PLATE IV. 



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). 



PL A CK - TAILED TREE - CREEPER. 



FX10 Mr. Bynoe belongs the honour of discovering this species on the north coast, thereby proving 

 J- 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 (StricM.) 



WHITE-THROATED TREE-CREEPER. 



ALTHOUGH the range of Climacteris Leucoplicua 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. 



