) 
FAM. CERTHIIDA: 
ot middle toe adherent for entire length to lateral toes; claws long, strongly arched, much 
compressed, that of hallux equal to, or slightly longer than, the digit. 
Wing about 56-72; tail 54-70 mm, 
‘Coloration. Above brownish, conspicuously streaked with darker brown, dusky or 
blackish, and also marked with longitudinal stripes of whitish or buff; the wings dusky, 
varied with pale greyish or brownish, the inner webs of quills crossed by a broad band of 
batt or whitish; tail pale brown, sometimes narrowly barred with dusky. Under parts plain 
white, pale grey, pale brown or rufescent brown, flanks and under tail coverts tinged with 
fulvous or tawny. Sexes alike. Young not much different from adults. 
Geographical Distribution. More northern portions of northern hemisphere, in the 
Nearctic Region south to Nicaragua, in the Old World south to Burma. Thirty species and 
subspecies, by far the greater number, in the Palearctic Region. 
Habits and Nidification. « The Tree-Creepers, somewhat resemble the Nuthatches, 
in habits, but climb only upward, or at least in upright position, usually ascending the trunks 
of trees in spirals, flying from the top of one trunk to the base of another in quest for insect- 
food lodged in crevices of the bark » (Ridgway). They build a soft nest in cavities of trees and 
lay a large number (five to nine) of eggs, on a white ground colour speckled with reddish brown. 
KEY TO THE SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES OF CERTHIA® 
1. Rectrices with about twenty distinct, more or less vegulay, transverse 
bands of dusky 
2h 
— Rectrices either uniform or with mere traces of dusky cross-markings. . . . . . . . .... 4. 
2. General colour of upper parts ashy grey. Bill 22 mm. oy move . . 30. C. HIMALAYANA TENIURA. 
— General colour of upper parts dark brown. Bill not move than 20 mm., 
TOSI exe ert So) as keen seem Poe Da soNn sc os NG Gena ane ears cg rem 
3. Upper parts lighter brown; pileum dark brown with narrow ae 
SHOP-BTUUS 5 5 3 9 ne GP kena eee 25. C. HIMALAYANA HIMALAYANA. 
— Upper parts darker brown; ies nearly blackish, scarcely Ae 
“OSL DAC ENUS) eee a ee ee -eh Ctak2 Onn CLIMATE AWANABYUNNANE NSIS" 
4. Under parts, at least anterior portion, white ov whitish Ws 
— Under parts without any white, the ground colour being pale fulvous, 
ISHEYUSIDUN OWN ONAN IUFESEENN CLOWN, fy) ce ss ee ae) ee) ee 
5. Under parts pale fulvous : lighter, more buff on chin and upper throat, 
deeper on flanks and undey tail coverts . . . : . 16. C. sToLiczKka. 
— Under parts dull greyish earthy brown, flanks and under tail coverts 
Leg Cedi tH USPULlVOUS ia Wt ee vty fk er os) Ta ketone PS eee ire gamer ane 6. 
6. Whole lower surface nearly uniform greyish earthy brown, only under 
tail coverts fulvous . . el Sais 13. C. DISCOLOR DISCOLOR. 
— Chin, throat and chest ee buff ‘belly ane brown or ae 
brown . . 5 ° A . = s . . . . ° . . . . . I4. C. DISCOLOR MANIPURENSIS. 

1) C. famtliaris persica, unknown to the author, is not included in the key. 
