272 
SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. — FASSERES— OSCINES. 
Size of the last. Young : Differs much as the 9 of canadensis does from the $ , in having the 
top of the head like the back. U. S. from the Rocky Mts. to the Pacific, abundant, chiefly in 
pine woods; N. to Vancouver. Eggs 6-7, white, profusely speckled vrith reddish, 0.62 X 0.50. 
5. Family CERTHIID^ : Creepers. 
A very small, well-marked group, of about a dozen species, and four or five genera, which 
fall in two sections, commonly called subfemilies ; one of these, TicJiodromince, is represented 
by the well-known European Wall Creeper, Tichodroma muraria, and several (chiefly Aus- 
tralian) species of the genus CUmacteris; while the genus Certhia, with five or six species or 
varieties, and certain allied genera (all but one Old World) constitute the 
Fig. 145. — Common Brown Creeper, Certhia familiaris, nearly nat. size. (From Brobm.) 
8. Subfamily CERTHIIN>E: Typical Creepers. 
Our species may be known on sight, among North American Oscines, by its rigid, acumi- 
nate tail-feathers, like a woodpecker's. Besides : — bill about equal in length to head, ex- 
tremely slender, sharp, and decurved ; nostrils exposed ; no rictal bristles ; tarsus scutellate, 
shorter than 3d toe and claw, which is connate for the whole of the 1st joint with both 2d and 
4th toe; lateral toes of unequal lengths, 1st toe shorter than its claw; claws all much curved 
and very sharp; wing 10-primaried, the 1st primary very short, not one-half the 2d, which is 
less than the 3d; point of wing formed by 3d, 4th, and 5th quills; tail rounded, equal to or 
longer than wing, of 12 stout, elastic, curved, acuminate feathers. Restless, active, little forest 
birds that make a living by picking bugs out of cracks in bark. In scrambling about they use 
the tail as woodpeckers do, and never hang head downwards, like the nuthatches. Lay numer- 
ous white, speckled eggs in knotholes ; are not regularly migratory ; have slight seasonal or 
sexual changes of plumage ; are chiefly insectivorous, and not noted for musical ability. 
