366 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



for had it taken the opposite course, it would have required 

 great exertion to surmount the impenetrable forest of high 

 trees, rising perpendicularly from the water's edge, in which 

 these short and sluggish rivers usually terminate. It is very 

 rare that the male is killed in the nuptial dress, and 1 am 

 induced to believe that it is not assumed until the bird is 

 two or three years old ; after the breeding-season the sexes 

 are alike in plumage, and for at least nine months of the year 

 there is no difference in their outward appearance. 



The adult male in the spring of the year has the head and 

 neck of a rich deep changeable bronzy green ; the whole of 

 the upper surface rich brown, narrowly margined with light 

 reddish brown ; all the under surface chestnut, with a round 

 spot of black near the tip of each feather; greater wing- 

 coverts white J outer webs of the secondaries deep rich 

 velvety black, two or three of the central feathers margined 

 with bronzy reflexions ; remainder of the wings brown ; tail 

 dark brown ; on either side of the vent a patch of white ; 

 under tail -coverts black, freckled with tawny and white ; bill 

 bluish lead-colour; the nail and the edges of the upper 

 mandible black, and the under mandible crossed near the tip 

 by a band of reddish flesh-colour ; irides hazel ; feet lead- 

 colour, with the membranes of a somewhat darker hue. 



The female, the male in winter, and the young male of the 

 year, have the head and neck minutely striated with brown 

 and bufly white ; all the under surface brown, with a blotch 

 of black in the centre of each feather, and the upper surface, 

 wings, and tail similarly marked, but less brilliant than in 

 the male. 



There appear to be two very distinct races of this bird, one 

 of which is much larger than the other ; so great in fact is the 

 difference in this respect in specimens from various parts of 

 the country, that the idea presents itself of their being really 

 distinct species. The smaller race inhabits Tasmania, the 

 larger the western and southern portions of Australia. 



