HABITS OF NATIVE ROBIN 81 



number: never more, but sometimes I have captured 

 females with but a single young one clinging to them. 



The duck-bill feeds on fresh-water Crustacea, worms, 

 and slugs, and does not eat below the surface of the water. 

 The food is first collected in the cheek-pouches with which 

 the animal is provided, and seems to be consumed when it 

 is at rest in its burrow; or, perhaps, when it is quietly 

 floating in the vertical position. In captivity a small 

 quantity of food is sufficient to keep them in health, but 

 they must be kept well supplied with water. 



The distribution of the duck-bill is not wide on the 

 Australian continent — certainly not extending to a tenth 

 of its entire surface ; and in many parts it is a local 

 animal, being found perhaps on the upper reaches of a 

 river, but never on the lower parts of the same stream. I 

 have found it on the Upper Darling, near Caidmurra, but 

 this seems to be about its northern limit. Eastward I 

 could find, or hear, nothing of it beyond the line of the 

 river Murray. In the interior of New South Wales, and 

 of Victoria, it becomes gradually scarcer, and the Darling 

 probably bounds its range in that direction. It is not so 

 nocturnal an animal as many naturalists have stated it to 

 be. Probably they have been misled by its extreme 

 shyness, which causes it to be very chary of showing itself 

 during daylight. 



It is a lively and playful animal, and the spectator who 

 takes care to keep himself concealed and remains perfectly 

 still, will be amused by the many pretty gambols of the 

 duck-bills, both in the water and on the banks of the 

 streams. The duck-bill never wanders from the imme- 

 diate neighbourhood of water. In time of drought they 

 gradually collect in the larger pools; and at such times, 

 under pressure of necessity, they may be found on the 

 banks of lakes, and in running water. 



It is a remarkable coincidence — if it is a mere coin- 

 cidence — that the range of the native-robin {Petronia 

 Phoenicia}) is identical with that of the duck-bill. This 

 small bird is a robin in size, liveliness, and familiarity with 

 man ; but its plumage is most brilliant, and so strongly 



F 



