218 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



that the species was, aud had been, plentiful about the upper 

 reaches of the ])erwent. In 1874 a specimen was received at the 

 Hobart Museum from JNlacquarie lliver. I have no knowledge of 

 any specimens of this species being taken of late years. 



It is of this bird that Gould states: — " It seldom if ever visits 

 Van Diemen's Land." 



Sub-Farnily — Anatinae. 



PLUMED WHISTLING-DUCK 

 (Dendrocycna njtoni, Gould). 



Male. — Crown of head, hind-neck, and breast pale reddish- 

 brown; sides of the head and neck pale grey, becoming white on 

 the throat; feathers of the back and wings brown, the edges of 

 the former pale ochreous; upper tail coverts whitish-buff, edged 

 with greyish-brown ; tail brown ; quills also brown ; lower breast 

 and sides reddish, regularly barred with black, bars very distinct 

 on the sides ; abdomen and under tail coverts white, slightly tinged 

 with buff; bill yellowish-brown, with a patch of black in the 

 centri"; legs and feet flesh-brown. Dimensions in mm. : — Length, 

 428; bill, 39; wing, 249; tail, 74; tarsus, 57. 



Female. — Similar to male. 



Nest. — On the groimd, among herbage, away from water. 



Egg's. — Clutch ten to twelve probably (A. J. Campbell); 

 roundish in shape ; texture fine ; surface glossy ; light creamy- 

 white. ]3imensions in mm. of odd examples: — (1) 49 x 39, (2) 

 48 X 38.5, (3) 48.5 x 38, (4) 49 x 38. 



Breeding Season. — September to the end of the year. 



GeograpJiieal Distribution. — Tasmania (casual), the whole of 

 the mainland; also New Zealand (accidental). 



Observations. — The first record of this Duck is in the P.K.S. 

 of Tasmania, May, 1871, wherein is the report of a specimen 

 having been received from Kichmond. Again, in June, 1872, 

 another specimen was received, this time from Bridgewater. It 

 was also reported that several specimens had been seen at Sorell. 

 I can find no record of it having been seen within recent years. 



SHIELDRAKE OK MOUNTAIN-DUCK 

 (Casarea ((uh^rnoides, Jard.) 

 Male. — Head and upper neck glossy greenish-black; in old 

 examples the feathers at the base of the bill and round the eyes 

 become brownish ; a white ring separates the upper neck from the 

 lower, which, together with the upper breast and back, are reddish- 

 brown : back, scapulars, and under surface black, finely waved 

 and ficckled with i)ale fulvous: upper tail coverts and tail black, 



