ANSERES. 69 



water streams which run into them^ where the overhanging vegetation 

 affords ready shelter and concealment. It is a very indifferent flier, 

 but swims well and dives with facility. When shooting on a lake near 

 Tiakitahuna, in the Uiiper INIanawatu, some years ago, I came upon a 

 flock of sixty or more of these birds : instead of taking wing when 

 closely followed, they swam towards the shore, and then, forming 

 into a line, they hurried forward in a very impetuous manner, keep- 

 ing close under the banks of the lake, and uttering a low confused 

 twitter." — BuLLER. 



101. Anas superciliosa. Gml. 



Gket Dttck. Paeeea. 



Greyish-brown, raried with yellowish-white ; eyebrows, cheeks, and upper part of neck, 

 yellowish- white, with two small bands of blackish-brown on the clieeks ; speculum, green, 

 margined above and below with black. 



L., 23 ; W., 10-3 ; B., 15 ; T., 1-3. 



Egg.— White ; length, 2-5 ; breadth, ] '7. 



Sah. — Both Islands ; Chatham Islands, Australia, Tasmania, Polynesia. 



" Common in every part of our country, the Grey Duck ranges 

 over the whole of Australia as well, and is found also in some of the 

 Polynesian islands. I found it extremely abundant at the Chatham 

 Islands ; and it is said to occur on Norfolk Island also. 



" It is deservedly in high estimation for the table, and may be 

 regarded as perhaps the most valuable of our indigenous birds. It is 

 less plentiful than it formerly was, which is no doubt partly attribut- 

 able to the increased traffic on our rivers, but is chiefly owing to the 

 indiscriminate use of the gun 



" It frequents rivers, bush-creeks, lagoons, and swamps, often 

 consorting in large flocks, but more generally associating in parties of 

 from three to seven. In some localities it affords very good shooting; 

 and, being seminocturnal in its habits, a clear moonlight night is con- 

 sidered by many the best time for this kind of sport. The birds on 

 reaching their feeding-ground make a circuit in the air to recon- 

 noitre, and then descend in an oblique direction, the rapid vibration 

 of their wings producing a whistling sound, very familiar and plea- 

 sant to the ear of a sportsman. 



" Regarded as an article of food, the Grey Duck is in its prime 

 during the autumn and commencement of winter; but the quality of 

 the game differs according to the locality, those from the lakes and 

 rivers of the interior having a richer flavour as a rule than birds 

 living in the vicinity of the sea-shore, where the feed is coarser," — 



BuLLER. 



