BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 217 



up and down the river appreciated the Geese greatly, in one 

 morning alone seven being shot before daylight. Mr. ]\Iuriay has 

 now shot the flock right out, owing to their wandering habits, 

 and being tired of providing " Cape Barren Geese " for river 

 sportsmen. 



Sub- Family — Chenonettinae. 



*WOOD-DUCK (Maned Goose) 

 (Chenonetta jubata, Lath.) 



Male. — Head and neck reddish-brown; lengthened plumes 

 down the back of neck brownish-black ; back grey, tinged with 

 black; lower back, rump, and upper tail coverts black; tail glossy 

 black; shoulders grey, broadly margined with black on the outer 

 webs, and naiTowly on the inner with the same colour ; lesser wing 

 coverts grey ; a glossy green band across the secondaries, which 

 are tipped with white ; greater wing coverts also tipped with white ; 

 primary coverts and primaries brownish-black ; breast grey, 

 mottled with black and white ; abdomen and under tail coverts 

 glossy black; sides and flanks greyish-white, very finel}- ver- 

 miculated with black ; bill olive-brown ; legs and feet blackish- 

 brown. Dimensions in mm.: — Length, 504; bill, 30; wing, 274; 

 tail, 98; tarsus, 42. 



Female. — Head, hind-neck, mane, and fore-neck pale reddish- 

 brown; sides of the face, chin, and part of the throat finely 

 speckled with white ; back greyish-brown ; green band on wings 

 somewhat inconspicuous; breast brown, each feather barred and 

 tipped with white; sides and flanks light brown, the feathers 

 broadly barred and tipped with white; abdomen and under tail 

 coverts white ; bill more brown than in male ; legs and feet blackish- 

 brown. 



Young. — According to JNIr. A. J. Campbell, they are sooty- 

 brown above, with two stripes along the face ; vmder surface dull 

 white. 



Nest. — Within a hole or hollow spout of a tree, either near or 

 standing in water. 



Eggs. — Clutch nine to twelve; oval in shape; texture fairly 

 fine; surface glossv ; colour creamy-white. Dimensions in mm. of 

 portion of a clutch:— (1) 55 x 39, (2) 55 x 38.5, (3) 54.5 x 39, (4) 

 54.25 X 38. 



Breeding Season. — August to January. 



Geogrnpliical Distrihtition. — Tasmania and the whole of x\us- 

 tralia. 



Observations. — At a meeting of the Tasmanian Eoyal Society, 

 September, 1864, the late Mr. Morton Allpoi-t reported that he 

 had seen a Maned Goose on the Plenty River; this was the first 

 record for Tasmania. Again, in October, 1867, Mr. Allport stated 



