/VESTS A.VD EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



329 



Ohservatiuiis. — This Tliickhead was one of the novi'ltiL's of the various 

 collections made by Mr. W. Savillo-Kent. at Cambridge Gulf, 1888. 

 According to Mr. De Vis, who described the biid, it is similar to /'. 

 !aiii(iu/e-<, but inferior in size. 



FAMILY— CERTHIID^. 



Sub-family — Certhin*. 



270. — Climacteris melanura, Gould. — (370) 



BLACK TREE CREEPER. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iv., pi. 97. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. viii., p. 334. 



Previous Description of Eggs. — North: Austn. Mus. Cat., p. 239, pi. 9, 

 fig. 12, (1889). 



Geographical Distribution. — North-west Austraha, Northern Terri- 

 tory, North and South (probably). New South Wales, and Queensland. 



Nest. — Like that of most other members of the genus, built of 

 grasses, feathers, &c., and situated in a hollow tree. 



Eggs. — Clutcli, two to three ; round in form ; texture of shell fine ; 

 surfax;e slightly glossy ; colour, pinkish-white, marked all over, but 

 thickest in the form of a patch round the apex, with rich pinkish-red and 

 purple. Dimensions in inches. (1) 92 x -7, (2) -88 x -74. 



Ohservatiniu. — Little is known about this northern and interior Tree 

 Creeper, which is said to exceed all the other species in size. The first 

 authenticated eggs of the Black-tailed Tree Creeper were a pair taken 

 by Mr. James Ramsay, of Tyndarie, on the 19th September, 1880, and 

 subsequently described by Mr. North. Surely this is very far south to 

 have obtained tliis northern species. 



Near the junction of the Fitzroy and Margaret Rivers, during the 

 progi-ess of the Calvert Expedition, these birds were often seen or heard, 

 and seven specimens were procured. Their notes and habits closely 



resemble those of the well-knowTi Brown Tree Creeper. They were 

 very shy and difficult to approach. The adult female is easily distin- 

 guished b}' a white patch on the throat. Mr. Keartland remarks : 

 " Why this bird should be named the Black-tailed Tree Creeper is difficult 

 to understand, when the term Sooty or Black Tree Creeper would 

 be so much more appropriate." I have adopted Mr. Keartland's 

 good suggestion for the vernacular name. 



