Order II. PASSERES. 



Tribe II. Tenuirostres. 



Family V. CerthiI)^. 



The fourth Subfamily, 



CERTHIN.E, or Creepers, 



have the Toes very long and slender; the outer toe longer than the inner, united beyond the first joint, 

 and the inner toe as far as the first joint, of the middle toe; the hind toe very long, and slender: the 

 Claws long, much compressed, and curved. 



Certhia Linn.* 



Bill moderate, slender, and curved throughout its length, with the sides compressed to the tip, which 

 is entire and acute; the gonys long and curved; the nostrils basal, lateral, and sunken, with the 

 opening in the forepart of the groove, lunate, and partly covered by a membranous scale. Wings 

 moderate and rounded ; with the first quill short, and the fourth and fifth quills equal and longest. Tail 

 long and graduated ; with the ends of the feathers rigid and acute. Tarsi shorter than the middle toe, 

 and slender. Toes long and slender ; the inner toe shorter than the outer, both more or less united at 

 the base ; the hind toe long and slender ; the claws long, much curved, and acute. 



The species are found in Europe, Asia, and the temperate parts of North America. They are usually observed 

 wherever trees are abundant, climbing on the trunks, generally commencing from the base, and moving rapidly upwards 

 in a straight or in a spiral direction round the tree, using their stiff-pointed tail to assist them in the ascent. Sometimes 

 they are noticed on the branches, and they are often seen running along the lower surface with very great dexterity. 

 Their object in searching the trunks and branches is for the purpose of obtaining the insects which lie concealed in the 

 holes and crevices of the bark. 



1. C. familiaris Linn. PI. enl. 681. — Certhia scandulaca Pall. 

 Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 237- ; C. Nattereri Pr. Bonap. ? Wils. Amer. 

 Orn. pi. 8. f. 1. ; C. americana Pr. Bonap., Audub. B. of Amer. 

 pi. 419- 



2. C.himalayana Vigors, Proc. Z. S. 1831. p. 174. — Certhia 

 asiatica Swains. Two Cent, and a Quart, p. 353. 



CaULODROMUS. %*y,.f,Z,S., >**£. |*V? 



Bill longer than the head, broad, and rather depressed at the base, slender, and curved throughout 

 its length, with the sides much compressed from the nostrils to the tip, which is obtuse, and slightly 



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Established in 1.^35 by Linnaeus, 



