THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 37 



Australia nor Tasmania. Colour of bill reddish brown, feet 

 yellow. 



Branta jubata, Lath., Maned Goose, is a bird peculiar to us, 

 and is popularly known as Wood Duck, and was once described 

 by Latham as an Anas. Extent of range, according to Mr. Gould, 

 lies between 25 and 30 S. latitude, though on several occasions 

 in ordinary seasons I have observed and secured it as low as 35°. 

 This bird is full of interest, even to its loud barking note, so 

 unlike that of other geese, also from an oological point of view. 

 The sexes vary considerably in size and beauty, the male far 

 exceeding its mate in both respects. Possibly the lady members 

 may raise a discussion as to what constitutes true beauty, and 

 upset this statement. However, as Pope once said, 

 " We reason but from what we know." 



Young birds were seen in September last. 



Biziura lobata, Shaw, Musk Duck. — Here we find the sense 

 of touch as highly developed as with the other members of this 

 family. The tongue is a notable feature, being soft, fleshy, and 

 of unusual sensibility. Unlike other birds, the duck discriminates 

 its food by the touch of the tongue, and not by the senses of 

 sight and smell. Mud and water, with the aid of such a valuable 

 tongue, are forced through the lamellae or sieve-like structure of 

 the bill and rejected as food. 



The oil-gland in this species is a particularly strong one ; in 

 like manner to the usual gland above the cloacal aperture, it 

 secretes an oily matter which the birds smear or preen their 

 feathers with, to prevent percolation of water inwards. 



Dendrocygna (Leptotarsis) Eytoni, Gould, or Eyton's Tree 

 Duck, is principally recorded to be found in Northern Australia 

 and to 1 8° S. However, last year it was secured below 30 , and 

 specimens were purchased from our local game vendors. Owing 

 to the difference in structure, more particularly in the form of the 

 nail on the bill, it has received at the hands of Mr. Gould a 

 different classification to that of Mr. Swainson, who includes it in 

 genus Dendrocygna, our other type being the Whistling Duck, 

 Dendrocygna arcuata. Similar to the goose, the legs are found 

 to be feathered, and of like comparative length. 



Proceeding to the second family of the order, the 



Larid/E, or Gulls, 



we have first Larus pacificus, Lath., Pacific Gull. 



For two years the young differ so much that speculation could 

 easily be indulged in, by a stranger, so as to favour distinct 

 species ; the mottled brown of the young state may frequently be 

 seen changing to the colouring of the adult. This Larus is to be 

 observed in pairs, frequenting Southern Australia and Tasmania,' 

 not proceeding into equatorial waters. 



