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), GUmacteris 
10 picumna, E.A., S.A. =Yt. Eur. Creeper. 
Stat. c. open timber 7.2 
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. 
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 
