Smith. — On Neio Zealand Ducks. 255 



fight and dive vigorously. By the middle of August they have 

 generally all paired and disappeared to the swamps and river- 

 banks of the plains to nest for the season. In the nesting- 

 seasons of 1894-95 the pinioned grey ducks in the Domain 

 reared fourteen broods, averaging six in a brood. The young 

 are timid and wary for some time, but soon become quiet, and 

 come skipping rapidly over the water when called to be fed. 



The severe wiiiter of last year proved disastrous to the 

 native aquatic birds. As a proof of its severity, I may mention 

 that many of the birds that came to the Domain waters were 

 so weak from hunger as to be scarcely able to fly. We cap- 

 tured over two dozen, all in a benumbed, emaciated, and 

 starving condition. After being well fed for several weeks 

 they recovered, and, excepting a few which we pinioned, were 

 again liberated. The severity of the winter also caused a 

 much later and more prolonged breeding-season. I have one 

 record of a brood of newly-hatched grey ducks on the 20th 

 March, which is the latest date on which I have observed 

 newly-hatched birds. 



Dendrocygna eytoni, Gray. (Whistling Duck.) 



Sir W. Buller, in the second edition of his "Birds," men- 

 tions only "two recorded instances of the recent occurrence 

 of this species in New Zealand."* Three individuals — two 

 males and one female — of this rare and beautiful duck have 

 inhabited the lakes in the Ashburton Domain for three suc- 

 cessive winters. During the earlier part of last winter, before 

 the lakes became frozen, they fed freely with the grey and 

 other ducks on oats and wheat scattered along the water's 

 edge. We fed the whole flock regularly every morning after 

 daybreak, all coming freely to feed after being hailed with a 

 whistle. Owing to the mildness of the present winter, and 

 the greater abundance of food obtainable everywhere, these 

 birds are not so tame as they were last year. They are 

 powerful fliers, while the peculiar shrill whistling sound they 

 produce when flying distinguishes their flight from that of 

 other ducks. These birds have hitherto left the Domain in 

 August of each year, and returned the following April. 



Rhyncaspis variegata, Finsch. (Shoveller, or Spoonbill 



Duck.) 



Two pairs of this beautiful duck frequent the Domain 

 lakes every winter, and consort amicably with the large flock 

 of grey and other ducks inhabiting them. They are very 

 tame, and are much attached to three domestic ducks which 

 live on the lakes. For three seasons they have been among the 



* i.e., p. 269. 



