Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [lo Aug., 191 i. 



INSECTITOROIS BIRDS OF VICTORIA. 



White-throated Tree Creeper {Climacteris Uucofhaa, Latham). 

 C. French, Jim., .\cling Government Entomologist. 



The \\"hite-thr(>ated Tree Creeper is one of our most useful insect- 

 destroying birds, and is fairly plentiful in many parts of the State. I have 

 seen specimens at the Mornington Peninsula, ^^'erribee Gorge. Melton, and 

 other places. 



Like other species of Tree Creepers, it has the peculiar habit of ascend- 

 ing trees in a kind of spiral course by a series of short hops or jumps, and 

 disappearing and re-appearing every few seconds; all the while searching 

 for insects in the cre^■ices of the trees. 



A correspondent in Gippsland whites that he regards this as one of the 

 best insect-destroying birds in the district. He has frequently noticed it 

 working its way round and round apple and pear trees in search of the 

 grubs and chrysalides of the codlin moth and other injurious insects which 

 form its chief food. 



This species is easily distinguished from the Brown Tree Creeper, which 

 is also a very useful bird, by its white throat ; the centre of the abdomen is 

 also white, while the coat is greyish brown. 



The female is almost similar in colour to the male, with the exception 

 that it has a small patch of orange- coloured feathers below the ear coverts. 



The White-throated Tree Creeper builds its nest in the holloAv branch of 

 a tree, usually a dead one. The nest is generally composed of fane pieces of 

 l-ark, grasses, &c., and it is lined with feathers and rabbit or opossum fur. 

 As a rule, the clutch of eggs consists of three, of a dull white colour, with 

 spots of reddish-brown. The dimensions of the egg are: — Length, o.S 

 inch; breadth. 0.65 inch. The breeding time is from the middle of August 

 to December. 



In addition to Victoria, the White-throated Tree Creeper is found in 

 New South Wales, (Queensland, and South Australia. The accompanying 

 plate will enable readers to easily identify it. It is scarcely necessary to 

 add that this bird deserves e\ery protection from fruit-growers and others 

 engaged in rural pursuits. 



