318 PaSSERES. BIRDS. CERTHIADiE. 
loosened bark of a tree ; one of these nests, described 
by Mr. Yarrell, consisted of small twigs, lined with a 
thick layer of fine grass, mixed with wool and feathers. 
Tlie Creeper lays from seven to nine eggs of a white 
colour, with a few pale-red spots ; it breeds as early as 
the month of April. 
THE WALL-CREEPER {Tichodroma muraria) — Plate 
9, fig. 29 — is another European species, nearly related 
to the Common Creeper, which it much resembles in its 
habits, except that, instead of the trunks and branches 
of trees, it frequents the bare rocks of mountainous 
districts, seeking its insect food in their crevices, and 
breeding in the small cavities which abound among 
them. It is about seven inches in length, and has a 
longer bill and a shorter tail than the Common Creeper; 
the general colour of its plumage is ashy-grey, becoming 
blackish in particular parts ; the cheeks and throat, the 
quill feathers of the wings and tail are black, the wings 
spotted, and the tail feathers tipped with white or ash 
colour ; the wing-coverts are red. This bird is an in- 
habitant of the mountainous parts of Soutliern Europe, 
and is also found in Asia, but does not occur in Britain. 
During the summer it resides high up on the mountains, 
obtaining its supplies of food by running about upon the 
faces of the rocks ; but in the winter it descends to a 
level inhabited by man, when it deserves its name 
of Wall-creeper, by the preference which it shows 
for running upon those old walls clothed with lichens, 
which doubtless furnish it with a supply of food most 
like that of its summer home among the mountains. 
THE AUSTRALLAN BROWN TREE-CREEPER {Cli- 
macteris scandens). The Creepers are represented in 
Australia by a peculiar genus to which the name of 
Climacteris has been given. The Brown Tree-creeper 
is an inhabitant of all the south-eastern part of the 
Australian continent, where it resides principally in the 
open, thinly-timbered parts of the forest, seeking its 
insect l[ood, not only amongst the cracks and crevices 
of the bark, but also in the hollow spouts, and even on 
the ground beneath the trees. In the latter situation 
it passes much time, moving about with pert, lively 
actions. Its flight is effected by a skimming motion of 
the wdngs. 
The whole length of this bird is about six inches, 
and its plumage exhibits various shades of brown, with 
a broad buff band across the wings. The nest is com- 
posed of the hair of opossums ; and Mr. Gould says 
that, judging from its brightness and freslmess, this 
material is no doubt plucked from the living animals, 
while reposing in hollow trees. It is usually placed 
low down in a hollow branch, and contains two pale- 
reddish eggs which are blotched with reddish-brown. 
THE RED TREE-CREEPER {Climacteris rufa) repre- 
sents the preceding species in Western Australia, and 
resembles it precisely in its habits. It is dark brown 
above and reddish beneath. The nest is placed in the 
same situation as that of the last species, but composed 
of grasses, down, and feathers. There are several 
other species. 
THE NUTHATCH {Sitta europcea)—V\aiQ, 9, fig. 30 
— has a stouter and straighter Ijill than the preceding 
species, and its toes are remarkably long and slender, 
and terminated by very long, compressed, and curved 
claws. It is a small bird, measuring little more than 
five inches and a half in length, to the extremity of tho 
short tail. The general colour of the plumage on the 
upper parts is bluish-grey, and that of the lower surface 
light reddish-yellow ; the flanks are brownish, and the 
cheeks and throat white, this white portion being sepa- 
rated from the grey of the upper surface of the head 
and neck by a black band, which runs from the base of 
the bill to the shoulder. 
The Nuthatch is a common bird in many parts 
of Europe, especially in the south. It is generally 
diffused in England, although not very abundant ; its 
occurrence in Scotland is doubtful, and it has not been 
observed in Ireland. It is a brisk and lively bird ; and 
its actions are very amusing, as it runs about quickly 
like the Creeper on the rough bark of its favourite trees. 
In this its tail does not afford it any assistance, and it 
is principally by the agency of its long and powerful 
curved claws that it maintains itself in ever-varying 
attitude on the trees ; but the tarsus also comes into 
play, being applied to the surface in the manner of a 
footsole. The food of the bird consists partly of insects, 
caterpillars, and other animal matters, and partly of 
beech-mast and nuts ; and it is from its predilection for 
tlie latter, and the peculiar mode in which it contrives 
to crack them, that its name of Nuthatch has been 
given to it. The nut is fixed by the bird in a crevice 
in the bark of a tree ; he then moves round it as if to 
select the best point of attack ; and, having taken up 
his position, and secured himself firmly by the grasp 
of his powerful feet, he proceeds to batter upon the 
nut with his strong bill, and soon breaks through the 
hardest shell. 
This interesting bird is a permanent resident in this 
country, frequenting woods, plantations, parks, and even 
gardens and orchards; resorting to the latter principally 
on the approach of winter. It nestles in the holes of 
trees, making a bed of dead leaves, moss, and fragments 
of bark and wood, and usually taking the precaution 
of plastering up a portion of the external aperture of 
its abode with clay, so as to leave only a sufficient 
space to serve for its own passage. The object of this 
proceeding is evidently to prevent the Woodpeckers, 
which also breed in the holes of trees, from destroying 
the nest and taking possession of it. The Nuthatch 
lays six or seven eggs of a white colour spotted with 
rusty red ; and the bird sits upon these with such per- 
tinacity, that, as Montagu observes, “no persecution 
will force it to quit them. It defends its nest to the 
last extremity, strikes at the invader with its bill and 
wings, and makes a hissing noise; and after every effort 
of defence, will suffer itself to be taken in the hand 
rather than quit.” Young birds taken from the nest 
may be easily tamed ; but the old birds generally kill 
themselves by their efforts to escape. A second species 
of Nuthatch occurs in Eastern Europe, and several others 
in various parts of India, principally in the hilly districts. 
Other species are found in North America, amongst 
which we may notice — 
THE CAROLINA NUTHATCH {Sitta carolinensis), 
which is an abundant species almost everywhere in 
North America, and presents a close resemblance to 
the European Nuthatch in its halfits, differing princi- 
