AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 



65 



2 132 Australian Sheldrake, Chestnut-colored Shieldrake, 

 5 Mountain Duck, Gasarca tadornoides, N.S.W., V., T., 



S.A., W.A., N.W.A. =vt. Eur. Sheldrake 



Stat. r. lagoons 27 



Head, neck shining-green; chest, upper-back pale rust-red; 



white band between green and rust-red; upper, under 



blackish; tail black; white, green, chestnut on wing; f., 



smaller, duller. Small fish, shellfish, 



1 133* Black Duck (Australian Wild, Gray, Brown), Parera, 



16 Anas superciliosa, =vt. Eur. Mallard. Sunda Is. 



to N.G., A., T., N.Z. Stat. v.c. water 24 



Head dark-brown; line above eye, line below eye, throat 

 light-buff; upper, under brown marked lighter; glossy- 

 green patch on wing; bill bluish lead-color; f., sim. 

 Grass, insects, pond-snails. 



3 134*Australiaii Teal (Chestnut-breasted, Black, Mountain), 

 15 Tete, Nettium castaneum, Java, Cel., A., T., N.Z. 



=vt. Eur, Teal, Stat. c. lagoons 18.5 



Head, neck dark bronze-green; upper rich brown; under 

 chestnut; flanks spotted black; white, green patch on 

 expanded wing; quills black; 1 lb. 9 oz.; f,, head, neck 

 brown and buffy-white; breast gray, spotted black; 1 lb. 

 8 oz. Grass, 

 135*Gray Teal, Wood-Teal, N. gihherifrons, Sunda Is , Cel,, 



N,G., A,, T., N.Z, Stat. c. lagoons 16 



Like female of 134, but smaller; neck white; 1 lb. 2 oz. ; 

 f., smaller; 1 lb. 1 oz. 



for the breeding season only, but the male Duck wears his bright 

 dress for the whole year, except in the moulting period. It is then 

 "eclipsed," with the corresponding advantage that he is protected 

 from his many enemies at a time when he is most helpless. 



The remarkable Pink-eared Duck has no close relative. It has 

 a small pink spot between the eye and ear, and so is called pink- 

 eyed or pink-eared. It is found only in Australia. The female 

 is similar in color to the male. The name Wigeon, or Widgeon, 

 sometimes applied to this Duck, properly belongs to another of the 

 fresh-water Ducks which is not found in Australia. Hence, this 

 name should not be used for our bird. 



Another peculiar Australian Duck is the Freckled Duck, It 

 is a very rare bird. One taken on the ornithologists' excursion 

 to Eyre Peninsula was considered a prize. So far as is known, 

 it does not change color with the season, nor has the male or 

 female the usual bright metallic patch seen on the wing of a Duck. 



The "Salt-water Ducks" form the next sub-family. These 

 Ducks, though, are not always true to name, for they are not con- 

 fined to the salt water. The Victorian representative is the well- 

 known White-eyed Duck, or Hardhead. This Duck was common 

 on the Botanic Gardens Lake, Melbourne, until it was emptied 

 some time ago. Thus, our one "Salt-water Duck" was often seen 

 on fresh water. In the same sub-family come the Eider-Ducka 



