BY ALFRED J. NORTH. 61 



almost stepped on the nest which was built at the side of a 

 tussock of cane gi^ass. It was a slight hollow in the soil, lined 

 only with short pieces of cane grass, and contained nine fresh 

 eggs. Evidentl}'' the ducks had just begun to lay, for although 

 twelve of them were obtained, only one more nest was found that 

 day, which was similarly constructed and had two fresh eggs 

 in it. Later on in the same locality another nest was found 

 containing seven fresh eggs. From these nests the ducks had 

 made runs or tracks through the long grass to the water's edge. 

 All of the eggs when found were immaculate, and entirely free 

 from the usual feet marks of the female or stain of any kind. 

 Two average eggs from the set of nine are oval in foi'm, tapering 

 somewhat sharply towards the smaller end, and are comparatively 

 small for the size of the bird. In colour they are milk-white, 

 with an almost imperceptible tinge of cream; smooth in texture, 

 and having a slight satiny lustre. The shell is thick and exceed- 

 ingly hard, and the finder of the nests compared it to flint when 

 he was engaged in drilling the eggs. Length (A) 1-92x1 "36 

 inch; (B) 1 '88 x 1 -36 inch. These eggs may be easily distinguished 

 from those of any member of the family AnatiJce inhabiting 

 Australia, by their being almost pure white. When held in the 

 hand, and the shells are rubbed together, the sound produced is 

 the same as if they were made of porcelain. 



