Bill of moderate length or rather long, slender, slightly arched, much
compressed, acute; upper mandible with its dorsal outline convex or
arched, the ridge narrow, the notches slight or obsolete, lower
mandible with the angle rather long and narrow, the dorsal line
straight or slightly decurved, the edges inclinate, the tip acute.
Head moderate, ovate; neck short, body slender. Feet of moderate
length, or rather short; tarsus about the same length as the middle
toe, compressed, with eight anterior scutella, toes of moderate
length, much compressed, hind toe proportionally long, outer adherent
at the base; claws rather long, extremely compressed, arched, acute.
Wings short or of moderate length. Tail of twelve feathers, generally
much rounded. Tongue slender, emarginate and papillate at the base,
very narrow, tapering to a lacerated point. Œsophagus of moderate
width, without crop; proventriculus bulbiform; stomach of moderate
size, oblong, or elliptical, moderately muscular, with the muscles
distinct; epithelium dense, longitudinally rugous; intestine short,
rather wide; cœca very small; cloaca globular. Trachea simple, with
four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles.
GENUS I. CERTHIA, Linn. TREE-CREEPER.
Bill about the same length as the head, very slender, arched, much
compressed, acute; upper mandible with the dorsal line arched, the
ridge narrow, the sides sloping at the base, nearly erect in the rest
of their extent, the edges sharp, arched, without notch, the tip
acute; lower mandible with the angle rather long, narrow, and pointed,
the outline decurved, the sides erect and convex, the edges inclinate,
the tip acute. Nostrils linear-oblong, operculate. Head ovate; neck
short; body slender. Feet rather short, very slender, tarsus rather
shorter than the middle toe, very slender, much compressed; toes
extremely compressed; the first comparatively large, longer than the
middle toe, including the claw; the inner toe shorter than the outer;
claws long, moderately arched, slender, extremely compressed,
laterally grooved, acute, that of the hind toe very long. Plumage
long, loose, very soft. Bristles obsolete. Wings of moderate length,
very broad; the first quill very short, the fourth and fifth longest.
Tail long, graduated, of twelve moderately stiff pointed feathers.