CREEPERS. 
187 
uninfluenced by the disturbances of the atmosphere. It would seem that the object, whatever 
it be, is the same in both. It is not for warmth that the insects spin these webs, for they form 
their coverings of silk and cotton in the hottest period of the year ; and I find that whilst all 
our birds that build open nests (the Humming-birds build in May, June, and later) breed 
early, those that construct the domed and spherical ones nestle in the season between the 
spring and autumnal rains, when the air is saturated with electricity, and is in a state of con- 
stant change.” 
It is an interesting fact that so many as four hundred different species of birds — the 
Humming-birds— should have no representatives in the Old World. The Sun-birds of Africa 
and Asia appear nearest them in external features. Fifteen species are now enumerated as N orth 
American birds. In the tropical portions of South America the remaining species are found. 
Single species are occasionally seen in the Arctic regions, and as far south as Patagonia. The 
food of these little creatures consists almost entirely of insects, which they capture in the 
recesses of flowers. So varied are these little forms, one hundred and thirty genera are recog- 
nized among them. Ten genera are found in North America. The habits and manners of 
Humming-birds are peculiar, differing very markedly from any other birds. Their flight and 
movements generally resemble those of insects, though usually much more rapid. They are 
so nearly like the great nocturnal Sphinxes in their flight, that some of the latter have 
been called Humming-bird Moths. 
They are not seen in forests, but love the sunshine and the flowers. Some feed during the 
twilight ; probably because the insects they favor are out more abundantly at such times. 
Their pugnacious habits are well known. They attack without hesitation birds larger than 
themselves. So large a bird as the Sparrow Hawk has been seen to suffer from the attack of 
one of these little creatures. The very smallness was in his favor ; for, with sufficient courage 
and a disposition to fight, he follows up blow after blow with his sharp bill, until his enemy 
retreats with disgust. 
The nests of the Humming-bird are well-known marvels of beauty. The eggs are usually 
two, and pure white. Though these birds have been said to have no voice, Mr. Bell, the dis- 
tinguished taxidermist of Audubon’s staff, avers that he has distinctly heard one of the Cen- 
tral American species sing, uttering a fine, low note ; and others have since testified the same. 
CREEPERS, 
We now arrive at the large family of the Certhid^e, or Creepers ; a family which 
includes many birds of very different forms, and which can only be known to belong to it by 
their anatomical structure. In fact, the Creepers maybe considered as analogous among birds 
to the antelopes among mammalia, and be considered as a u refuge for the destitute, ’ ’ formed 
for the purpose of receiving all the slender-billed birds which cannot find accommodation in 
any other more definite family. 
The Certhidm are mostly small birds, but there is one notable exception in the person of 
the celebrated lyre-bird of Australia. Many of them are good songsters, and they all feed 
chiefly upon insects, which they pick out of the bark of trees or unearth from the soil. The 
beak is rather long and slender, except perhaps in the nuthatch, which, although compara- 
tively long, is possessed of great strength ; and there is always a curve more or less marked. 
The beak is always sharp at its extremity, and the nostrils are placed in a little groove at the 
base of the bill, and defended by a membranous scale. The feet are, although slender in 
several species, possessed of remarkable strength, and furnished with sharp round claws, in 
older to enable the birds to cling to the tree-trunks in which they find their food. 
