THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
then comes the usage of vernacular names, but in this case there appears to 
be also confusion. Apparently each worker has confused the facts as well 
as the names, so that it is difficult to re-arrange matters and it may be well 
to work backwards. 
Sharpe, in his exposition of the Watling drawings {Hist. Coil Nat. Hist. 
Brit. Mus., Vol. II., 1906), stated on p. 134 :— 
“ 139. Dirigang Creeper. Lath., Gen. Syn. Suppl. ii, p. 166. 
Certhia leucophcea. Lath., Ind. Orn. Suppl., p. xxxvi. 
Climacteris scandens. (Temm.) Gadow, Cat. B., VIII., p. 337. 
This figure is the type of Latham’s “ Dirigang Creeper,” and Dr. Gadow 
has wrongly identified the species. The bird which he calls Climacteris scandens 
of Temminck is the true C. leucophcea (Latham), and C. leucophcea Gadow 
(Cat., p. 336) nec Latham, should stand as C. picumnus, Temm. [Cf. Hellmayr, 
Tierr. 18 Lief. Paridae, etc., p. 224 (1903) ]. Mr. Hellmayr rightly points out 
that Strickland and others were wrong in assigning Latham’s name of 
leucophcea to C. picumnus, but he did not succeed in identifying Latham’s 
description, and places his Certhia leucophcea among the doubtful species of 
Meliphaga. Watling’s note : “ Half the natural size. Native name Deri-gong. 
A small Woodpecker of New South Wales.” 
The statements made by Sharpe are not exactly accurate as re-examination 
of the Watling painting. No. 139, shows. This is signed “ T.W.g.” and the 
native name is “ Den-gong,” but on the painting is written in Latham’s hand¬ 
writing: “Ash-tailed Creeper, Latham MS. A variety of Dirigang, Supp. 2, 
p. 166.” This disposes of the statement that this painting 139 is the type 
of the Dirigang Creeper. 
Latham’s description of that must now be reproduced: 
“ Certhia leucophcea. C. olivaceo-fusca subtus albida, vertice nigro trans- 
versim lineato, pone oculos macula flava. 
Dirigang Creeper, Gen. Syn. Supp. II., p. 166, 23. 
Habitat in Nova Hollandia; magnitudo C. familiaris; macula flava 
infra & pone oculum, altera aurantia. 
Dirigang Cr(eeper). In size this species somewhat exceeds our Common 
Creeper: plumage above pale olive or greenish-brown; beneath 
white, inclining to dusky on the belly; on the fore-head and crown 
are a few short transverse black lines; under the eye a patch of 
yellow, and behind it another of a reddish colour; at the bend of 
the wing a few pale spots ; bill and legs dusky. 
Inhabits New South Wales, where it is called a Woodpecker, from hence 
we may suppose it to frequent and run up and down trees in the 
manner of that bird. The native name is Dirigang.” 
110 
