Part 12

The female is rather smaller and duller, and the young are less distinctly barred.

THE TREE-CREEPER Certhia familiaris, Linnæus

The Tree-Creeper is a common species, but from its quiet ways and dull colour seldom noticed. It is with us the whole year, spending its time in an unceasing search for small insects on the bark of trees. In its habits and food it is not unlike the Woodpeckers, climbing up with a series of jerks, and, when observed, shifting at once to the far side of the tree.

It has a short but pleasing little song, which is not often heard, and the call-note is a low and plaintive "cheep." It is solitary in habits, and more than one are seldom seen together, except in the breeding season. The nest is placed behind a piece of loose bark and is merely an accumulation of roots, grass, and moss, with a lining of wool and feathers. The eggs are white, minutely spotted with reddish.

The sexes are alike and have the feathers of the upper parts dark brown with pale centres, becoming lighter on the rump; under parts, silvery white. Flight feathers dark brown, barred with buffish white. Tail feathers stiff and pointed and dull reddish brown in colour. Length 4·75 in.; wing 2·5 in.

It is common and abundant throughout our islands.

THE WALL-CREEPER Tichodroma muraria (Linnæus)

Very few examples of this species, whose home is in the mountainous regions of Europe, have occurred in these islands. It spends its life climbing over the bare and precipitous surfaces of rock, searching for spiders and other insects on which it feeds.

The general colour is slate grey with crimson wing coverts and a black throat. The tail feathers are not stiff as in the preceding species. Length 6 in.; wing 3·9 in.

THE PIED WAGTAIL Motacilla lugubris, Temminck

"Chizzit, chizzit," and looking round we see our little grey friend as he passes with his peculiar and characteristic dipping flight across the field towards the ivy-clad wall. Every year he comes with unfailing regularity to rear his brood near the same spot. It is an old red-brick wall, thickly covered with ivy, which has concealed the various nooks and crannies brought about by the winter's frosts and the heat of the summer sun. In such a place the Pied Wagtail delights to build his nest. Although not strictly speaking a migrant, for some individuals spend the whole year with us, he nevertheless appears with unfailing regularity towards the end of April at his accustomed haunt, and probably brings his mate with him, for we seldom see more than a pair together at their breeding quarters, and thus quietly, and without any demonstration, the nest-building is begun. This is usually done in the very early hours of the morning, and the day is spent in some neighbouring field among the cattle, with occasional excursions to the side of the stream for the frequent bath which has earned for this species the name of "Polly Dishwasher."

When the nest, which is composed of grass and bents lined with horsehair, is completed, the six grey and speckled eggs are laid and incubation, which is solely carried on by the hen, begins.

If we did not know the habits of our friend, the first signs of his presence in the garden would be when he flies up to feed his mate with some special titbit, and then as he jumps out from the ivy we see him winging his way with elegant flight across the meadow to his favourite feeding-ground. In due course the young are hatched, and as the needs of the growing family become greater, we can often see the parents coming and going with unceasing energy till night brings compulsory rest to their labours. When the young leave the nest they are almost immediately taken into the grass fields, where the flies, attracted by the feeding cattle, offer them an easy livelihood.

September comes, and in company with the Meadow Pipits, they wander over the country and along the salt marshes near the sea previous to seeking other countries, or settling in the warmer parts of England near some sheltered farm where they may find food until the returning spring reminds them of their old haunts, or impels the younger generation to seek a mate and home.

In winter the sexes are alike, and grey in general colour with dark wings and tail (except the two outer feathers, which are white), while the inner secondaries are also broadly edged with white; under parts white.

In summer the chin and back are black, the forehead and a stripe across the face being white. Length 7·3 in.; wing 3·5 in.

The young bird resembles the adult in winter, but the white portions, especially on the throat and breast, are tinged with yellowish and the breast is slightly spotted.

This bird is generally distributed throughout the British Isles, rarer in the north and resident in the warmer portions of the south and west.

WHITE WAGTAIL Motacilla alba, Linnæus

This is the Continental form of the preceding species, which passes through the country every year on migration and occasionally stays to breed. In habits it is precisely similar to its congener the Pied Wagtail. It may be distinguished by its rather lighter colour, and in summer it retains the light grey back but assumes the black chin.

The females, however, of our own species frequently do not assume a black back, so that the colour of the back when seen in the field will not be sufficient to identify this species. When it can be closely compared it may always be recognised by the clearer grey of the back and pure grey upper tail coverts. In the Pied Wagtail the mantle has a greenish tinge, and the proximal tail coverts are nearly black. Length 7·5 in.; wing 3·5 in.

GREY WAGTAIL Motacilla melanope, Pallas

The Grey Wagtail is a close inhabitant of rocky streams, and we have to go to the more mountainous parts of our islands to find this species "at home."

Like the Pied Wagtail it is a partial migrant, seeking the warmer portions in the south and west during the winter and moving back to the same rushing streams with the return of spring.

The nest is placed in one of the loose stone walls so common near its haunts, or on the ground in some cleft of the rocks. The eggs resemble those of the Yellow Wagtail, but are slightly larger.

It is a very handsome bird, the handsomest perhaps of all our Wagtails. The back and upper parts are of a deep bluish grey: wings and tail (except the two outer feathers, which are white, a characteristic of all wagtails), dark brown; under parts clear lemon yellow, paler on the vent. Length 7 in.; wing 3·3 in.

Female and young resemble the male, but are paler. In summer the male has a jet black gorget.

This species has a much longer tail than our other species, the Yellow Wagtail having the shortest tail.