PLATE IT. 
FAMILY CERTHIAD^E. 
GENUS CLIMACTERIS (Temm.) 
ALL the colonies except Tasmania are inhabited by at least one species of this genus. Out of the- 
six known species, four were first described by Gould. 
CLIMACTERIS MELANURA {Gould). 
BLA CK - TAILED TREE - CREEPER. 
T 1 10 Mr. Bynoe belongs the honour of discovering this species on the north coast, thereby proving 
-L that the genus is not confined to the southern portions of Australia, as was thought before. It 
exceeds all its congeners in size, and in colouring has its own characteristic markings, particularly the 
lanceolate feathers on the throat, and the black tail. 
Owing to the habitat of this bird being restricted to the northern coast, it has been impossible 
to gather any information concerning its habits ; but in all probability they do not differ widely from 
those of the other species. 
The forehead, all the upper surface, and the tail feathers, velvety brownish-black ; the occiput 
and back of the neck stained with ferruginous-brown ; primaries and secondaries, dark brown at the 
base and at the tip, the intermediate space buff, forming a conspicuous band across the wing when 
expanded ; feathers of the throat, white, edged all round with black, giving the throat a striated 
appearance; abdomen and flanks, ferruginous-brown; bill and feet, black. 
Total length, 6| inches ; bill, f inch ; wing, 4 inches ; tail, 3 inches ; tarsi, 1 inch. 
Habitat : North coast. 
CLIMACTERIS LEUCOPIKEA (SHckl.) 
WHITE-THROATED TREE-CREEPER. 
ALTHOUGH the range of Climacteris Leucopliona is very much the same as that of Climacteris 
' Scandens, they differ widely in the character of the country which they frequent, the former being 
rarely found in open forest country on the lofty Eucalypti so much affected by the latter. Being an 
essentially arboreal bird, it much prefers thick brushes and trees bordering creeks, especially the Casuarime, 
w hose rough bark holds a great variety of insects, its sole food. 
