NATATORES. 365 



Sp. 586. ANAS PUNCTATA, Cuvier. 



Australian Teal. 



Anas punctata, Cuv. 



Mareca castanea, Eyton, Mon. Anat., pi. in p. 119. 



punctata, List of Birds in Brit. Mus. Coll., part iii. p. 134. 



Gnwool-ye-nug-ger-rang , Aborigines of the lowland districts of Western 



Australia. 

 Teal, Colonists of Swan River. 



Anas punctata, Gould, Birds of Australia, foL, vol. vii. pi. 11. 



The Anas punctata is universally diffused over the southern 

 portion of Australia; it is also equally numerous in some 

 parts of Tasmania. It is not migratory, but may be met 

 with during every month of the year. In two instances I 

 found its nest and eggs. The situation of one was rather 

 unusual, a hole near the top of a large tree growing on the 

 flats near Aberdeen on the Upper Hunter ; this occurred in 

 the month of October, and in the following December I raised 

 a female from her nest among the herbage on Green Island in 

 D'Entrecasteaux's Channel. In both instances the eggs were 

 nine in number. 



Like the Wild Duck and Teal of Europe, this bird inhabits 

 rivers, brooks, lagoons, and ponds, both inland and near the 

 sea. It is a true grass-feeder, and is one of the best Ducks 

 for the table found in the country. When surprised it 

 rises quickly, but is less active than the European Teal ; it 

 is, however, a bird of powerful flight. I frequently met 

 with it in vast flocks while ascending the little-visited rivers 

 of the southern part of Tasmania, particularly those which 

 empty themselves into Recherche Bay. In these retired 

 and solitary retreats it is much more tame than in frequented 

 situations, and never failed to fly down the rivers over our 

 heads as we ascended ; a measure which, although at the 

 first view it appears to be that of flying into the danger it 

 wished to avoid, was in fact the readiest means of escaping ; 



