C. familiaris (Linn.). The Creeper, Common Creeper, Tree Creeper and Tree-Climber, C. familiaris (Linn.), is, according to Belson end others, the KipOior of Aristotle (book ix. 17). It is Le Grimpereau of the French ; Picchio Piccolo, Picehietto, Kam pichino, and Piecio Itampichino, of the Italians ; Baumlaufer, Kleinere Grnu-Speeht, or Kloinste Baunt-Ilacker of the Germans; Krypare of the 'Fauna Sueeica ;' and the Crepianog of the ancient British.
It brie the bill about half an inch long, slender, and curved ; head and neck above streaked with black and yellowish-brown ; a white line above each eye ; iridea hazel ; back, rump, and scapulars approaching to tawny; quills dusky, tipped and edged with white or light brown ; coverts dusky-grown and yellowish-white, producing a variegated appearnnee; a yellowish-white bar across the wing ; firmly (se cramponnent fortement), without however mounting and descending by creeping. Clefts and crevices of rocks and the walls of old edifices are its favourite haunts, and sometimes, but very rarely, breast and belly silvery-white ; tail-feathers twelve, tawny-brown ; length rather more than 5 inches ; weight about 2 drachms (Montagu), Pennant says 5 drachms.
The Creeper is a most restless andactive little bird, ever on the I alert, and climbing up and about the Trunks and branches of trees ' intent on picking up its insect food. Though comparatively common, and a constant resident in Britain, it is not easily seen, for its activity in shifting its position makes it very difficult to follow it with the eye. At one instant it is before the spectator and the next is hidden from his view by the intervening trunk or branch, to the opposite side of which it has passed in a moment. The form of the tail and organisation of the feet are beautiful adaptations for this sort of rapid locomotion. Its note is monotonous, and often repeated.
It builds its nest in the hole or behind the bark of decayed trees, formed of dry grass and the inner part of the bark, lined with small feathers, in which six or eight eggs are deposited. While the female sits on these she is regularly fed by the male bird.
It is found in Great Britain and the continent of Europe. Pennant says that it migrates to Italy in September and October. Latham
states that it is found in various parts of Germany and elsewhere on the Continent, and is also said to inhabit North America. This is confirmed by the Prince of Canino, who, in his Specchio Compara. tivo ' notes it as common and permanent near Rome, and rare near Philadelphia.
Temminek is of opinion that the a brachydactyla of Brehm is identical with C. familiariz.
Tichodroma (Petrodroma, Vieill.). Bill longer than the head, triangular at the base, slightly bent, rounded, entire, and depressed at the nostrils horizontal ; tail-feathers nearly equal, with ordinary shafts; wings long; fourth, fifth, and sixth quill the longest ; 1'. murark, C. Bonap.; T. plarnicoptera, Temm.; C muraria, Linn. This bird is the Grimperean do Mursille, l'ic do Mnmille, Ternier, Esehelette, and Echelette, of the French ; Picchio Muraiele and Picchio di Mure of the Italians ; Mauer Banmlaufer of the Germans ; and Wall-Creeper of Latham.
The summit of the head is of a deep ash-colour; nape, back, and scapulars bright ash ; throat and front of the neck deep black ; lower parts blackish-ash ; coverts of the wings and upper part of the exterior barbs of the quills bright red ; extremity of the alar quills black— these quills have two large white spots disposed upon the interior barbs; tail black, terminated with white and ash; bill, iris, and feet black ; length 6 inches 6 lines. Such is Temeninck's description of the male in its nuptial or spring dress.
Tho female, according to the same author, has the summit of the head of the same bright ash as the back ; the throat and front of the neck white, slightly tinged with ash; and the rest of the plumage like that of the male.
It is a native of the south of Europe. Tolerably abundant in Spain . and Italy, always on the most elevated rocks, and very rare in the mountains of moderate height. Never found in the north, according to Temminek. The bird is common in Provence ; and the Prince of Canino notes it as permanent and rather rare near where it may however be seen creeping on the outward walls of St Peter's. It is not a British bird, at least it has never been recorded as such.