112 
BROWN TREE-CREEPER. 
parts are reddish-brown, the head darker, the rump light brownish-red ; all 
the feathers with a central dull whitish streak. Wings deep brown, the 
coverts tipped, the secondary coverts barred at the base with dull yellow, of 
which a broad band in the midst of a brownish-black space crosses both webs 
of the quills, excepting the inner websof the outer four, and the outer webs 
of the outer three; most of the quills have also a greyish-yellow patch along 
the outer web toward the tip, which is dull white, the tail-feathers are yel- 
lowish-brown, with shafts of the same colour, the webs darker toward the 
end. A silvery white band passes over the eye ; the cheeks are dark brown ; 
the lower parts are silvery-white, the sides tinged with brown. 
Length to end of tail 54 inches ; to end of wings 4 ; to end of claws 4^ ; 
extent of wings 8i ; bill along the ridge W, along the edge of lower mandible 
wing from flexure 2 T \; tail 2~; tarsus f-f ; hind toe , 3 -J, its claw T 5 4 ; 
middle toe f¥, its claw f-f. 
Adult Female. 
The Female is considerably smaller and generally of a darker colour, but 
otherwise similar. 
Length to end of tail 54 inches, to end of wings 44, to end of claws 44 ; 
extent of wings 8 ; bill along the ridge ft. 
The shafts and webs of the tail are somewhat undulated, so as to give the 
appearance of their being barred with dusky. Younger individuals have 
the rump less red. Some have the lower parts almost pure white, while in 
others they are dusky white, being soiled by matter rubbed from the trees. 
On comparing four fresh and several dried specimens shot near Edinburgh, 
with eight dried specimens from America, one of which is from the Columbia 
river, I can find nothing on which to found a specific distinction. 
The roof of the mouth is flat, but the mandible concave; the posterior 
aperture of the nares linear, margined with two rows of papillae. The 
tongue is slender, decurved. long, measuring 64 twelfths, deeply emarginate 
and papillate at the base, concave above, horny in the greater part of its 
length, and tapering to a point. The oesophagus is 1 inch 8 twelfths long, 
of moderate width, its average diameter 1 4 twelfths, without dilatation. The 
proventriculus is enlarged to 2 twelfths. The stomach is a muscular gizzard, 
of a somewhat elliptical form, 5 twelfths long, 44 twelfths in breadth ; its 
lateral muscles very strong, the tendons of moderate size ; the epithelium 
thin, tough, longitudinally rugous, reddish-brown. The contents of the 
stomach are remains of insects of various kinds, and one large particle of 
quartz. The intestine is short, being only 44 inches long; its greatest 
diameter 1 twelfth ; the rectum is dilated ; the coeca, which come off at the 
distance of 5 twelfths from the extremity, are 4 twelfth long, and 4 twelfth 
in breadth. 
