ANSERES. 



71 



Htmenol^mus. Or ay. 



Bill, as long as the head, furnished with a loose skin for half its length from the tip ; 

 wings, short ; hind toe, strongly lobed ; largo callosities on the wing-joint. 

 New Zealand onlv. 



103. Hymenolsemus malacorhynchus. Gml. 



Blue ok Mountain Duck. Whio. 

 (Plate XXXI.) 

 Above, slale-blue ; below, tlie same, spotted with rufous on the breast, and varied with 

 grey ; bill, pinkisli-white. 



L., 17-5; W., 85; B., 2; T., 1-75. 

 i"^^.— White; length, 2-7 ; breadth, 1-75. 

 Hab. — Both Islands. 



'' Far up the mountain-gorge^ where the foaming torrent, walled 

 in on both sides, rushes impetuously over its shingle-bed, surging 

 around the huge water-worn boulders that obstruct its course, and 

 forming alternately shallow rapids and pools of deep water, there the 

 Blue Duck is perfectly at home ; and its peculiar whistling or sibilant 

 note may be readily distinguished amidst the noise of the rushing 

 waters ; indeed, as Mr. Travers has already suggested, the bird appears 

 to have been specially endowed with this singular note in consequence 

 of its frequenting such localities. A stray one is sometimes carried 

 down during a freshet into the still reaches or even to the very mouth 

 of the stream ; but it speedily works its w ay back again to its 

 favourite mountain haunts. It is a very tame or stupid bird, often 

 remaining perfectly quiet on a projecting boulder till you approach 

 within a few feet of it ; then, sidling of£ into the water, it swims into 

 the nearest rapid and allows itself to be hurried down by the current. 

 It seldom dives, and takes wing only when fired at or closely pressed; 

 but it swims with considerable rapidity, the head being carried low 

 and inclined somewhat forward. It has the faculty of turning itself 

 round in the water, and without losing ground, however rapid the 



