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THE ANIMALS OF NEW ZEALAND 



with down, and generally contains five eggs. "When the parent 

 birds have their brood in charge," he adds, "they certainly 

 exhibit much less craft, as well as energy, for the protection of 

 their offspring, than any other duck. With them there is little, 

 if any, attempt at concealment of the young; none of the ruses 

 which, with the paradise duck, often prove successful in mislead- 

 ing their enemies, are brought into requisition. Usually they 

 simply drop down the rapid, trusting for escape, apparently, to 

 the turbulence of the stream, which is an asylum safe enough 



Blue Duck. 



(Grey's Genera of Birds.) 



from most, if not all, indigenous persecutors, but not from the 

 settler's dog. They seem loth to land, and, if compelled to do 

 so, their progress is not very rapid ; in fact, they impress one with 

 an idea of their helplessness. The duck marches in front, with 

 her low wailing call, the small brood follow while the drake 

 protects the rear, or rather offers himself as the first victim to 

 the pursuer. In winter, they congregate in flocks of moderate 

 niunbers. ' ' 



The blue duck's peculiar shrill and sibilant note, which is 

 sometimes distinctly heard over the noise of the loudest cataract, 



