The COMMON TREE CREEPER (_Certhia familiaris_) is of a deep grey, spotted
with white, the under side being entirely of pure white; the bridles and
rump are brownish grey, the latter shaded with yellowish red; a white
stripe passes over the eyes. The quills are deep brownish grey, and
all except the first are tipped with white, and have a whitish yellow
line across the centre; the tail-feathers are brownish grey, those at
the exterior edged with light yellow. The eye is dark brown, the upper
mandible black, and the lower portion of the beak reddish grey, as is the
foot. The length of this species is five, and its breadth seven inches;
the wing measures two inches and one-third, and the tail two inches and
one-sixth.
[Illustration: THE COMMON TREE CREEPER (_Certhia familiaris_).]
The Common Tree Creeper is an inhabitant of the woodland districts and
orchards of Europe and Siberia, and is frequently found at a considerable
elevation on such mountains as are not entirely destitute of trees.
Like other members of its family, it remains within a certain limited
tract during the breeding season, and after that period wanders over the
surrounding country in company with Titmice, Woodpeckers, and other birds.
Its flight is rapid, but unsteady; and during the greater part of the year
it is restricted to the slight effort required to pass from one tree to
another. Upon the ground its movements are extremely awkward; it is only
among the branches that it displays the wonderful activity of which it
is capable. Its cry closely resembles that of the Golden-crested Wren.
Towards man it exhibits the utmost friendliness, and frequently ventures
close to his dwellings, or even occasionally makes its nest within some
tempting hole in an old house or wall.
During the summer the temperament of the Tree Creeper is joyous and
brisk, but wintry weather soon renders it dull and uneasy. No doubt this
very visible discomfort arises in some measure from the impossibility of
keeping its feathers in the neat, trim state in which it delights at other
seasons of the year.
Holes and fissures are usually employed by this species, both for building
purposes and as sleeping places. The nest, which varies considerably
in size, is formed of dry twigs, grass, leaves, straw, or bark, woven
together with spiders' webs, and lined with feathers and fibres of various
kinds. The chamber of the young is round and deep, and so compactly and
neatly finished off as to render it a real work of art. The brood consists
of eight or nine white eggs, spotted with red, and deceptively like those
of the Titmouse. Both parents assist in the labour of incubation, and feed
their hungry family with great devotion. The young usually remain for a
long time in the nest, but if alarmed will scramble out, and hurry along
the branches to some safe retreat, even before they are fully fledged. The
female lays twice during the summer, the first time about April, and again
in June. The second brood rarely consists of more than from three to five
eggs.