1054 



yESrS AND EGSS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



The note of the male, especially during the breeding season, is extra- 

 ordinary, and difficult to desciibc in words. Gould likened it to the 

 sound caused by a large drop of water falling to the bottom of a deep 

 well ; or it may be imitated by the sudden opening of one's lips. These 

 similes arc very good, if it be understood that the sound is loud, sharp, 

 and a hissing-like whistle. I have frequently watched the bird floating 

 on the surface of a lagoon, as well as on the sea, while it was making this 

 peculiar soimd. It seemingly makes the noise with considerable effort, 

 simultaneously giving a spasmodic kick with one or both its legs, which 

 causes a small wreath of water to be thrown up behind.* 



Musk Ducks are clever divers, but they occasionally get caught in 

 nets set for fish. To diving they trust for their safety when danger 

 threatens. It is also the means of procuring food from the bottom of 

 murky swamps. The length of such dives I have variously timed from 

 t.liirty seconds to sixtj' seconds. It is .stated that an old bird can dive 

 with young ones on its back. I have heard it solemnly declared that 

 Musk Ducks can fly hke other Ducks. I could never force one to 

 flight, or do more than flap along the surface of the water when hard 

 pushed. 



A lady con'o.spondent sc^nds the following interesting note : — " As 

 far back as 1849, when a girl, I crossed the River Murray from Adelaide 

 with my father and family. We crossed in a punt with Mr. Carter, 

 owner of Wellington, South Australia. We struck across for the 

 Coorong, and found a beautiful creek running for miles, and made our 

 home there. The locality was swampy, and the swamps were full of 

 Black Swans and every other kind of water bird. AVe made friends 

 with the Long Desert tribe, and every day in summer, unless wanted at 

 home, I was out in the swanip.s, shepherding sheep with two black gii'ls. 

 They taught me native names, and showed me where to look for nests. 

 They pronounced the name almost the same as tlie whistle of the bird, 

 ' Sheerip.' I have foiuid many nests in clumps of cutting gi-ass. We 

 could tell bv a few dead blades of gi'ass on the top. I never saw more 

 than three eggs. Wlien the mother went out for food and water, the 

 eggs were left covered with down. Tliey can only dive. I never saw 

 one fly, and the natives tell me they never fly. The swamjis were 

 then covered with beautiful Black Swans (' Coonorwar ') and Mountain 

 Ducks ('Perner'), which built in giun trees. Peelech Peelech a Pa 

 was an island covered with Ducks, Water Hens, Turee, Teal Ducks, 

 ' Nygrahe,' Native Companions, and ' Jerolyows.' The swamj^s are full 

 of a small fish called ' lap lap.' The blacks only counted as high as 

 tliree, and whenever we sa.w a Musk Duck's nest — never before October 

 — they would guess ' Wyiitook ' (1), or ' Boolach ' (2), but never 

 liigher than ' Boolach a Wyntook ' (3), so that makes me positive 

 their belief was in thi-ee. We never destroyed any nests. That wa.s in 

 the south-east disttHct of South Austra.lia, where A. L. Gordon made 

 his home for many years." 



• It has been stated that the bird splashes the water with its wings. Bnt as 

 the bird makes a slight progressive movemnm each time, it is evidently performed 

 by the feet. 



