A'ESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 1029 



word of praise of D. tijtoni, and that is, their flesh is very good catiug;' 

 Tho last supper poor Gilbert ever ate was ou Plxuiied Whistliug 

 Ducks, the uiglit he was so suddenly aad treaeherously miudered by 

 blacks at oue of Leicliliardt's camps. 



749. — Tadokna radjaii, Gaiuot. — (583) 

 WHITE-HEADED SHIELDRAKE. 



Figure. — Gould ; Biids of Australia, fol., vol. vii., pi. 8. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xxvii., p. 175. 



Previous Description of E,i;gs. — North : Proc. Linn. Soc., N.S. Wales, 

 vol. ii., and ser., p. 446 {1SS7). 



Geoyraphical Distribution. — North-wtst Australia, Northern Tem- 

 tory, and Queensland ; also New Guinea and Moluccas. 



Xt-st. — Within a hole or hollow spout of a tree, not necessarily near 

 water. 



Eggs. — Clutch, probably about ten ; texture of shell fine ; siuiace 

 smooth ; colour, nch creamy-white. Dimensions in inches of a set of 

 five: (1) 2-2 x 1-63, (2) 2-2 x 1-59, (3) 2-2 x 1-58, (4) 2-17 x 1-58, 

 (5) 2-13 X 1-61. (North.) 



Observations. — This splendid and conspicuous Shieldrake is an inhabi- 

 tant of the lakss and lagoons of tropical Australia. Its flocks are 

 sometimes numerous, especially in the North-west, during the rainy 

 season. But they are generally found in pail's or in flocks of from four 

 to eight. If shot at and distiu'bed, they will retiuTi to the same spot 

 during the night. 



Persons who have observed them perched say it is a singular sight to 

 see a number of thess beautiful birds, with snowy heads and necks — 

 hence the very apt name. White-headed Shieldrake. Sometimes the 

 bii'd is locally known as the Bm'dekin Duck. 



Dr. Ramsay found this species breeding on the Bvuiiett River, 

 Queensland, dm-ing November, December, and Januaiy, 1873-4, but 

 luifortimatoly he was unable to procvu'e eggs. 



Mr. North has described five eggs taken from the hollow branch of 

 a tree. The date, except the year (1875) and the locality are not 

 mentioned. In January (1897), a pair of adults and eleven newly- 

 hatched young ones were seen in the Margaret River (North-west). They 

 apparently came from a hollow spout of a eucalypt overhanging the water. 



