CERTHIN^E. 



The type of this genus is found in the mountainous parts of Europe and Asia. It is usually seen flitting from one 

 projection of a rock to another, and hopping up and down the sides of them in continual search after its favourite food, 

 which consists chiefly of spiders and their eggs, and also of various kinds of insects. Sometimes these birds are noticed 

 hanging on the face of a ruined wall by means of their strong curved claws, while seeking their food. 



T. muraria (Linn.) PL enl. 872. — Tichodroraa phcenicoptera Temm. ; T. europa»a Steph. Gould, B. of Eur. pL 239. 



Climacteris Temm.* 



Bill rather short, slender, and slightly depressed at the base, with the culmen curved, and the sides 

 compressed to the tip, which is entire ; the gonys moderate and slightly ascending ; the nostrils basal, 

 lateral, and sunken, with the opening partly covered by a membranous scale. Wings rather long, and 

 pointed ; with the first quill short, and the third and fourth equal and longest. Tail moderate, broad, and 

 even. Tarsi nearly the length of the middle toe. Toes long and rather strong ; the inner toe shorter 

 than the outer, both more or less united at the base ; the hind toe long, and rather slender ; the claws 

 long, much curved, compressed, and acute. 



The species of this genus are found in the vast continent of Australia, where they inhabit the thinly wooded districts ; 

 and are observed actively climbing up the trunks of various trees or along the branches, examining the crevices and 

 holes in the bark ; sometimes they creep into the hollows of the dead branches, and even penetrate with their bills into 

 the decayed parts for their food, which is composed of various kinds of insects and spiders, both in the perfect and 

 imperfect states. For these they also search the ground at the base of the trees, where they move about with shuffling 

 actions. Their flight from tree to tree is performed in a skimming manner, and if disturbed they utter a sharp cry. 

 The nest is composed of hairs or of grass, lined with feathers, and is usually placed in a hollow branch. The eggs are 

 generally two or three in number. 



1. C. leueophcea (Lath.) Strickl. Lamb. Icon. ined. ii. 45. — 

 Climacteris picumnus Temm. PI. col. 281. f. 1.; Glycyphila ocularis 

 et G. subocularis Gould. ? 



2. C. scandens Temm. PI. col. 281. f. 2. — Petrodroma Bailloni 

 Vieill Kittl. Kupf. Vog. t. 6. f. 1. 



3. C. erythrops Gould, Proc. Z. S. 184,0. p. 14,8. 



4. C. rufa Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1840. p. 149. 



5. C. melanura Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1842. p. 138. 



6. C. melanotics Gould, Proc. Z. S. 1846'. p. . 



Established in 1820 by M. Temminck (Analyse du Syst. Gen. d' Ornith. p. lxxxv.). 



April, 1 S47. 



