1050 



NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BINDS. 



which is asymmetrical m the common domestic Drake, is replaced by 

 a shght swelling of the iuferior laiyox only in the above-named speci- 

 men, and is, moreover, symmetrically developed. 



" So far there is no difference with regard to the two sexes. Where 

 the male bird differs from the female is in the two expansions occurring 

 at irregular distances in the course of the trachea. The upper one is 

 about equidistant from the pharynx proper and tlie second, wliile the 

 lower one is placed somewhat higher from the iuferior pharynx tlian the 

 ftrst one is from the pharynx. These swellings when the trachea is 

 in situ, are ' compressed,' and, accordingly, when viewed from the front, 

 aie not conspicuous. Viewed in tlie profile, however, these coutoms 

 are plainly visible. 



'■ The trachea of the female bird is more or less cylinchical throughout 

 its entire length." 



Sub-family— F uLiGui.iNiE. 



759. — Nyroca austkalis, Gould. — (j'JS) 

 WHITE-EYED DUCK (HARDHEAD). 



I'igurc. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. vii., pi. 16. 



Refcrcncd. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xxvii., p. 350. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Ramsay : Proc. Linn. Soc, N.S. 

 Wales, vol. vii., p. 59 (1882) ; Campbell : Southern Science 

 Record (18S3) ; North: Austn. Mus. Cat., p. 345 (1S89). 



Gi-'oyrupliicul Dintn/iit/ion. — Australia in general and Ta.smania; 

 also New Zealand, Auckland Islands, New Caledonia, and Papuan 

 Islands, westward a,s far as Waigiou. 



±Veiit. — Sometimes a hole or hollow sjjout of a tree, at other times 

 situated upon the ground in lierbage ; if the latter, the nesting place 

 is lined with gi'ass mixed with down and feathers. Nest-down, browiii.sli- 

 grey or greyish-brown, each particle being lighter coloured on the tips 

 and whitish in the centre. 



AVi/s — Clutch, eleven to thirteen ; elliptical in shape ; texture of shell 

 comparatively line ; surface glossy and greasy ; colour, hght creamy- 

 white. Dimensions in inches of a pair: (1) 227 x 1-67, (2) 2-26 x 1-64. 



Ohservntians. — This fine Duck is known by various vernacular names 

 — Hardhead, Brownliead, ikc. It is found throughout Australia and 

 Tasmania, and is probably nowhere more i)leutiful than in the river 

 readies, lagoons, and .sheltered backwaters of the southern parts of 

 the Continent. On the Gippsland lakes White-eyed Ducks are, or 

 were, exceedingly numerous. When a flock takes ilight across tiic water 

 the flasliing of the iiiuUitiKle ot the whiti' pinions is most conspicuous. 



