BIRDS OF TASMANIA, 51 



feet dark brown. Dimensions in mm. : Length, 200; bill, 14.25; 

 wing, 99; tail, 92.5; tarsus, 30.25. 



Female. Head olive-brown; upper surface, including tail, 

 chestnut-olive; primaries and secondaries dark brown, narrowly 

 margined with a lighter shade; throat white, freckled with dark 

 grey; no grey as in male on upper chest, but a short extent of 

 fawn, lighter in colour than rest of under surface. Dimensions in 

 mm. : Length, 200; bill, 14; wing, 98; tail, 92; tarsus, 29.15. 



Nest. Cup-shaped and moderately large; constructed of fine 

 twigs and bark, the inside lining being principally fine grass. The 

 situation usually chosen is a low tree in thick scrub. 



Eggs. Clutch three to four usually; oval in shape, with both 

 ends pointed; texture of shell fine; surface fairly glossy; colour 

 light yellowish or creamy white, more or less spotted and blotched, 

 especially about the apex, with chestnut and dull grey. Dimen- 

 sions in mm. of a clutch : (1) 28.5 x 21, (2) 29 x 21, (3) 29 x 20.75. 



Breeding Season. September to December. 



Geographical Distribution. Tasmania, King and several other 

 islands in Bass Strait ; also New South Wales, Victoria, and South 

 Australia. 



Observations. As far as my experience goes, I have found this 

 Thickhead less plentiful than the Grey-tailed species. It also 

 favours denser country, and is quicker than that species. 



Launceston, Lilydale, Waratah, Penguin, Hobart, Sandford, 

 Tasman's Peninsula, Table Cape, Gladstone, Gunn's Plains, and 

 Boss are among the places for which I have it recorded. A note 

 by Mr. H. Stuart Dove runs : " A pair of these fine birds made 

 their appearance in my garden at Table Cape in the middle of 

 May one year, and stayed the winter with me, hopping quietly 

 about in the open or among the bushes, looking for insect food. 

 At this period they were very silent, but in the spring their peculiar 

 notes resounded among the trees. The call to mate during winter 

 months is a hissing note, finishing smartly; and a somewhat 

 similar call is used in summer, but during the latter season the 

 well-known bold, melodious whistle, somewhat like the words ' I'll 

 wet you,' is the more frequent." 



FAMILY CERTHIID/E (2 species). 

 Sub- Family Certhinae. 



WHITE-THKOATED TBEE-CEEEPEE 



(Climacteris leucoph&a, Lath.) 



Male. Head brown, feathers centred with black; back olive- 

 brown; upper tail coverts greyish; tail brownish-black, tip paler; 

 wings dark greyish -brown, crossed by a band of dull buff; chin 

 white; centre of abdomen soiled-white; sides of body and flanks 



