WHITE-THROATED TREECREEPER, 
Creeper of Europe (Certhia familiaris ), particularly in its manner of ascending 
the upright trunks of the trees, commencing at the bottom and gradually 
creeping up the bole to the top, generally in a spiral direction. It is so partial 
to the Casuarinae, that I have seldom seen a group of those trees without at 
the same time observing the White-throated Treecreeper, their rough bark 
affording numerous receptacles for various kinds of insects which constitute 
its sole diet. I have never observed this species near the water-holes, and 
I feel assured it has the power of subsisting without drinking.” 
Mr. F. E. Howe wrote me : “ This white-throated bird is fairly well 
distributed through the district and is to be found in the thick dense forests 
of Ferntree Gully and also along the wooded creeks of Ringwood. During 
the season of 1907 I noticed a pair carrying the bark to a hollow about twelve 
feet high, and on Sept. 28th it contained two eggs and incubation had just 
commenced. On Oct. 13th the same year we found another nest containing 
three young and another with three eggs slightly incubated ; another with 
two eggs was found on the 26th October. Both birds were feeding the young, 
and about sunset they made visits on an average of a minute each or one bird 
in two minutes and this was noticed for about twenty minutes. Sometimes 
after feeding the young, one would emerge from the nest holding in its bill 
the excrement of the young, and drop it over the edge. The call note is high 
pitched and is quickly uttered six or seven times. They appear to be very 
local and a pair may always be seen working in a certain bit of country having 
a radius of perhaps three or four hundred yards.” 
Sir. L. G. Chandler has sent me an extract from his note book: “ Oct. 10, 
1908. Watched this bird building nest. The nest is situated in a hollow spout, 
running at an angle of 90° off the tree, which is a slightly leaning one. Height 
from ground about eighteen feet. One bird only seen during the work and 
the material is being stripped from neighbouring saplings. The bird visited 
the same sapling (stringy-bark gum) several times in succession. All heavy and 
burnt pieces of bark are being brought to top of spout and ejected. The bird 
seems a little uneasy at my presence and eyes me suspiciously. Time 2.15 p.m.” 
Mr. Thos. P. Austin has written me from Cobbora, New South Wales : 
“ The White-throated Treecreeper is fairly numerous in the thick scrubs and 
ironbark tree ranges, but seldom met with in the open forests. It appears 
to prefer the very class of country which the Brown Treecreeper avoids. 
Its loud calls are to be heard the whole day long, and they penetrate through 
the forests for some considerable distance. Excepting when gathering nesting 
material I have never seen this species upon the ground. Their manner of 
searching trees for food is very similar to that of the Brown, but they are 
not quite so constantly on the move. I have watched them hanging on to 
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