Page:The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma (Birds Vol 1).djvu/478

 431^ CEETHIID^,

Habits. Those of the genus. Whitehead says: — "The call note is a faint squeak, rarely heard in winter. In summer its loud but rather monotonous song is constantly uttered. It does not by any means restrict itself to trees. I haA^e often noticed it climbing up walls." This Tree-Creeper is found up to 12,000 feet in summer but, on the other hand, in winter descends to 4,000 feet or lower still in the Afghanistan and Baluchistan Hills.


 * Certhia yunnanensis Sharpe, Bull. B.O.C.,xiii, p.ll (1902) (Yunnan).

Vernacular names. None recorded.

Description. Similar to C. h. Jiimalai/ana but with the whole upper plumage very black without any ferruginous tint. Below it is dull smoky-grey, albescent on the chin and throat.

Colours of soft parts not recorded. In the dry skin they do not differ from the same parts in typical liimalayana.

Measurements. Wing 68 to 71 mm.; tail 58 mm.; tarsus 17 to 18 mm.; culmen 19 to 20 mm.

Distribution. Yunnan and Northern Shan States.

Nidification unknown.

Habits. This bird was found by Eippon to be fairly numerous at heights varying between 7,000 and 9,000 feet in Yunnan.


 * Certhia himnlai/and intermediu Kiniiear, Bull. B. 0. C, xli, p. 139 (1911) (Mt. Victoria).

Vernacular names. None recorded.

Description. Similar to the Yunnan Tree-Creeper but with a distinct rufous tinge on the rump and lower back. It is closer to this last Tree-Creeper than to the Himalayan bird.

Colours of soft parts are apparently the same as in lumalayana.

Measurements. Wing 65 to 73 mm,; tail 55 to 72 mm.; tarsus 16 to 17 mm.; culmen 17 to 19 mm.

Distribution. Chin Hills only so far as is known at present.

Nidification and Habits. Nothing recorded. Certhia familiaris. In India we have three races representative of the Common European Tree-Creeper which are found from North-West India to South-East Tibet and North-East Kachin Hills.