. Birds of other lands, reptiles, fishes, jointed animals and lower forms;. Zoology; Birds; Reptiles; Fishes. 130 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD The PiriTS are duller-coloured than the Wagtails, have shorter tails, and evince less fondness for the water. The Meauow-, Rock-, and Tree-I'Ipits are the commonest British species. Neither Wagtails nor Pipits are much given to perching, but the Tree-CREEFERS spend their lives upon trees, some being specially modified for this mode of life, their tail-feathers being stiff and terminating in sharp points. By pressing its tail closeh' against the tree-
. Birds of other lands, reptiles, fishes, jointed animals and lower forms;. Zoology; Birds; Reptiles; Fishes. 130 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD The PiriTS are duller-coloured than the Wagtails, have shorter tails, and evince less fondness for the water. The Meauow-, Rock-, and Tree-I'Ipits are the commonest British species. Neither Wagtails nor Pipits are much given to perching, but the Tree-CREEFERS spend their lives upon trees, some being specially modified for this mode of life, their tail-feathers being stiff and terminating in sharp points. By pressing its tail closeh' against the tree-trunk up which it is climbing, the bird obtains a wonderfully reliable support. Beginning at the bottom of a trunk, creepers quickly work their way up in a spiral direction, or sometimes in jerky zigzags, searching every crevice for tiny insects, their eggs and larvae, and flitting from the higher branches, when these are reached, to the base of another tree. Creepers are mostly dull-coloured, but the Wall-CREEPER has crimson patches on the wings. This bird, which has occurred in Britain, haunts mountain-cliffs. The TREE-CREEPER, a resident m Britain, builds its nest behind pieces of loose bark, or under tiles, or in crevices of trees, walls, or hollow branches. In this nest are laid from six to nine eggs, pure white, spotted with red, or with a creamy ground-colour, with the spots thicker round the large end. Intermediate in position between the . Creepers and the Titmice are the NUT- Chiefly inhabitants of the northern parts of both hemispheres, they extend as far south as Mexico, whilst in the Old World they occur plentifully in the Himalaya. The largest species is found in the moun- tains of Burma. One species is frequently met with in England, and occasionally in Scotland, but is unknown in Ireland. The English Nuthatch may serve us as a t)'pe of the group. " Its habits," writes Dr. Sharpe, " are a combination of those of the tit and woodpecker. Li
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecad, booksubjectfishes, booksubjectzoology
