_Climacteris melanotus_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part XIV. p.
106.
For this additional species of the limited genus _Climacteris_, a form
confined to Australia, we are indebted to Dr. Leichardt’s Expedition
from Moreton Bay to Port Essington. It was killed in latitude 15° 57′
south, on the eastern side of the Gulf of Carpentaria, and is rendered
particularly interesting to me as being one of the birds procured by
poor Gilbert on the day of his lamented death, the 28th of June 1845,
which untoward event prevented him from recording any particulars
respecting it: all therefore that I can do, is to point out the
differences by which it may be distinguished from the other members of
the genus, and recommend to future observers the investigation of its
habits.
In the dark colouring and thick velvety plumage of the upper surface it
is most nearly allied to the _Climacteris melanura_, but differs from
that species in being destitute of the lanceolate marks on the throat,
and from all others in the dark colouring of the back.
The usual distinction of the sexes—the finer colouring of the
female—exists in this as in the other species of the genus; they may be
thus described:—
Superciliary line and throat buffy white; line before and behind the
eye, all the upper surface, wings and tail dark brownish black; the base
of the primaries, secondaries and tertiaries, and the under surface of
the shoulder buff; under surface pale vinous brown; the feathers of the
abdomen with two stripes of black running parallel to and near the stem,
the space between dull white; at the base of the throat several
irregular spots of black; under tail-coverts buffy white, crossed by
broad bars of black; irides brown.
The female differs in having the markings of the abdomen larger and more
conspicuous, and in having the spots at the base of the throat chestnut
instead of black.
The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size.
[Illustration:
CLIMACTERIS MELANURA: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
CLIMACTERIS MELANURA, _Gould_.
Black-tailed Tree-Creeper.
_Climacteris melanura_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part X. p. 138.
Hitherto I had believed that all the members of this genus were confined
to the southern portions of Australia, but that such is not the case is
proved by the circumstance of Mr. Bynoe having killed the bird here
represented on the northern coast. It exceeds all the other species in
size and also differs from them in its colouring, particularly in the
lanceolate feathers on the throat and in the black colour of the tail.
Nothing whatever is known of its habits or general economy, but judging
from its structure, it doubtless closely assimilates to its congeners in
all these particulars. The specimen I possess, and from which my figure
is taken, is, I believe, the only one that has yet been sent to Europe.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account