BLACK AND WHITE CREEPER. 
157 
I observed this bird near Savannah, in Georgia, early 
in March ; but it does not winter even in the southern 
parts of that State. 
The length of this species is four inches and a half ; 
extent, six and a half; front, and line over the eye, 
black ; bill, black, very slender, overhanging at the tip, 
notched, broad, and furnished with bristles at the base ; 
the colour of the plumage above is a light bluish gray, 
bluest on the head, below, bluish white ; tail, longer than 
the body, a little rounded, and black, except the exterior 
feathers, which are almost all white, and the next 
two also tipt with white ; tail-coverts, black ; wings, 
brownish black, some of the secondaries next the body 
edged with white; legs, extremely slender, about three- 
fourths of an inch long, and of a bluish black colour. 
The female is distinguished by wanting the black line 
round the front. 
The food of this bird is small winged insects, and 
their larvre, but particularly the former, which it seems 
almost always in pursuit of. 
125 . SYLVIA VALIA, LATHAM. CERTHIA 3IACULATA, WILSON. 
BLACK AND WHITE CREEPER. 
WILSON, PLATE XIX. FIG. III. 
This nimble and expert little species seldom perches 
on the small twigs ; but circumambulates the trunk 
and larger branches, in quest of ants and other insects, 
with admirable dexterity. It arrives in Pennsylvania, 
from the south, about the 20th of April ; the young 
begin to fly early in July ; and the whole tribe abandon 
the country about the beginning of October. Sloane 
describes this bird as an inhabitant of the West India 
islands, where it probably winters. It was first figured 
by Edwards from a dried skin sent him by Mr William 
Bar tram, who gave it its present name. 
The genus of creepers comprehends about thirty 
different species, many of which are richly adorned 
with gorgeous plumage ; but, like their congenial tribe. 
