BLACK AND WHITE CREEPER. 
‘315 
figured by Edwards from a dried skin sent him by Mr William 
Bartram, who gave it its present name. Succeeding natu- 
ralists have classed it with the Warblers, — a mistake which I 
have endeavoured to rectify. 
The genus of Creepers comprehends about thirty different 
species, many of which are richly adorned with gorgeous 
plumage ; but, like their congenial tribe, the Woodpeckers, 
few of them excel in song ; their tongues seem better calcu- 
lated for extracting noxious insects from the bark of trees, 
than for trilling out sprightly airs ; as the hardened hands of 
the husbandman are better suited for clearing the forest, or 
guiding the plough, than dancing among the keys of a forte- 
piano. Which of the two is the more honourable and useful 
employment is not difficult to determine. Let the farmer, 
therefore, respect this little bird for its useful qualities, in 
clearing his fruit and forest trees from destructive insects, 
though it cannot serenade him with its song. 
The length of this species is five inches and a half ; extent, 
seven and a half; crown, white, bordered on each side with a 
band of black, which is again bounded by a line of white 
passing over each eye ; below this is a large spot of black 
covering the ear-feathers : chin and throat, black ; wings, the 
same, crossed transversely by two bars of white ; breast and 
back, streaked with black and white; tail, upper, and also 
under coverts, black, edged, and bordered with white ; belly, 
white ; legs and feet, dirty yellow ; hind claw the longest, 
and all very sharp pointed ; bill, a little compressed sidewise, 
slightly curved, black above, paler below ; tongue, long, fine 
pointed, and horny at the extremity. These last circumstances, 
joined to its manners, characterize it, decisively, as a Creeper. 
The female, and young birds of the first year, want the 
black on the throat, having that part of a grayish white. 
