20 CERTHIAD.E. 



brandies, the bird in question is rarely found to run upon 

 them of its own accord ; nor is it frequently seen running 

 about on the ground. The habits of the Tree Creeper are 

 lively and nimble, perfectly harmless, quick in all its move- 

 ments ; and although it shows no fear of mankind, it invaria- 

 bly runs to the opposite side of the stem or branch to that 

 on which it happens to be when approached, and not unfre- 

 quently runs swiftly up the stem, and flies from thence un- 

 seen to a neighbouring tree, thereby eluding the pursuit of 

 the sportsman or bird-catcher. The sharp-pointed and 

 greatly curved claws of the Tree Creeper enable the bird to 

 run up the stems and along the horizontal branches of trees 

 with incredible swiftness and security, and even to move ra- 

 pidly on the under surface of such branches, after the man- 

 ner of flies against a ceiling. Its progress consists in a series 

 of sudden jerks, in which it is aided by its elastic spring- 

 formed tail, which also serves the purpose of steadying it 

 when at rest. Its head is generally carried in a straight line 

 forwards, and at a sufficient elevation to enable the curved 

 slender beak to be carried clear of any roughnesses in the 

 bark of the tree. Like the woodpeckers, the Tree Creeper 

 is unable to run with its head downwards along the stem of 

 a tree or other object ; indeed, this seems to be the exclu- 

 sive privilege of the nuthatch, which is the only bird known 

 to do so with us. The flight of the Tree Creeper is simi- 

 lar to that of the titmice, in undulating lines through the 

 air ; but is much more rapid, to which its slender body and 

 smooth feathering contribute very much. This bird does 

 not fly to any great distance at a time, but travels from tree 

 to tree, alighting at the foot of the tree, then running up 

 the stem, and again shooting down from the top of one tree 

 to the bottom of the next, and unerringly attaining its 

 desired position, and thus continuing to employ itself until 

 evening approaches, and the bird is obliged to look for a 



