240 BIRD WATCHING 



like a true tree-creeper.* I was, as I say, quite close, 

 and watched it most attentively. It certainly — as far 

 as good looking can settle it — did not assist itself 

 with the wings. They remained close against the 

 sides, or, if they moved at all, it was imperceptible 

 to my eyes (which, by the way, are non-pareils). 

 Nevertheless, at a later period — for I followed along 

 the trees — when I watched it at only a few paces off, 

 it as certainly appeared that it did use the wings, 

 advancing up the trunk by flutterings, but these were 

 so small and slight, and raised the bird so imper- 

 ceptibly from the surface of the trunk, that it had all 

 the while the appearance of creeping. As I was still 

 closer to the bird during the latter part of my watch- 

 ing, it may be thought that this alone represents the 

 actual fact ; but, for my part, I cannot help thinking 

 that my eyesight served me upon each occasion. If 

 so, then here is more 'richness,' from a Darwinian 

 point of view. The tits, it will be remembered, 

 differed individually, but in this wren there was a 

 personal variation. He could creep, in ascending, 

 without using his wings, and generally did so ; still 

 he sometimes broke into a little flutter, which, in a 

 more pronounced form, had been prevalent in his 

 youth. His father always did it in this way, and 

 there were very old wrens still living who only 

 flew up a trunk. But this was thought very old- 

 fashioned." 



It will not be forgotten how this bird flew from the 

 point which it had reached on one tree, right down 

 to the roots of another, and ascended from these. 



* I allude to the apparent motion. The tree-creeper itself, I believe, 

 really hops. 



