Q72 PERCHERS AND SINGERS 
small woodpecker, and although his friend the chickadee has 
more style than he, he himself is much better fitted for digging 
in bark. The top of his head is black, his sides, throat and 
breast are pure white, while his back is dull blue, or gray- 
blue. As a climber, this bird surpasses the woodpecker, 
because in clinging to a tree-trunk it makes no use of its 
tail. 
Nuthatches are easily encouraged to make your trees 
their headquarters. In December, nail to a tree-trunk here 
and there, about twelve feet from the ground, some lumps 
of suet, or fat pork on the rind, or beef bones with a little 
raw.meat upon them, and see how quickly the birds find 
them out. The “winter residents’? will feast upon them 
until the last morsel has disappeared, and they will appreci- 
ate your thoughtfulness thus displayed precisely when tree- 
borers burrow deepest, and are most difficult to get at. 
THE TREE-CREEPER FAMILY 
Certhiidae 
Tue Brown CREEPER! represents a small Family of 
small birds of tree-climbing habits, but with bills that are 
rather too slender for work in bark. They are not fitted by 
nature for digging a modest and retiring borer from the 
bottom of his tunnel, and therefore they make a specialty of 
bark-lice and other surface wood-workers which can be picked 
off without hard digging. 
As an example of protective coloration, this little crea- 
ture is worthy of special note. Its back is brown, marked by 
+ Cer'thi-a fa-mil-t-ar'ts americanus. Length, 5.5 inches. 
