Vol VI. "I Berney, Buds of the Richmond District, N.Q. l^y 



ino7 I ' ' > f^ ^1 



1907 



family of flappers on and September in the same year. They do not flock 

 here Hke Whistlers or Wood-Duck, but distribute themselves in small 

 parties among the bulrushes and lignum along the bore streams, where they 

 can be walked up, and make excellent shooting. They weigh from 2 to 

 2^ lbs. 



Grey Teal {Net f ion gibberifrons).- Although of this species and the 

 former the Teal is the more commonly seen, I have only on one occasion 

 come across evidence of its nesting here. On the 12th April, 1906, I saw an 

 old bird with six ducklings in the down. They will average a pound weight, 

 going up to a pound and a quarter. 



Shoveller {Spatula rhynchotis). — Very seldom seen in the Richmorid 

 district ; there were a few about in January, 1900, and I saw a single bird in 

 January, 1902. 



Pink-eared Duck {Malacorliynchus membranaccus). — The quaint little 

 Pink-ear is one of the more uncommon Ducks with us, not too often seen, 

 and then as a rule in small numbers ; its irregular visits are confined to the 

 wet season. While at a walerhole on one occasion a mob of five and twenty 

 of these birds (the most I think I ever saw together), in company with a 

 dozen Teal, swept over my head and dropped on to the water 30 yards farther 

 down. They appeared littfe disturbed by my presence, so I determined, as 

 I could touch bottom with my feet, to cultivate a closer acquaintance. With 

 only my nostrils and the top of my head above water I approached them 

 steadily. Allowing me to get right amongst them, they evinced considerable 

 interest in my proceedings, with but little or no fear ; they chased one 

 another about, they courted or preened their feathers, within a few feet of my 

 head, now and again one standing up to flap its wings in my face. AH the 

 time the mob kept up a subdued running conversation in their soft, musical 

 notes. At times I could almost have caught some of the birds by the feet 

 and drawn them under, blackfellow fashion— I could certainly have done it 

 had I had a covering of rushes or bushes for my head. This refers to the 

 Pink-ears ; the Teal of the party more discreetly watched the development 

 of proceedings from the outside of the mob. They are very confiding little 

 Duck, and easily shot, but are not much sought after by shooters, as they 

 are so small, only going from half to three-quarters of a pound, and are 

 reckoned dry and poor eating. 



Measurements of a female :— Total length, 15X inches; tarsus, 1% 

 inches ; wing, 7>/ inches ; bill, 2'/% inches ; tail, 3 inches. 



Mr. A. S. Le Souef, who examined the stomach of this specimen, reported 

 that it contained vegetable matter and fresh-water shells. 



White-eyed Duck {Nyroca rt«.s'M?//.y).— -A far from common and a shy 

 Duck in these parts, showing up with the summer rains, and leaving again 

 as soon as they cease and the outside waters dry up. 



A male bird, shot January, 1905, gave the following details :- -Total length, 

 I9>^ inches ; tarsus, ly. inches ; wing, 8;^ inches ; bill, 2% inches ; tail, 2^ 

 inches ; weight, 2 lbs. 



The stomach was examined by Mr. A. S. Le Souef, who reported that it 

 contained, " roughly, 50 per cent, gravel, many broken small shell-fish, grass 

 or plant-fibres, no trace of bones or insects." 



Emu {Dromceiis novce-hollandicE).— A\i\\oug\\ the exceptionally long run 

 of droughty seasons which we have been experiencing recently has played 

 havoc with the Emus, some, I am pleased to think, still survive. I know of 

 fourteen on Wyangarie, but of these only one pair nested last winter and 

 they have succeeded in rearing only two of their brood. 



My notes of their nesting are as follow : — 



2nd May, 1905, one egg, new laid. 



9th May, 1904, seven eggs, new laid. 



