200 



the body blackish brown, changing to castaneous on the lower part of the breast and flanks ; on the abdo- 

 men lighter brown mottled with fulvous white ; darker brown in the ventral region ; under tail-covcrts 

 blackish brown largely marked with white ; shoulders dark brown margined with castaneous ; back 

 and upper surface of wings blackish brown, glossed with green ; speculum as in the male ; tail dark 

 brown. 



Obs. An example of the female in my collection differs from ordinary specimens in having no frontal band, 

 the feathers surrounding the bill being light castaneous brown, but with a spot of white at the base of 

 the lower mandible, as in the drake ; the whole of the underparts white mottled with brown, an effect 

 produced by each individual feather being brown in its basal portion and white at the tip. Another 

 differs in having all the upper parts stained with pale umber-brown. 



Nestling. Has the down thickset ; the upper parts pale clove-brown, the underparts white ; a dusky collar 

 round the neck ; an obscure white spot on each wing, and a smaller one on each side of the rump ; the 

 hair-like filaments on the upper parts rather long, very fine in texture, and perfectly black ; irides dark 

 brown ; bill reddish brown, the under mandible yellow, with a brownish tip ; feet light brown, both 

 these and the bill having a fine polish. 



This small Duck has all the habits of a true Scaup, although it is generally called by other names. 

 It is freely distributed over the country, frequenting most of the rivers and lagoons, but seldom 

 being met with in the bush-creeks, and never on the open sea-shore. In winter it associates in 

 large flocks, mingling freely with the Grey Duck and other species ; but at other times it is more 

 generally met with in pairs or in parties of four or five together. Its powers of flight are very 

 feeble ; it takes wing with reluctance, and never rises high in the air, generally only skimming 

 the surface ; but it is a very expert diver, and usually trusts to this faculty for eluding pursuit. 

 Even when mortally wounded it will often escape by this means, and take refuge in the dense 

 sedge, whence it can only be dislodged by a retriever well trained to the work. 



It is interesting to watch a flock of these birds disporting together in the water — standing 

 up on their feet and flapping their wings, splashing the water as they chase one another, 

 swimming under the surface, and performing other playful antics, accompanying them with a soft 

 sibilant note and, at intervals, a feeble quack-quack. 



It is naturally a fearless bird, and in waters where it is protected it becomes very tame. I 

 have never heard of any attempt to domesticate it ; but this might, I think, be very easily accom- 

 plished, and there can be no doubt that it would be a very acceptable addition to the English 

 duck-ponds. 



It builds its nest of grass and lines the interior with soft down from its own body, placing it 

 among the swamp-vegetation in situations contiguous to its haunts, or in the centre of a " negro- 

 head " just above the level of the water. The eggs vary in number from five to seven, or even 

 more, and are of a rather large size for such a bird, measuring 2*5 inches in length by T75 in 

 breadth ; they are of a rich dark cream-colour. 



Mr. Travers informs me that he found a nest of this species containing seven eggs as late as 

 the 17th of March. He took three awav ; and the remaining: four were hatched out in due course. 



