_Certhia mexicana_, “GLOGER, Handbuch,” REICHENBACH, Handbuch, I,
1853, 265, pl. dlxii, figs. 3841, 3842.—SCLATER, P. Z. S. 1856,
290; 1858, 297; 1859, 362, 372.—SALVIN, Ibis, 1866, 190 (Volcan
de Fuego, Guat.).—BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 373 (under _C.
americana_), pl. lxxxiii, fig. 2; Review, 90.
SP. CHAR. Ground-color above very dark sepia-brown, each feather with
a sharply defined medial streak of grayish-white, these streaks
becoming broader posteriorly, where they are discontinued at the
beginning of the rump. Whole rump and upper tail-coverts
chestnut-rufous. Beneath pale ashy, becoming almost white on the
throat; crissal feathers deep ochraceous except at the tips, which are
whitish. Markings of the wings as usual. Measurements (8176, Mexico):
wing, 2.50; tail, 2.70; bill (from nostril), .48; hind claw, .30.
HAB. Guatemala and Mexico; probably extending along the table-lands
into the United States.
This is one of the best marked of the various races that have been
discussed (see p. 124). The ground-color of the upper parts is
altogether darker than in any of the others, and the streaks are more
sharply defined and narrower; the rufous of the rump is of a
castaneous, instead of yellowish cast; the wings appear more uniform
with the back, owing to the dark color of the latter, and their pale
markings have little of that yellowish tinge so noticeable in the
others. In the ashy tinge of the lower parts there is a resemblance to
_familiaris_ of Europe; but the latter has not the ochraceous crissum
so noticeable in the present bird. There is little resemblance to
Western and Rocky Mountain specimens of the _C. americana_ and if
these are to be considered as separable from the Eastern (which,
however, would not, in our opinion, be advisable) they must not be
referred to _mexicana_.
The Mexican Creeper is introduced here on account of the probability
of its occurrence in the Southern Rocky Mountains.
HABITS. Mr. Salvin found the Mexican Tree-Creeper by no means uncommon
in the pine forests of the upper zone of the Volcan de Fuego. He also
observed it frequenting pine-trees in the district of Chilasco, Vera
Paz, at about 6,000 feet above the sea.