24 



BLACK AND WHITE CREEPER. 



The length of this species is five inches and a half, extent se- 

 ven and a half ; crown white, bordered on each side with a band 

 of black, which is again bounded by a line of white passing over 

 each eye, below this is a large spot of black covering the ear fea- 

 thers; chin and throat black; wings the same, crossed transversely 

 by two bars of white ; breast and back streaked w ith black and 

 white; tail, upper and also under coverts, black, edged and bor- 

 dered with white; belly white; legs and feet dirty yellow; hind 

 claw the longest, and all very sharp-pointed ; bill a little compress- 

 ed sideways, slightly curved, black above, paler below ; tongue long, 

 fine-pointed, and horny at the extremity. These last circumstances, 

 joined to its manners, characterize it, decisively, as a Creeper. 



The female and young birds of the first year want the black 

 on the throat, having that part of a greyish white. 



