CERTHIA. 511 



Genus CERTHIA. 



The genus Certhia was established byLinnjeus in 1766, in his 'Systema 

 Naturje/ i. p. 184. Of course he did not indicate any type ; but subse- 

 quent ornithologists have removed the other twenty-four l)irds which 

 Linnaeus associated with the European Creeper into other genera, leaving 

 that bird as the type. As it is the first species in his genus, and is also 

 the Certhia certhia of Brisson, no fault can be found with the result. 



The Creepers as thus restricted are somewhat aberrant members of the 

 subfamily Parinse. Sclater and Salvin, guided by ornithological instinct, 

 place the family " Certhiidce " between the " Paridcs " and the " Troglo- 

 dytidte" amongst the "Oscines Dentirostres," in spite of their having 

 no notch in the bill. Sharpe, trying to avoid the conflict of logical with 

 ornithological instinct, raises the genus Certhia and its allies into a group 

 " CerthiomorpHje/^ to which he assigns even a higher than family rank. 

 To such extremes does the old superstition of the importance in classifica- 

 tion of the form of the bill lead its votaries. 



In the genus Certhia the bill is long, slender, and curved, like that of a 

 Sun-bird, whilst the tail is rounded, with the feathers stiff and pointed, 

 like that of a Woodpecker. In their rounded wings, small bastard primary, 

 scutellated tarsus, and large feet with well-developed hind toe, the species 

 of this genus are typical Parinse. 



The geographical range of the genus is throughout the central and 

 southern portions of the Palsearctic and Nearctic regions, extending into 

 the exti'eme north of the Oriental and Neotropical regions. The genus 

 only contains three species, all more or less divisible into subspecies. One 

 species only is found in Europe, which is a resident in our islands. 



The Creepers feed almost entirely on insects, and are intermediate in 

 their habits between the Tits and the Woodpeckers. In the position and 

 construction of their nests, and in the colour of their eggs, they resemble 

 the former. 



