BIRDS 157 



10. Wagiails, with their allies the Pipits, make up a small 

 family which, though found in all parts of the world, except the 

 Pacific Islands, is especially characteristic of the northern parts 

 of Europe and Asia. The body is slender and the tail long. 

 The narrow -pointed beak is well suited for the capture of insects, 

 and the feet are somewhat like those of larks, except that the 

 claw of the first toe is more curved. Most of the birds here 

 included are found chiefly on the ground, and run very quickly. 



Common British species are the following: — Pied Wagtail 

 {Motacilla lugubris) ; Meadow Pipit or Titlark [Anthus pratensis). 



The other native species are the following: — White Wagtail (Motacilla alba); 

 Blue-headed Wagtail {M. flavd) ; Grey Wagtail {M. melanope) ; Yellow Wagtail 

 {M. Rati); Rock Pipit (Anthtis obscurus); Richard's Pipit {A. Richardi); Tree 

 Pipit (A. trivialis). 



1 1 . Creepers are a small family of wide distribution, with 

 long curved beak and sharp claws. They are adapted for the 

 pursuit of insects upon the trunks of trees, walls, and similar 

 places. 



The only resident British species is the Tree Creeper {Certhia 

 /amiliaris), which has a wide range in the Northern hemisphere. 

 Though fairly common, its plumage harmonizes so well with 

 the surroundings that it often escapes observation. The tail is 

 stiffened, and its pointed quills are of great assistance in climbing. 



12. Nuthatches constitute another small family of climbing 

 birds, somewhat more widely distributed than the Creepers, being 

 absent only from South America, Africa south of the Sahara, 

 and the Pacific Islands. They differ in no very important respect 

 from the Creepers. Their food consists not merely of insects, 

 but also of nuts. 



Our only native species is the Nuthatch {Sitta cissia), common 

 in the wooded parts of Central and South Europe, and also found 

 in North Africa. It also ranges into South-west Asia, but, unlike 

 the Creeper, is unknown in North America. 



1 3. The Sun-Birds are small, brilliantly-coloured forms ranging 

 through the tropics of the Old World, and often confounded 

 with the humming-birds, which they resemble in appearance and 

 habits, though there is no close relationship between the two 

 groups. 



14. Tits or Titmice are small active birds, the general appear- 

 ance of which is well known to everyone, and which, though 



