Oedeb ANSEBES.] [Eam. ANATID^E. 



NYKOCA AUSTRALIS. 



(WHITE-EYED DUCK.) 



Nyroca australis, Gould in Eyton's Monogr. Anat. p. 160 (1838). 

 Aythya australis, Gray, Hand-1. of B. iii. p. 86 (1871). 



Native name. — Karakahia. 



Ad. supra brunnea, tectricibus alarum magis cinerascentibus : remigibus brunneis, extiis et versus apicem 

 nigricantibus, minimis extus albis nigro terminatis, fasciam alarem conspicuam formantibus : cauda 

 brunnea : pileo et collo undique cum pectore superiore saturate castaneis : corpore reliquo subtiis albo, 

 hypocbondriis cum abdomine imo et crisso sordide castaneis : s'ubcaudalibus et subalaribus albis : rostro 

 nigro, versus apicem cinereo transfasciato : pedibus saturate brunneis : iride alba. 



Adult male. Tbe general plumage is dark chestnut-brown, paler on tbe flanks, and deepening to castaneous 

 on the bead and nape, where the feathers have a beautiful silky lustre ; a broad band of brownish white 

 crosses the underparts ; the under tail-coverts, likewise, are white, and on the sides of the rump there 

 are faint spots of greyish white, speckled with brown ; quills dark brown ; primaries in their middle 

 portion, and the secondaries towards the base, pure white, forming together, in the opened wing, a con- 

 spicuous bar, and exhibiting in the closed wing a diagonal triangular spot. Irides white ; bill black, 

 with a band of bluish grey near the tip, not including the nail, however, which is black, prominent, 

 and of the shape of the human finger-nail; feet dark leaden brown. Length 19 inches ; wing, from 

 flexure, 8 ; tail 3 ; bill, along the ridge, 2 ; along the edge of lower mandible, 2*25 ; tarsus 1*5 ; middle 

 toe and claw 2'4 ; hind toe and claw - 6. 



Female. Rather smaller than the male and with the plumage duller. 



Young male. Has the chestnut-brown plumage much lighter, and the feathers of the back margined with 

 pale brown ; it has also less gloss on the head, and the brownish white of the underparts mottled with 

 brown. 



The existence of this well-known Australian Duck in our country was first ascertained by Captain 

 Hutton, who, in 1869, sent me a specimen for determination. He furnished at the same time the 

 following notes : — " I first noticed this bird about two years ago, on the Whangape lake, Lower 

 Waikato, and since on the Waikare lake, where it was abundant in March 1868. On the lakes 

 of the Lower Waikato it is not uncommon, but is so wary that, as yet, I have only been able to 

 obtain three specimens, the first of which was kindly procured for me by Mr. A. M. Sheppard of 

 Ahiruna. This bird is known to the natives both of Tarawera and Waikato by the name of 

 Karakahia. Like all the Pochards, it frequents the lakes only, and is rarely, if ever, seen in the 

 rivers and creeks." 



