4 CASSELLS BOOK OF BIRDS. 



The PITPITS {Certhiola) have a high slender beak, which curves gently towards its sharp tip; 

 their wings are long, their tail short, and their tongue divided into two parts, each of which terminates 

 in a brush of thread-like fibres. 



THE BANANA QUIT, OR BLACK AND YELLOW CREEPER. 



The Banana Quit, or Black and Yellow Creeper {Cert/iiola Jlavcola), is blackish brown on 



the upper parts of the body, and of a beautiful bright yellow on the under side and rump ; a line that 



passes above the eyes, the anterior borders of the primary quills, the tips of the tail, and its two outer 



feathers are white; the throat is ash-grey, the eye greyish brown, the back is black, and the foot 



THE BANANA QUIT (Certhiola flaveolo). 



brown. The female is blackish olive on the back, and pale yellow on the under side ; in other 

 respects her plumage resembles that of her mate. The length of this species is three inches and 

 five-sixths ; the wing measures two inches and one-sixth, and the tail one inch. 



" Scarcely larger than the average size of Humming Birds," writes Mr. Gosse, " this little Creeper 

 is often seen in company with them, probing the same flowers, and for the same purpose, but in a 

 very different manner. Instead of hovering in front of each blossom, a task to which his short wings 

 would be utterly incompetent, the Quit alights on the tree, and proceeds in most business-like manner 

 to peep into the flowers, hopping actively from twig to twig, and throwing his body into all positions, 

 often clinging by his feet with his head downwards, the better to reach the blossoms with his curved 

 beak and pencilled tongue ; the minute insects which are concealed in the flowers are always the 

 objects of his search. Unsuspectingly familiar, these birds resort much to the blossoming shrubs of 

 enclosed gardens. The soft, sibilant note of the Quit is often uttered while the bird peeps about 

 for food. The nest is frequently built in those low trees and bushes from whose twigs depend the 



