WATER-BIRDS 



2 59 



water, its slightly webbed feet and long, sharp claws enabling it to perch with 

 facility. Another notable Australian water-bird is the great musk-duck (Biziura 

 lobata), distinguished by the marked superiority in size of the male over the 

 female, and the presence of a large lobe of skin hanging from the drake's chin. 

 According to a local observer, whenever a musk-drake utters its characteristic 

 deep-toned note it at the same time throws up a jet of water on each side of its 

 body by the action of its feet. On one occasion a wounded blue waterhen was 

 observed making desperate efforts to escape the attack of a hawk. Gradually 



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CAPE BARRON GOOSE. 



the waterhen approached a musk-duck which was swimming placidly in the 

 neighbourhood, and when it got close enough sought protection by dodging first 

 on one and then on the other side of the duck. After a few moments the latter 

 began to take an active part in the combat by uttering its loud note every time 

 the hawk made a stoop at the waterhen, at the same moment splashing up a 

 backwardly directed jet of water in the eyes of the aggressor. Three times the 

 hawk received a douche, after which it retired from the combat, leaving both the 

 duck and waterhen in peace. This curious action is not peculiar to the Australian 

 musk-duck, but is a regular habit with the local coot when attacked or threatened 

 by a bird of prey ; with this difference, that a number of coots will act in concert, 



