463 



NOTES RELATING TO THE DISTRIBUTION, HABITS, AND NIDI- 

 FIOATION OF CERTRIA HIMALAYAN A, VIGORS, (THE 

 HIMALAYAN TREE-CREEPER), IN AND AROUND SIMLA, 

 AND THE ADJACENT RANGES. 



P. T. L. Dodswoeth, F.Z.S. 



This is the only species of Tree-Creeper to be found about these North- 

 West Himalayan ranges, and extends from the foot of the hills to eleva- 

 tions of nearly 12,000 feet. 



They are common birds, and are generally to be seen moving about in 

 pairs, although both, while keeping in close proximity to each other, will not, 

 as a rule, be found on the same tree. They are by no means shy, and visit 

 the compounds and gardens here freely. I have often managed to get quite 

 close to one by walking up quietly to the opposite side of the trunk of the 

 tree on which it was ascending, and then standing quite still. The bird 

 soon comes round, and gives one a very good opportunity of observing, at 

 close quarters, its mode of progression. The large claws and feet undoubt- 

 edly play the most important part in this — the stiff tail feathers merely 

 acting as auxiliaries. 



These birds are not strictly arboreal in their habits, as I have occasion- 

 ally noticed them feeding on low retaining walls, and once I saw one work- 

 ing along the ground, among some doob grass, on a steep hill. 



I have never seen them frequenting the thin branches of trees, and the 

 reason for this, perhaps, is that as their barks are generally smooth, they 

 afford no lodgment for insects. If this is so, the birds seem to be well 

 aware of it, for as soon as they have attained a fairly good height in their 

 ascent, and are nearing the smaller branches, they immediately fly off to 

 another tree, and begin to work upwards as usual. 



Though strictly passerine, the resemblance of this bird to the woodpecker, 

 in its mode of progression, is very marked. It has often struck me as 

 curious, why these Creepers invariably climb upwards in a spiral manner. 

 Does this method of ascent give them a better chance of obtaining food ? 

 Observers are silent on this point, and whatever may be the correct reason, 

 one cannot help being struck with the insatiable appetites of these tiny 

 creatures. They never appear to be satisfied, and are perpetually on the 

 move from early in the mornings to late in the evenings. In addition to 

 insects of various kinds, small black ants, and especially their larvte, appear 

 to constitute their chief nutriment. 



These birds are to be seen at all seasons of the year, but generally 

 become more abundant during the early spring and autumn months. The 

 large numbers observed at these periods is doubtless due to their upward 

 and downward seasonal movement along these ranges. 



