242 



surface or lining of the wings is pure white. Irides and bill black ; legs greyish black. Total length 

 24 inches; extent of wings 47; wing, from flexure, 14-5; tail 6; bill, along the ridge 1'75, along the 

 edge of lower mandible 2; tarsus 2*75 ; middle toe and claw 2*75 ; hind toe and claw *6. 



Obs. In some examples (probably immature birds) the middle tail-feathers are terminally margined with 

 pale brown, and the lateral ones vermiculated at the tips with white. 



Adult female. Head and greater portion of neck pure white ; lower part of neck, breast and sides of the 

 body bright ferruginous, with freckled margins, and varied more or less with brown ; on the sides and 

 long plumage overlapping the thighs numerous freckled vermiculations of brown and white ; shoulders 

 and mantle dark brown, mixed with rufous, beautifully vermiculated with fulvous white and largely 

 varied with ferruginous ; middle portion of back minutely freckled with white ; surface of wings pre- 

 cisely as in the male ; rump and upper surface of tail glossy black ; abdomen ferruginous largely mixed 

 with dark brown, presenting a banded and mottled appearance ; under tail-coverts paler ferruginous, 

 freckled with black at the tips. 



Young. In the young state tlie sexes are alike, the plumage resembling more nearly that of the adult male. 

 Head and upper portion of neck sooty black, varied with light brown; lower portion of neck dark 

 brown, -with narrow transverse lines of rufous ; the w^hole of the under surface blackish brown, mottled 

 and barred with rufoTis, each feather narroAvly margined with w^hite ; shoulders, back, and lower sides of 

 the body black, with white freckles and vermiculations; wings as in the adult; rump and tail black; 

 under tail-coverts pale ferruginous. 



Progress towards maturity. Examples exhibit much individual variety in their progress towards maturity ; 

 this is especially the case with the female, the first indication of change being the appearance of irre- 

 gular white feathers on the head and neck, which rapidly increase in number till the plumage of those 

 parts becomes entirely wiiite ; and in a more advanced state the underparts are varied with scattered 

 feathers of rufous in such a manner as to impart a very lively effect. Some specimens of the immature 

 male are marked with rufous on the forehead and lores. 



Nestling. Covered with soft down, for the most part pure white, but largely varied on the upper surface 

 with brown ; the checks, throat, fore neck and all the under surface entirely white ; the top and upper 

 sides of the head, in a line with the eyes, the hind neck and shoulders, a broad mark down the back 

 spreading on the tail, the anterior portion and tips of wings, and a broad patch on each flank, continued 

 in a line over the thighs, dull umber brown ; bill and feet pale brown. 



Of the eight species of this tribe inhabiting New Zealand the " Paradise Duck " of the colonists 

 is undoubtedly the finest. It is spread all over the South Island, being extremely abundant in 

 some localities; but in the North Island its range does not extend beyond lat. 39*^ S, It is 

 difficult to understand why it should be thus confined; but, with the exception of a flock of five 

 seen some years ago in the Kaipara district, I have never heard of its occurrence north of this 

 line. At certain seasons of the year it associates in large flocks, which migrate from one part of 

 the country to another, resorting at one time to the river-mouths and salt marshes near the sea- 

 coast, and at another retiring to the grassy plains and lagoons of the interior. In winter a 

 partial separation of the sexes appears to take place, it being a common thing to see a flock of 



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ten or more drakes to one duck, and vice versd. At other times they wander about in paii*s ; and, 



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