NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 333 



The only nest of the White-throated Tree Creeper I found was with 

 the Messrs. Brittlebauk. This was discovered under peculiar circum- 

 stances in a very secluded gully or ravine on the Upper Wembce. 

 On this occasion we flushed an Owlet Nightjar from a hole not six feet 

 from the ground. By the aid of a tomahawk tliere was soon revealed 

 three while eggs of the Nightjar, but instead of reposing upon a few 

 leaves or decayed dust of the tree, the clutch was upon a nest com- 

 posed of soft bark and moss. Removing the wliitc eggs and luifolding 

 a nest cosily lined with rabbit fur, we found the unmistakeable egg of 

 the White-throated Tree Creeper. Therefore it was clear that the little 

 nocturnal bird had " jumped " a Tree Creeper's home. Evidently the 

 Tree Creeper had first built her nest witliin the snug hollow, then the 

 Nightjar entered — unobtnisively, no doubt — and treading down the 

 structure, had deposited her own clutch thereon. Date 11th October. 

 1890. 



Mr. Percy S. Seymour writes : — " I took a nest of the White- 

 throated Tree Creeper, with two fresh eggs, near Dean's Marsh, 

 Victoria, on 23rd November, 1880 (I subsequently received a set of 

 three from the same locality). The nest was discovered on the 4th, 

 but contained no eggs, so I watched it until the bu-d commenced 

 sitting. The nest was cup-shaped, built of bark, with a very little rabbit 

 fur for liniug ; it was in a hollow in a small tree (about four feet in 

 diameter) which had been broken off above the nest ; the entrance was 

 a vciy small hole and had to be enlarged to get the eggs out.' 



A field observer in Gippsland, in asking the interesting question 

 whether all insectivorous birds have a regular track to go every day in 

 search of food, remarks : — " I have seen a Woodpecker (Wliite-throated 

 Tree Creeper) going a regular track every morning and returning every 

 evening for over three montlis. It was the same fellow, minus a toe- 

 nail, and I used to watch for him three trees away from our windlass 

 stand every morning. Sure enough he would come along, examining 

 each tree most perfectly, quite as if it was his first appearance, then on 

 to our windlass stand for any fat that might be about the ban'el, then 

 off away down the creek, returning about 4 or 5 p.m." 



Breeding months September to December. 



In reference to the nomenclature of the White-throated Tree 

 Creeper, it has been pointed out that Gould inadvertently ti-ansposed 

 its name. According to Temminck's figure and descriptions, the bird 

 figured by Gould as C. hurophna (Latham) is in reality the tnie 

 C srandens (Temminck). But to alter a mistake that has existed so 

 long and has become accepted by usage would be to make a greater one. 



Regarding Gould's C . jji/rrhonota, with its rufous upper tail coverts, 

 there is no doubt now that it is the young of C hucophcea, which has 

 greyish upper tail covei-ts. At first Gould regarded it as C. leucoplicea in 

 abnormal plimiage, but afterwards made it a new species, on the 

 representation of Dr. Ramsay, when submitting a skin. The Doctor 

 subsequently corrected himself by stating in his " Tabular List " : 

 " C. pyrrhanofo, Govdd, I find to be only a stage of plumage of 

 C. hucophaa." 



