388 CEASS AVES. » 



give it an unutterable name, which in their language signifies 

 the voracity of this bird for berries, which it eats to excess, 

 and also its pugnacious propensities, which it exercises with 

 great effect on all small birds who come to dispute its 

 favourite nourishment. It makes its nest in the oziers, and 

 emigrates during winter. 



The Xenops have great affinity with the last ; but of their 

 habits nothing of the least interest is known. The same may 

 be said of Anabates and Synallaxis. We insert a figure 

 of the xenops anahatoides of Temminck, as illustrative of 

 this genus and its subdivisions. 



The Creepers, as will be seen in the text, have been divided 

 into several sub-genera by our author. The first, or true 

 Creepers, has but few species. 



The Eni-opean Creeper is a little bird, found in the 

 different countries of Europe, and is very common in Eng- 

 land. It is to be met with as far as Siberia, and the north 

 of Asia. Catesby has seen it in Carolina, and M. Vieillot in 

 another part of North America. It is continually occupied 

 in climbing along trees, in search of insects, and their larvae, 

 which constitute its principal food. It is often seen to pass 

 from one tree to another, and its voice consists in a feeble, 

 but sharp cry. It remains during night in the hollows of 

 the same trees, and makes its nest there, composed of fine 

 plants and moss, connected with spiders"" web. The female 

 lays five, six, seven, and sometimes nine eggs, which are 

 white, with small red spots, as may be seen in the work of 

 Lewin, though other writers describe them as ashen with 

 points of a deeper colour. 



The Certhia Major, of Brisson, is only a variety of the 

 common creeper, distinguished by superior size. Its plum- 

 age and habits are similar. Scopoli has described a bird 

 found in Camiola, which he regards as another variety, or 

 merely a difference of sex. But the great difference of 



