on the Wall Creeper.



227



knowing way. I do not however remember hearing it utter a

single note of an\' kind, although its cry is said to resemble

that of Dendrocopus minor.


The Wall Creeper is the only representative of its genus,

which is placed in an intermediate position between Certhia and

Siita \ but resembles the latter in its slaty and dense plumage,

and soft tail not used in climbing, and also shares the character

of white markings on the tail feathers. Its bill however is not

powerful, hard, and sharp like that of many of the true Nut¬

hatches, but favours the form peculiar to the Tree Creepers, not

however being anything like so sharp at the end or so curved,

but more round and much longer. I11 this country it seems quite

an accidental visitor, and as early as 1792 it was notified by

Robert Marsliam to Gilbert White. It was also recorded from

Eancashire by Mr. F. S. Mitchell in 1S72, and again by Mr.

Ruskin Butterfield, and for further additions I would refer the

reader to p. no, Vol. I. British Birds (Witherby & Co.) This

birds’ range extends from the mountainous regions of Southern

Europe into Central Asia, and as far east as China, it occurs

in most of the mountain ranges eastwards from the Caucasus,

and is also an inhabitant of Abyssinia* to the southward. Its

northward range in Europe (especially France and Germany) is

greater than usually recognized, and this apparently was notified

by Mr. Howard Saunders in the Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, I. p. xlix.

A German writer Dr. Brelim says :—“ Riippell saw it 011 the Altai

and Abyssinian ranges. Jerdon tells us it is common on the

Himalayas and is also found in Cashmere and Afghanistan.”

He also remarks that “ This interesting bird is very commonly

met with upon the Alps, Pyrenees, Apennines, Balkan, Carpa¬

thian and other mountains.”


This bird is said to nest in the clefts of rocks ; in inacces¬

sible situations occasionally, and Mr. Seebolim describes a nest

in his collection as being elaborately built; the chief materials

being moss and grasses, felted together with hair and wool and

feathers. It is said that the bird lays from three to five eggs

which are pure white, except for small black or deep reddish

brown dots, which in many specimens are scarcely visible. The



Its occurrence in Abyssinia is doubted. See Newton Die. Birds p. 986.



