TREE CREEPER. 21 



hole in a tree, or the decayed crown of a pollard, wherein to 

 roost. It is very rarely that the Tree Creeper is to be found 

 sitting or standing still, unless the bird has just met with 

 food, and is in the act of enjoying its meal ; or, if it is 

 frightened, when it will follow the example of the golden- 

 crested wren, and remain perfectly motionless for a time ; 

 but at all other times of the day the bird is indefatigable in 

 its exertions, and ever on the alert and active in its occu- 

 pation. 



The note or call of the Tree Creeper is a very shrill 

 sound, like the word tree, tree, often repeated ; and, 

 from its exceeding sharpness, and the great rapidity with 

 which it is pronounced, is excessively unpleasant and pain- 

 ful to listen to, particularly in a room, if any one has 

 the good fortune to obtain a whole brood of these birds, 

 as was our own case. The restless nature of the Tree 

 Creeper prevents its being often kept in confinement. The 

 fledged nestlings are very much in their appearance like 

 mice, and will hide themselves in any drapery they may 

 meet with in a room ; and therefore, if brought in doors, 

 are frequently difficult to find if they are allowed the liberty 

 of going where they please. 



The food of the Tree Creeper consists chiefly in insects 

 and small seeds, the former of which the bird principally 

 seeks for among the roughest bark of trees, and occasionally 

 amongst decayed and cracked wood-work in old fences or 

 buildings, its long slender beak being beautifully adapted for 

 extracting its food from out of the cracks and fissures, which 

 it swallows as soon as obtained. The smallest beetles seem 

 to be a favourite morsel, as well as the larvae of butterflies and 

 spiders. During winter the Tree Creeper comes into farm- 

 yards and villages, in search of the insects that the rays of the 

 sun may bring out of their hiding-places about noonday 

 at that season. 



