Notices of New Books. 



8505 



" T7te Tree Creeper. — The tree creeper, though a common bird, is 

 less familiarly known than many others of much rarer occurrence, yet, 

 if once observed, can be confounded with no other. In size it ranks 

 with the tits, willow wren, &c, but is less likely to attract notice than 

 any of these, as it never alights on the ground nor perches on the 

 small twig of a tree. Its note, too, is weak, simple and unpretending, 

 amounting to no more than an occasional ' cheep,' which it utters from 

 time to time while hunting for food, and while performing its short 

 flights. Any one, however, who wishes to see the bird, and knows what 

 to search for, can scarcely fail of success if he looks well about him 

 during a stroll through almost any wood of full-grown trees. Half 

 way up the trunk of a rugged elm or oak he will observe a small por- 

 tion of bark, as it were, in motion ; the motion, and not the colour, 

 betrays the presence of a small brown bird, which is working its way 

 by succession of irregular starts up the trunk. Frequently it stops for a 

 few seconds, as it is evidently pecking at some small insect, quite noise- 

 lessly however. Its beak is not adapted for hammering; it confines 

 its attention therefore to such insects as live on the surface of the bark. 

 It utters a low * cheep,' and proceeds, not in a straight line up the tree, 

 but winding in search of its prey ; presently it disappears on the other 

 side of the trunk, and again comes in view a few feet higher up. Now 

 it reaches a horizontal branch ; along this it proceeds in like manner, 

 being indifferent whether it clings sideways or hangs with its back 

 downwards. Arrived at the smaller divisions of the bough it ceases 

 to hunt ; but, without remaining an instant to rest, flies to the base of 

 another bough, or more probably to another tree, alighting a few feet 

 only from the ground, and at once beginning a new ascent. This mode 

 of life it never varies : from morning to night, in winter and in summer, 

 it is always climbing up the boles of trees, and, when it has reached 

 the top, flying to the base of others. On one solitary occasion I ob- 

 served one retrace its steps for a few inches, and stand for a second 

 or two with its head downwards ; but this is a most unusual position, 

 as indeed may be inferred from the structure of its tail, the feathers of 

 which are rigid, and more or less soiled by constant pressure against 

 the bark."— (P. 302). 



Of the illustrations I feel little inclined to speak ; they are indeed 

 original, but are they equally truthful? Where does Mr. Wolf get the 

 enormous head of the short-eared owl ? 



Edward Newman. 



VOL. XXI, 



