CEEEPEES. 
9 
and hollow, as in the Woodpeckers ; the fourth and fifth 
feathers longest. Tail also, as in that genus, wedge- 
shaped, and composed of twelve rather stiff sharp- 
pointed_^feathers. The plumage on the upper parts is 
soft and very loose in its texture, the filaments of the 
feathers not adhering ; on the under surface white, silky 
and glistering. Legs short and slender ; the middle 
toe longest ; the inner much shorter than the outer ; 
hinder toe longer than the tarsus, the claw very long, 
and but slightly curved. All the claws very slender, 
the front ones very much curved and extremely sharp- 
pointed. It is common in Europe and North America. 
This cuifious little bird is everywhere abundantly 
distributed over the British Islands, frequenting 
gardens, parks, and all places where trees are to be 
found. A retired inhabitant of the woods and groves, 
as a pleasing writer describes it, and not in any way 
conspicuous for voice and plumage, it passes days with 
us, scarcely attracting any notice or attention. Its 
small size and the manner in which it procures its 
food both tend to secrete it from sight. In these 
pursuits its actions are more like those of a mouse 
than of a bird, darting like a great moth from tree to 
tree, uttering a faint trilling sound as it fixes upon 
their boles, running round them in a spiral direction, 
when with repeated wriggles having gained the summit, 
it darts to the base of another and commences again. 
The retiring and almost noiseless habits of this 
bird cause it to be but little noticed by those who are 
unacquainted with its faint call of tsint, tsint. It is by 
no means a scarce bird, and may be seen in almost every 
clump of tall trees, as it flits from one tree to another, 
