NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 1027 



lu the North-west, Mr. Keartland found these birds in large flocks 

 on the margin of the pools neai- the Fitzi-oy River. Dui-ing the day 

 they sleep imder the shade of the bushes around the water, but at night 

 travel out on to the open plains to feed. They deposit their eggs 

 amongst the spinifcx and cano-grass some distance from water. 



748. — Dendrocycna eytoni, Gould. — (592) 



PLUMED VVHTSTLING DUCK. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. vii., pi. 15. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xxvii., p. 165. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Ramsay ; Proc. Zool. Soc, p. 346 



(1S77) ; North: Proc. Linn. Soc, N.S. Wales, vol. xxii., p. 60 



(1897). 



Geographical Distribution. — Australia in general and Tasmania ; also 

 New Zealand (accidental). 



.Vf.s,'. — Similarly situated to that of the other Whistling Duck, upon 

 the plains, in herbage, generally far from water. Has no downi. 



Etj(/s. — Clutch, 10 to 12 probably; roundish in fonn ; texture of 

 shell fine ; svu-face glossy ; colour, a light creamy outer-coating, on being 

 removed reveals a lighter coloiired shell. Occasionally specimens are 

 stained, or minutely spotted with light brown. Dimensions in inches : 

 (1) 1-94 X 1-54, (2) 1-93 x 1-54, (3) 1-97 x 1-55, (4) 1-96 x 1-56. * 



Observations. — The Eyton or Plumed Whistling Duck is a some^ 

 what lighter coloured bird than the other species, with flesh-coloiu'ed 

 feet, and with the ornamental flank plumes more lengthened, and is 

 peculiar to Australia (being more numerous in tlie north) and Tasmania. 

 Straggler., arc said to have reached New Zealand. I believe this interest- 

 ing Duck Ls one of the most numerous in the Gulf of Carpentaria distiict, 

 where nests aie often fovmd, invariably on the ground in herbage, and 

 in some instances far from water, out on the plains. 



Mr. S. WTiite informed Gould that he found a nest of this species in 

 a log. He (Mr. White) was not certain as to the complement of eggs 

 laid by this Whistling Duck, but he learned from the aborigines that 

 eight or ten were laid, mostly in the sand-hills at Cooper's Creek. I was 

 fortunate in obtaining, from the Adelaide Museum, a pair of eggs from 

 a clutch of ten that were collected on the Adelaide River, May, 1891, 

 during the overland journey of Governor Kintore's party. 



Mr. G. A. Keartland's testimony concerning these fine Ducks in the 

 North-west is that : — " The open plains near the Fitzroy River appear 

 to be a stronghold of this species. Whilst travelling at night near Noon- 



* Half a set taken 16/3/98. Nicholson river, North Queensland, measures 

 (i) 194 X 1-52, (2) i-g X 1-5, (3) i-g X 1-4, (4) 1-88 x 144. 



