154 bulletin: museum of comparative zoology. 



very fat, and, roasted form a welcome eliauge from the eternal diet 

 of mutton. 



Their habit of eating great quantities of succulent grass interferes 

 with the nourishing of sheep upon which the colonists depend for a 

 livelihood. JVIost of the sheep stations ofl'er a bounty of so much per 

 hundred bills brought to the numagers, and this destruction should 

 in time greatly reduce the numbers of these birds. 



Chloephaga rubidiceps Sclater. 

 " Brant. " 



Locally common, and abundant about Darwin and a few other 

 places. 



Except for a few seen on Speadwell Island, I only came upon ten, 

 six at San Carlos, and a pair with two half-grown young on December 

 29, at Port Stephens. 



I was told that their habits and calls were very like the Upland 

 Geese. Where their numbers are great, bounties are offered for their 

 beaks. 



A male in good condition weighed exactly four pounds. 



None of eight adults taken showed any white on the abdomen. 



Anas cristata Gmelin. 

 "Gray Duck". 



The Gray Duck is common, pairs being scattered along the pro- 

 tected beaches almost anywhere. 



No nests were found. The first brood of downy young was seen 

 at San Carlos on November 19. From that date to February 8 

 newly hatched young were noted. 



Males weighed from 2| to 2f pounds and females about half a 

 pound less. 



Nettium flavirostre (Vieillot). 



"Teal". 



This teal is fairly common, breeding along the small streams and 

 creeks. 



Down.N- young were found on November 7 at San Carlos, and half- 

 grown birds in the same vicinity on November 19. 



