272 



SYSTE3IATIC SYXOPSIS. — PASSEEES — OSCINA'S. 



Size of tlie lust. Youug : Difl'ers much as tlu' 9 '-'f canadensis dues from the g , in having the 

 top of the head like the back. U. S. from the Kocky ilts. to the Paeitie, abundant, chietlv in 

 pine woods; X. to Vancouver. Egus 6-7, white, profusely speckled with reddish, 0.G2 X 0.30. 



5. Family CERTHIID^ : Creepers. 



A very small, well-marked group, of about a di^zeu species, and four or five genera, wliich 

 fall in two secti<ins, commonly called subfamilies ; one of these, TicJiodroniino', is represented 

 by the well-known European Wall Creeper, Tichodroma muraria, and several (chiefly Aus- 

 tralian) species of the genus Cliniactcris: while the genus CtiihUi, with five or six species or 

 Yarieties, and certain allied genera (all luit one LUd "\A'orld) constitute the 



Fig. 145 — Common Brown Creeper, Ccrfhia Jamil iaris, ne.lr]y nat. size. vFroni Briiini.) 

 8. Subfamily CERTHIIN/E: Typical Creepers. 



Our species may be kuo'wn on sight, among Xorth American Oscincs. bv its rigid, acumi- 

 nate tail-feathers, like a woodpecker's. Besides: — bill about equal in length to head, ex- 

 tremely .tlender, shai-j), and decurved; nostrils exposed: no rictal bristles; tai-sns scutellate, 

 shorter than 3d toe and claw, which is connate for the whole of the 1st joint with both iA and 

 4th toe; lateral toes of unequal lengths, 1st toe shorter than its claw; claws all much curved 

 and very sharp; wing 10-primaried, the 1st primary very sliort, not one-half the 2d, which is 

 less than the 3d; point of wing formed by 3d. ith, and jtli quills; tail rounded, equal to or 

 longer than wing, of \i stout, elastic, curved, acumiuate feathers. Eestless, active, little forest 

 birds that make a living by picking bugs out of cracks in bark. In scrambling about they use 

 the tail as woodpeckers do, and never hang head downwards, like the nuthatches. Lav numer- 

 ous white, speckled eggs in knothcdes; are not regularly migratory ; have slight seasonal or 

 sexual changes of plumage ; are chiefly insectivorous, and not noted for uuisical ability. 



