THE NUTHATCH. 191 



clinging. It also takes advantage of the uniform brown tint of its back to conceal itself from 

 a real or fancied foe, by clinging closely to the tree and pressing itself so flatly into some 

 crevice, that a human eye can scarcely distinguish it from the bark. The Creeper does not 

 confine itself exclusively to trees, but has often been seen running up old walls, and seeking 

 for the insects that are always to be found in such localities. 



The nest of the Creeper is usually made in the hollow of some decaying tree, and is 

 made of grasses, leaves, and vegetable fibres, and lined with feathers. The eggs are very 

 small, about seven or eight in number, and of an ashen-gray color, sprinkled with little 

 gray-brown spots. Sometimes it builds in the hole of an old wall, and has been known to 

 make its nest in a disused spout. 



a 



The Brown Creeper (Certhia familiaris) is identical with the English bird above 

 described. Two quite distinct varieties are recognized, one inhabiting Mexico. 



The Brown Creeper is common throughout the year in New England. It is found in very 

 high latitudes. During the winter months it approaches human habitations, delighting in 

 orchards, where the trees afford more or less sustenance in the worms and larvae that infest 

 them. 



The Wall-Creeper is a native of central and southern Europe, and is found plentifully 

 in all suitable localities. It is called the Wall-Creeper because it frequents w T alls and perpen- 

 dicular rocks in preference to tree-tnxnks. 



In its movements it does not resemble the common Creeper ; for, instead of running over 

 the walls with a quick and even step, it flies from point to point with little jerking movements 

 of the wing, and when it has explored the spot on which it has alighted, takes flight for 

 another. The food of this bird is similar to that of the common Creeper, but it is especially 

 fond of spiders and their eggs, finding them plentifully in the localities which it frequents. 

 Old ruined castles are favorite places of resort for this bird, as are also the precipitous faces of 

 rugged rocks. 



The nest of the Wall-Creeper is made in the cleft of some lofty rock, or in one of the many 

 holes which are so plentifully found in the old ruined edifices which it so loves. 



In color the Wall-Creeper is a very pretty bird, the general color of the plumage being 

 light gray, relieved by a patch of bright crimson upon the shoulders, the larger wing-coverts, 

 and the inner webs of the secondaries. The remainder of the quill-feathers of the wing are 

 black, and the tail is black tipped with white. It is a much larger bird than the Common 

 Tree-Creeper, measuring about six inches in total length. 



There is a curious genus of the Creeping-bird, known by the name of Climacteris. All 

 the members of this genus are inhabitants of Australia, and notices of the individual species 

 may be seen in Mr. Gould' s well-known work on the birds of that country. They are gener- 

 ally found upon the tall gum-trees, traversing their rugged bark with great rapidity, and 

 probing the crevices in search of insects, after the manner of the Common Creeper. They do 

 not confine themselves to the bark, but may often be seen running into the "spouts," or 

 hollow branches, which are so often found in the gum-trees, and hunting out the various 

 nocturnal insects which take refuge in these dark recesses during the hours of daylight. 



The Nuthatches form another group of the Certhida?, and are represented in Europe by 

 the common Nuthatch of our woods. They are all remarkable for their peculiarly stout and 

 - sturdy build, their strong, pointed, cylindrical beaks, and their very short tails. 



The Nuthatch, although by no means a rare bird, is seldom seen except by those who are 

 acquainted with its haunts, on account of its shy and retiring habits. As it feeds mostly on 

 nuts, it is seldom seen except in woods or their immediate vicinity, although it will sometimes 

 become rather bold, and frequent gardens and orchards where nuts are grown. The bird also 

 feeds upon insects, which it procures from under the bark after the manner of the creepers, 

 and it is not unlikely that many of the nuts which are eaten by the Nuthatch have been 



