154 



AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 



F. 139. CERTHIIDAE (8), CREEPERS, 39 sp— 10(10) A., 

 13(12)0., 9(8)P., 1(1)E., 5(4)Nc, 3(2)N1. 



9 330*Brown Tree-Creeper, Woodpecker (e), Climacteris 



10 picumna, E.A., S.A. =vt. Eur. Creeper. 



Stat. c. open timber 

 Crown blackish-brown; line over eye buff; throat buff with 

 few blackish spots; upper brown; wings banded buff; 

 under grayish-brown; flanks striped white; f., throat 

 chestnut spots. Insects. Sharp piercing cry. Creep 

 up a tree. 



7.2 



of a black cap only. Nuthatches are not found in Tasmania. 

 Possibly Bass Strait was formed before they reached Southern 

 Victoria. Thus bird-study supports the geographer and ethnolo- 

 gist when they declare that Bass Strait is of comparatively remote 

 formation. As the Tasmanian blacks were ignorant of boats, 

 they evidently reached Tasmania before Bass Strait was formed. 

 They are a more primitive type than the Australian blacks, who 

 were improved by later influxes of more highly-developed 

 Caucasians. 



Many country dwellers will not admit that there is no Wood- 

 pecker in Australia, but it is a fact, nevertheless. Our so-called 

 "Woodpecker" is the Tree-Creeper. It never chisels mortice-holes 

 in a tree to get out a grub, as the true Woodpecker does. These 

 birds occur all over the continent, and are often to be seen alight- 

 ing on the side of a tree or fence post and then running up 



