92 AN ADDITION TO THE AVIFAUNA OF TASMANIA. 



Gould and other observers. la fully mature specimen s, the 

 colouration is more developed, the head, back, wings, tail, 

 and thighs then being of an intense glossy greenish black, 

 the bill a reddish brown, and the protuberance in the fore- 

 part of the head much more conspicuous. The specimen I 

 have obtained shows the colouration of a greyish-black, but 

 the sex may in some way modify the colour. The time of 

 incubation is between September and December, the nest 

 being built in the dense ruddy banks of lagoons, the eggs, of 

 which but very few have lieen obtained by Oologists, are of 

 a brownish-white colour 3 3-16th inches in length by 2 

 2-16ths in breadth. 



It is sincerely to be hoped that the remainder of the little 

 flock will be able to tind their way to the more secluded 

 portion of the Lake district beyond the reach of the sport- 

 man's gun, there find a congenial home, sufficient food in 

 the sedgy herbage, and in course of time increase its numbers 

 so that we may be able to add this island to its list of 

 permanent habitats. It is worthy of remark that while the 

 eastern portion of the Australian continent is the native 

 habitat of this specie, the home of the " Freckled Duck, 

 Stidonella ncevosa Gould), a small flock of which appeai'ed 

 on the Lake River three years ago, in the western and 

 southern j)ortion, so that here we have an admixture of 

 species in our chance visitors. 



