THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Illiger is apparently responsible for the first distinction of this species 
which was, however, first described by Temminck, who credited the species to 
Illiger, but proposed a new genus for the two birds associated by Uliger in 
the Berlin Museum with the names “ Certhia scandens Ill.*’ and “ Certhia 
picumnus Ill.” 
Through a simple blunder Gould transposed these names and referred 
to the present species, the Brown Treecreeper, under the scientific name of 
Climacteris scandens Temminck, whereas the Brown Treecreeper had been 
named C. picumnus. 
Gould wrote : “ The Brown Treecreeper inhabits the whole of the south¬ 
eastern portion of the Australian continent, from South Australia to New 
South Wales. It gives a decided preference to the open thinly-timbered 
forests of Eucalypti, as well as the flats studded with the apple trees (Angophom), 
the bark of which, being rough and uneven, affords numerous retreats for various 
tribes of insects ; its food, however, is not only sought for upon the boles and 
branches of the trees, but is obtained by penetrating the decayed and hollow 
parts, and it even dives into the small hollow spouts of the branches in search 
of spiders, ants, and other insects ; although its form would lead to a contrary 
supposition, it spends much of its time on the ground, under the canopy and 
near the boles of the larger trees, in a similar pursuit, and also traverses the 
fallen trunks with a keen and scrutinizing eye. While on the ground it has a 
pert lively action, passing over the surface in a succession of quick sh ufflin g 
hops, carrying its head erect -with the feathers puffed out, almost in the form 
of a crest. Among the trees it assumes all the actions of the true Creeper, 
ascending the upright boles, and traversing with the greatest facility both 
the upper and under sides of the branches. It never descends with the head 
downwards, like the members of the genera Sitta and Sittella ; still I have 
seen it descend an upright bole for a short distance by hopping or shu ffling 
backwards, as it were, generally making a spiral course. It flies with a s kim - 
ming motion of the wings, during which the brown markings of the primaries 
are very conspicuous. Like many other insectivorous birds in Australia it 
seldom, if ever, resorts to the water for the purpose of drinking. It has a sharp 
piercing cry, which is frequently uttered, especially if the tree upon wliich 
it is climbing be approached.” 
Mr. Frank S. Smith has written me : “ The Brown Treecreeper is one 
of the best known of the forest birds. Like the Grey Thrush and the Black 
and White Fantail it is extremely friendly, and a pair wall soon make up with 
a bushman s camp. They are very local and I have seen a pair keep almost 
wholly to one large tree for many days. They forage round and under the 
tree, and every now and then climb it from the base, in curious jerky little 
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