THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
districts in the East, as in New South Wales and Victoria, and has been recorded 
from Tasmania. As indicating the peculiar nature of the group, the immature 
stages and the sexes differ, and extraordinary specific differentiation has 
taken place, probably at least nine distinct species being admissible. 
The habits of the members of the three groups also show marked 
differences, as recorded by many workers. 
Climacteris mystacalis Temminck, a Philippine Island form, is now 
separated by good workers under the genus name Rhabdornis, but examination 
of the tarsal envelope shows it to have the normal bilaminate hinder covering, 
and hence no close ally at all with the Australian Climacteris and not referable 
to my family Climacteridae. 
Key to the Species. 
Under-surface reddish 
Under-surface greyish-brown 
Upper-surface black, throat whitish 
.. C. rufa. 
.. C. picumnus. 
.. C. melanotus. 
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