1046 A'ESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



on tlie giouiid, neai- the butfc of a bull-oak (Camariixi), uot far from my 

 camp. I oftt-n saw the old bii'd on her nest as I passed going round 

 my traps. Somi'times she flushed. She was sitting on nine eggs. One 

 morning, going past as usual, I did uot notice the Duck, so I went to 

 see if anything had happened. I could not find the nest for some time, 

 for it was splendidly covered over with the chy foliage of the bull-oak, 

 and other debris. There was a layer of down on top of the eggs, and 

 the things mentioned lay on it. The old bird must have been away, 

 looking for something to eat." 



757. — Malacorhynchus membkanaceus, Latham. — (590) 

 PINK-EARED DUCK (WIDGEON). 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. vii., pi. 13. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xxvii., p. 319. 



i'rcvious Deutiplions of Eggs. — Ramsay : Proc. Linn. See, N.S. 

 Wales, vol. vii., p. 58 (1SS2); North: Austn. Mus. Cat., 

 app. ii (iSgo). . 



Geuyrupldcal DUtrihution. — ^Australia in general and Tasmania. 



Nest. — Usually the deserted nest of a Raven, Heron, itc., sometimes 

 on a thick fiat limb, profusely lined with down, light drab or greyish in 

 colovu', each particle white or lightest in the centre and on the tips. 



Egijii. — Clutch, seven to nine usually ; oval in shape, or more com- 

 pressed at one end ; textiu'e of shell fine ; siu-face glossy ; colour, light 

 creainy-white. Dimensions in inches of a part of a set: (1) r92 x 1'4, 

 (2) 1-92 X 1-37, (3) 1-9 x 1-37, (4) 1-82 x 1-35, (5) 1-82 x 1-3. 



Ohservaliuns. — This ver}' interesting and beautiful little species has 

 the length and breadth of Australia and Tasmania for its habititt, show- 

 ing preference for the fresh-water shallows of the ceutd-al and northern 

 parts of the continent. 



In the Carpentaria district, Mr. Price Fletcher states it appears to 

 take tJio place of, the Teal. On the large lagoons of the Alexandra Creek, 

 which runs into the Leichhardt River, he found them exceedingly plenti- 

 ful, literally \n thousands. So nimierous were they, that, when camping 

 there, Mr. Fletcher's pai-ty for a week ate nothing but Pink-eared Diicks, 

 moniing, noon, and night. The Pink-eared Duck is by no means 

 numerous in soutliern parts, except when dry seasons in the north or in 

 the interior drive them towards the seaboard, as happenetl in the 

 cU'ought of 1896-7. That season, munbei-s of this little Duck foiuid their 

 way into the Melbourne market^s, and at the close of tho shooting season 

 nearly 1,500 were stored in the freezing-chambers. 



The Pink-eand Duck is called by shooters and dealers. Widgeon. 

 It may be described a.s dark above and lighlrcolottred undenieatli, where 

 aie numerous dark-brown fascia;, th(? markings being nan-ow or broad 



