I024 



Ni:srs AND EGGS UF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



E(j(js. — Clutch, 91^ 12 ; oval iu sliapo, or moru compressed at one end ; 

 textiu'e of shell comparatively fine ; surface glossy ; colour, creamy 

 white. Dimensions in inches of five examples cr a clutch of eleven : 

 (1) 2-24 X 1-6, (2) 2-24 x 1-59, -(3) 2-22 x 1-57, (4) 2-2 x 1-58, 

 (5) 2-08 X 1-58. 



Ohsrrvfitions. — The Maned Goose, more commonly called the Wood 

 jJuck, is one of the most Ijcautifully marked of its tribe. It is a toler- 

 ably tame and well-known species, being foinid througliout Australia, 

 and occasionally visiting Tasmania. I suppose it is called Wood Duck 

 because, unlike most other Ducks, it frequently perches upon trees. Its 

 note is remarkable, being loud and tnmipet-likc, uttered while the 

 mandibles are widely extended. 



The Maned Goose was .so called on account of the Icnglhened black 

 plumes down the back of the neck, but although the term Goose was 

 applied to this bird by Gould himself, he regarded the application as 

 trivial. No doubt Australians will continue to- call this beautiful bird 

 tlio Wood Duck. In total length it measures neai-ly 20 inches. Its 

 flesh is somewhat dry eating, and has not the gamcy flavoiu' of some of 

 the other members of its tribe. The Wood Duck feeds chiefly on 

 grasses and aquatic plants and insects 



I recollect getting two Wood Ducks without expending ammunition. 

 One night, years ago, I was at the bottom of Williams road, near the 

 Yarra, at Toorak. Some person was flight shooting on the river, and 

 after one shot a fine fat Duck fell near me, dead. On another occjision 

 dimng the day I was on the margin of the brackish swamp (a gi'eat resort 

 of game, long since reclaimed) at the back of the West Beach, St. Kilda. 

 Shots were fired at the far end, and while a (lock of Ducks was wheeling 

 0VL»r where I stood, one bird fell plump to the gi'ound. In both instances 

 I canned the booty home. 



However much I like to shoot these Ducks for sjxjrt, 1 enjoy better 

 still to see them in repose or stretching their pinions upon some gi-assy 

 bank as I pass by, afloat in a. flatty or Ijoat. One admires tiieir freckled 

 and grey mottled plumage, especially that of the males, so much enriched 

 witli their glossy black abdomens. 



Dvunng a memorable trip I made " Through a Riverina, Flood." with 

 Mr. J. Gabriel and the Ma<'aulay Brothers, our fii-st find was a Wcwid 

 Duck's nest. It was in the liollow part of a red gimi, standing in a 

 floodcfl creek. One of our party temporarily turned Iiimself into a mem- 

 ber of the " Natatores " tribe by entering the water, then, ascending the 

 tree, secured a full clutch of eleven eggs and a quantity of the 

 bird's down (see illustration). Tht' eggs were much incubated. — Date, 

 8tii September, 1894. 



Previously I had described eggs from ('oomooboolaroo (Q.) ; also 

 a pair from a, clutch of nine taken by Mr. A. Watson, a teacher, wlio got 

 them from a dead red gum, steinding in a lagoon near S<ilc, Victoria. 

 Tliero was a considerable quantity of light^coloiu'cd down suirounding 

 tlie eggs, which were three feet or four feet from the entrance of liie 

 spout. 



A brief note from Mr. llennann Lau's (Queensland) MS. states 

 tiiat the Wood Duck " invariably breeds in I lie liollow of a tree, some- 



