1052 



NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Nest. — Not unlike that of a Musk Duck, well couccalcd in i... 

 herbage of a marsh or swamp, and hncd with grass and down. 



Eggs. — Clutcli, fom- to five probably (two to nine or tun, Gould) ; 

 eUiptically inchned in shape ; textui-e of shell coarse ; sui-face verj' 

 sUghtly glossy and rough; colour, light greenish wliite. Dimensions in 

 inches of examples from two clutches : (1) 2-81 x 1-95, (2) 2-73 x 2-07, 

 (3) 2-66 X 1-9, (4) 2-59 X 1-84. 



Observations. — This remarkable diving Diick, with its feeble Grebe- 

 like fhght and habit, has only been recorded for the southern part of 

 Australia, and one for Tasmania.* It usually frequents the lakes and 

 lagoons running parallel with the coast. It is found inland also, and 

 has been observed breeding in the Murray River district and Riverina. 



The Blue-billed Drake wears a rich chestnut coat. The head is 

 dark, showing off the light blue-colom-ed bill. Underneath siu'face is 

 brownish-gTey, transversely marked with dark-brown. The whole of 

 the plumage of the female is dark-brown, transversely marked with 

 light-brown. 



I received the scarce eggs of the Blue-billed Duck through the 

 instiiunentahty of Mr. G. H. Morton, of Murray Meadows, who ob- 

 tained them from shooters. Two nests were found about the middle 

 of December, 1893, in " The Marsh," noith of Lake Bael Bael. The 

 nests contained respectively three eggs (addled) and four eggs (fresh). 



To his remarks on the Blue-billed Duck, Gould appended the state- 

 ment that the E. /eucocepluila of Africa laid eight eggs, which fact, he 

 asserts, confinns the assertion that the eggs of the Australian bird arc 

 from two to ten in number (surely a wide margin). He says this is 

 a remarkable circiunstance, seeing that the Musk Duck, which is neai'ly 

 allied to the Blue-billed Duck, only lays two. It certainly appears as 

 if Gould doubted his own statement that the Blue-billed Duck lays a 

 ma.ximum complement of ten eggs. I share his doubt, and have stated 

 the number as five. My principal reason for giving that figure is, that 

 several reputed Musk Ducks' nests containing five eggs have been 

 reported to me, which I believe are referable to the Blue-billed species. 

 The nests and eggs of these Ducks are similar, therefore a case of mis- 

 taken identity may have easily occun-cd. Moreover, I think it can be 

 proved that the Musk Duck never lays more than a pair or three eggs 

 at most. 



BreecUng months, August to December. 



* Three specimens were oblaiiied in iSg2. 



