COMMON CREEPER. 58 
Famity CERTHIIDA. 
COMMON CREEPER. 
CERTHIA FAMILIARIS, Linn. 
Pl. X., fig. 3. 
Geogr. distr. —Generally in Europe; also Asia, N. Africa, and 
N. America; in Great Britain generally distributed and resident. 
Food.—Insects. 
Nest.—Formed of small twigs, fine grass straws or strips of bark, 
and a little moss, neatly lined with feathers, and sometimes a little 
wool. 
Position of nest.—Under eaves of straw thatches ; behind the loose 
plaster of a wall or pieces of partly detached bark, or trellis work; in 
piles of timber, holes in trees, and other suitable situations. 
Number of eggs. 5-6; probably generally 6. 
Time of nidification.—IV-V. 
Owing to the position of the nest of this bird it is 
usually compressed and rather deep. The Creeper is one 
of our smallest but most interesting birds, and it is im- 
possible to catch sight of it, as it moves up the trunk of 
a tree spirally in little sharp jerks, without wishing to 
see more of it; this, however, is not an easy matter, for 
as one follows its movements it suddenly slides out of 
sight, so that it is only by dodging that one is sure of 
seeing it again; as it moves in this manner over the 
surface of the bark it is constantly watching for insects 
hidden in the crevices; these it picks out with its long, 
slender bill. When the examination of one tree is com- 
pleted it flies to another, generally working upwards from 
the foot. 
Though the Creeper is said sometimes to lay as many as 
nine eggs, it is probable that sixis the more usual number; 
at the same time, though I have on several occasions 
noticed the bird, I have hitherto not met with a nest con- 
taining eggs, and, therefore, I can only judge by what I 
have proved to be the case with Wrens and Tits. Newman 
states the number to be 6 to 8, and Dresser, I think, says 
5-6. The number 9 seems to have originated with 
Hewitson, who, I think, was rather inclined to record 
extraordinary clutches as though they represented nothing 
unusual. 
