MNIOTILTA PIN US. 49 
nomy of the pine creeping warbler {fig. 132. b) as thus 
narrated by the ornithologist of America. 
(53.) " The pine creeping warbler,” says Wilson,* 
“ runs along the hark of thepines; sometimes alighting and 
feeding upon the ground, and almostalways, whendisturb- 
ed, flying up and clinging to the trunks of trees. They 
associatein flocks, and are easily known bytheirmanner of 
rising from the ground, and alighting on iYiebody of the 
tree : they also often glean among tlie topmost boughs of 
tlie pine trees, hanging head downwards likethe titmouse; 
but, notwithstanding the habits of the bird, the tongue is 
slender, as in the warbler genus.* Again : “ The pine 
warbler has all the habits of a creeper, alighting on the 
trunk of the pine trees, running nimbly round them, and, 
according to Mr. Abbot, builds a pendulous nest.” t Here, 
then, is a bird presenting as extraordinary a union of cha- 
racters (in themselves apparently contradictory), as any 
in this class of animals. It climbs with all the facility 
of a scansorial creeper, yet, unlike that family, it is gre- 
» garious and builds a pendulous nest : it has the tongue 
of a warbler, but the habits of a Fni-pimra and a Farus. 
It frequently feeds upon the ground, in flocks, like the 
gallinaceous birds ; but yet it ascends the highest trees, 
s-nd hangs to the branches like a titmouse ! Finally, the 
bill of the bird {fig. 132. /<) (the two sexes are now 
before us) is precisely like that of Fermivora, equally 
entire ; but the culmen is very slightly arehed, and the 
f>ase somewhat depressed. It further exhibits the re- 
niarkable character of the rictus being distinctly bristled : 
lo this latter character we shall subsequently call the 
leader’s particular attention. 
(54.) Let us now inquire how far the above pecu- 
harities admit of explanation. The affinity between the 
lack and white creeper {Mniotilta •carin') and the pine 
peeper is manifested not only by the foregoing account, 
ut by the similar construction of their feet, wings, and 
, birds, indeed, have been placed together by 
able elucidator of American ornithology, prince 
* Am. Oni. vol iii. p. 85. f Ib. vol. ii. p. 110. 
von. II. 
E 
