38 HO\\'E, The Genus Climactcris. ["^isfS" 



not unlike those of C. picuiufta. The Brown Tree-creeper is 

 named from its brownish plumage. Its flight is of a more 

 "rolling" character than that of other Tree-creepers, and often 

 the bird, after a few fairly rapid wing-beats, sails along after 

 the fashion of a Babbler {Pomatostomns). \\'hen the wing is 

 expanded the broad bufif band is conspicuous. This species 

 spends much time on the ground. It is seen to advantage when 

 ascending the trunk spirally and prying into every hole and crack, 

 both on the upper and under surface of the limbs ; if it misses 

 a likely-looking s])ot, it .shuffles backward and downward. I 

 have seen the bird break up the decaying wood in short spouts 

 with its powerful bill. At Parwan, birds hopping about the 

 ground turn over leaves and bark. I have seen a bird capture 

 a large spider {Voconia), take moths on the wing, and feed 

 at the edge of a water-hole. When the bird alights on a tree- 

 trunk, the head is usually back, and the feathers of the crown 

 are slightly erected, giving it a grotesque appearance. The 

 familiar notes are then uttered, but, when flying or on the ground 

 it utters harsh, grating, chattering notes. I have observed nests at 

 Stawell, Linga, and Kow Plains. Breeding season in \'ictoria 

 is from August to January, and the bird is double-brooded. In 

 a series of skins from Queensland to South Australia, the only 

 difiference detected is that the dark lines bordering the chest and 

 abdomen feathers are narrower on inland birds. The birds in- 

 habiting coastal regions are perhaps a little more robust in form. 

 The type came from Queensland, and Mr. Mathews named the 

 Victorian and South Australian birds Neoclima picumna victoria 

 and .V. p. australis respectively. 



Climacteris melanura. The Black-tailed Tree-creeper. — 

 Type locality, Derby, North-west Australia. Range.^ — North- 

 west and Mid- west Australia, Northern Territory, and North 

 Queensland (Gulf Country). Generally found in open forest 

 country and numerous on the "river flats* of the Leichardt." 

 Nest — Built of grasses, feathers, etc., in a hollow. Eggs — Clutch, 

 two to three ; round in form ; texture of shell fine ; surface slightly 

 glossy ; colour, pinkish-white, marked all over, but thickest in the 

 form of a patch round the ai)ex, with rich puri»lish-red and pur- 

 ])le. Dimensions in inches: (A) .92 x .7. (B) .88 x .74 

 (Campbell). 



This is the largest and finest of the genus, differing from all 

 and particularly from its nearest ally the Black Tree-creeiier (C. 

 mclanota) in having lanceolated markings on the throat. Mathews 

 says : "These birds feed on small ants, catching them on the 

 trees," and Mr. Harry Barnard found the stomach to contain 

 small black beetles, bark moths, and other small insect;^. Dr. 

 MacGillivray says : "The bird is a spring-breeder," and both 

 Messrs. H. Barnard and \V. M'Lennan found the birds breeding 

 in the Gulf Country. 'J'he nests were in hollow -- from 12 feet 



* MacGillivray "The Emu" Vol. XIII. p. 17",. 



