DENDROCYGNA EYTONI. 



(Ey ton's Tree Duck.) 



Crown of the head and face, greyish brown ; a broad central line of deep greyish brown down the back of the neck ; a narrow stripe of 

 white next the bill, and the throat white ; sides of the neck and the breast, fawn color ; back and upper part of the wings, greyish olive — 

 each feather margined with lighter; rump and tail, brownish black, crossed by a band of buff; upper part of the abdomen, light chestnut 

 red, barred with black ; elongated lanceolate flank feathers, buff", margined with black ; lower portion of the abdomen and the under tail 

 coverts, bufly white ; feet, bright rose color; bill, reddish flesh color, with a large blackish mottled patch in the centre ; irides, orange. 



Length, 20 inches ; wing, 8f ; tail, 3^ ; bill, 1| ; tarsus, 2|. 



This species may be regarded as one of the finest of its family in the Australian continent, to the north and north-eastern 

 portions of which it is for the most part confined. The country around the Grulf of Carpentaria is frequented by it in large numbers ; being 

 noticed by Leichhardt in abundance at Murphy's Lake, and by Capt. Stokes as very plentiful in the Adelaide Eiver. Like several other 

 Australian ducks, this species is in the habit of perching on trees, whence the name of " wood duck" has been applied to them. When on 

 the wing this bird utters a loud whistle, which can be heard at a great distance. When alighting on a tree it is some time before it gains its 

 equilibrium, tossing to and fro in a very awkward manner. The figures in the plate are much reduced in size. The specimen from which 

 the drawing is taken was shot near Brisbane in 1864, and is now (1869) in Mr. Waller's collection. 



DENDEOCYGNA AllCUATA. 



(Whistling Tree Duck.) 



FOEEHEAD, crown, a line down the back of the neck, wings, and the tail, brownish black ; back and scapularies, dark brownish black— each 

 feather margined with deep buff; breast, deep fawn buff, passing into chestnut on the abdomen— each feather of the chest crossed by a short 

 bar of black; face and sides of the neck, buff; centre of abdomen, buff, mottled with black; under tail coverts, white; wing coverts, 

 chestnut ; flank feathers, white, broadly margined with black below ; irides, deep brown ; bill, black ; tarsus, greenish grey. 



Length, 18 inches ; wing, 8i ; tail, 2| ; bill, 2i ; tarsus, 2. 



This species is not uncommon in some parts of Queensland, having a range from south to probably the extreme north, as it is 

 known to inhabit Port Essington, to the west of the Qulf of Carpentaria. It is frequently found in company with other species of duck, aud 

 is sometimes shot in mistake for the common black duck (Anas Superciliosa), like which species it is excellent eating. Like D. Eytoni, this 

 bird is a percher, and utters a loud whistle when on the wing, from whence its popular name is derived. It is very rarely to be found so far 

 south as Brisbane ; but on each occasion of such visit its stay has been but short, and had the character of a migratory passage. Thus, m 

 1854, about August, it appeared in the Brisbane Eiver in large numbers, and might have been seen in the middle of the stream, gathered 

 closely in flocks of from fifteen to thirty, floating with the tide. They were approached and shot without much difiiculty, and, when 

 disturbed, they made but a short flight and clustered again on the water. Since that date I am only aware of some two or three visits, and 

 in each case the numbers were much diminished. 



