A])ril. 



THE WAIL-CEEEPES {Tkhodromamuraria)—V\-^Xc 

 P, fig. 29 — is aiiotlicr European species, nearly related 

 to the Common Creeper, which it much resembles in its 

 habits, e.\ccpt that, instead of the trunks and branches 

 of trees, it frequents the bare rocks of mountainous 

 districts, seeking its insect food in their crevices, and 

 breeding in the small cavities wdiich abound among 

 tliem. It is about seven inches in length, and has a 

 longer bill and a shorter tail than the Common Creeper; 

 the general colour of its plumiige is ashy-grej', becoming 

 blackish in particular parts ; the cheeks and throat, the 

 quill feathers of the wings and tail are black, the wings 

 spotted, and the tail feathers tipped with white or ash 

 colour ; the wing-coverts are red. This bird is an in- 

 habitant of the mountainous parts of Southern Europe, 

 and is also found in Asia, but does not occur in Britain, 

 During the summer it resides high up on the mountains, 

 obtaining its supplies of food by running about upon the 

 f;ices of the rocks ; but in the winter it descends to a 

 level inhabited by man, when it deserves its name 

 of Wall-creeper, by the preference which it shows 

 for running upon those old walls clothed with lichens, 

 which doubtless furnish it with a sup])!y of food most 

 like that of its summer home among tin- luuiiiitains. 



THE AUSTRALIAN BROWN TREE-CREEPER {Cli- 

 macteris scandens). The Creepers are represented in 

 Australia by a peculiar genus to which tlie name of 

 Climacteris has been given. The Brown Tree-creeper 

 is an inhabitant of all the south-eastern part of the 

 Australian continent, where it resides principally in the 

 open, thinly-timbered parts of the forest, seeking its 

 insect food, not only amongst the cracks and crevices 

 of the bark, but also in the hollow spouts, and even on 

 the ground beneath the trees. In tlje latter situation 

 it passes much time, moving about with pert, lively 

 actions. Its flight is effected by a skimming motion of 

 the wings. 



The whole length of this bird is about si.K inches, 

 and its plumage exhibits various sluules of brown, with 

 a broad bufl band across the wings. The nest is com- 

 posed of the hair of opossums ; and Mr. Gould says 

 that, judging from its brightness and freshness, this 

 material is no doubt plucked from the living animals, 

 wliile reposing in hollow trees. It is usually placed 

 low down in a hollow branch, and contains two pale- 

 reddish eggs whicli arc blotched with reddish-brown. 



THE RED TREE-CREEPER {Climacteris rufa) repre- 

 sents the preceding species in Western Australia, and 

 resembles it precisely in its habits. It is dark brown 

 above and reddish beneath. The nest is placed in the 

 same situation as that of the last species, but composed 

 of grasses, down, and feathers. There are several 

 other species. 



THE NUTHATCH {Silla f»)-o;)fra)— Blate, 9, fig, 30 

 — has a stoMtt.'r and straigliter l.iill than the preceding 

 species, and its toes are remarkably long and slemler, 

 and terminated by very long, compressed, and curved 



claws. It is a small bird, measuring little more than 

 five inches and a half in length, to the extremity of the 

 short tail. The general colour of the plumage on the 

 upper parts is bluish-grey, and that of the lower smface 

 light reddish-yellow; the flanks are brownish, and the 

 cheeks and throat white, this white portion being sepa- 

 rated from the grey of the upper surfiice of the head 

 and neck by a black band, which runs from the base of 

 tlie bill to the shoulder. 



The Nuthatch is a common bird in many parts 

 of Europe, especially in the south. It is generally 

 diffiised in England, although not very abundant ; its 

 occurrence in Scotland is doubtful, and it has not been 

 observed in Ireland. It is a brisk and lively bird ; and 

 its actions are very arousing, as it runs about quickly 

 like the Creeper on the rougli bark of its favourite trees. 

 In this its tail does not afibid it any assistance, and it 

 is principally by the agency of its long and powerful 

 curved claws that it maintams itself in ever-varying 

 attitude on the ti-ecs ; but the tarsus also comes into 

 play, being applied to the surface in the manner of a 

 footsole. The food of the bird consists partly of insects, 

 caterpillars, and other animal matters, and partly of 

 beech-mast and nuts ; and it is from its predilection for 

 the latter, and the peculiar mode in which it contrives 

 to crack them, that its name of Nuthatch has been 

 given to it. The nut is fixed by the bird in a crevice 

 in tlie bark of a tree ; he then moves round it as if to 

 select the best point of attack ; and, having taken up 

 liis position, and secured himself firmly by the grasp 

 of his powerful feet, he proceeds to batter upon tlse 

 nut with his strong bill, and soon breaks through the 

 hardest shell. 



This hiteresting bird is a permanent resident in this 

 country, frequenting woods, plantations, parks, and even 

 gardens and orchards; resorting to the latter principally 

 on the approach of winter. It nestles in the holes of 

 trees, making a bed of dead leaves, moss, and fragments 

 of bark and w'ood, and usually taking the precaution 

 of plastering up a portion of the external aperture of 

 its abode w-ith clay, bo as to leave only a sufficient 

 space to serve for its own passage. The object of this 

 proceeding is evidently to prevent the Woodpeckers, 

 which also breed in the holes of trees, from destroying 

 the nest and taking possession of it. The Nuthatch 

 lays six or seven eggs of a white coloiu' spotted with 

 rusty red ; and the bird sits upon these with such jicr- 

 tinacity, that, as Montagu observes, "no persecution 

 will force it to quit them. It defends its nest to the 

 last extremity, strikes at the invader with its bill and 

 wings, and makes a hissing noise ; and after every effort 

 of defence, will sutler itself to be taken in the hand 

 rather than quit." Young birds taken from the nest 

 may be easily tamed ; but the old birds generally kill 

 themselves by their ell'orts to escape. A second species 

 of Nuthatch occurs in Eastern Europe, and several others 

 in various parts of India, principally in tlie hilly districts. 

 Other species are found in North America, amongst 

 which we may notice — 



THE CAROLINA NUTHATCH {S'ltta carolincnsix), 

 which is an abundant .species almost everywhere in 

 Noi-th America, and presents a close rescmV>lance to 

 the European Nuthatch in its habits, ilifl'ering princi- 



