154 bttlletin: mt^settm of comparative zoology. 



very fat, and, masted t'onn a wclcoinr cliange from the eternal diet 

 of mutton. 



Their liahit of eatiu};' <;reat (iiiaiitities of suc'cuUmiI grass interferes 

 with the nourishing of she(>p upon whieh the colonists depend for a 

 h\eHhoo(h Most of tlie sheep stations otter a bounty of so much per 

 hundred bills brought to the managers, and this destruction should 

 in time greatly reduce^ the numbers of these birds. 



Chloepil\ga RUBiDicEPs Sclatcr. 

 " Brant. " 



Locally common, and abundant about Darwin and a few other 

 places. 



Except for a few seen on Speadwell Islanil, 1 only came upon ten, 

 six at San Carlos, and a pair with tw^o half-grown young on December 

 29, at Port Stephens. 



I was told that their habits and calls were very like the Upland 

 Geese. Where their numbers are great, bounties are offered for their 

 beaks. 



A male in good condition weighed exactly four pounds. 

 -"None of eight adults taken showed any white on the abdomen. 



Anas cristata Gmelin. 

 "Gray Duck". 



The Gray Duck is common, pairs being scattered along the pro- 

 tected beaches almost anywhere. 



No nests were found. The first brood of downy young w^as seen 

 at San Carlos on November 19. P>om that date to February 8 

 newly hatched young were noted. 



^lales weighed from 2f to 2f pounds and females about half a 

 pound less. 



Nettium flavirostre (Vieillot). 



"Teal". 



This teal is fairly conunon, breeding along the small streams and 

 creeks. 



Downy xoung were found on November 7 at San Carlos, and half- 

 grown birds in the same vicinity on Novenil)er 19. 



