Order ANSERES.] [Eam. ANATID^E. 



DENDKOCYGNA EYTONI. 



(WHISTLING DUCK.) 



Lejptotarsis eytoni, Gould, in Eyton's Monogr. Anat. p. Ill (1838). 

 Dendrocygna eytoni, Gray, Cat. Anseres Brit. Mus. p. 132 (1844). 



Ad. supra cinerascenti-brunneus, dorsi plumis paucis griseo lavatis : dorso postico vix pallidiore : supracauda- 

 libus pallide ochrascentibus saturate brunneo late terminatis : tectricibus alarum dorso concoloribus : 

 remigibus brunneis, secundariis cinerascente lavatis : cauda saturate brunnea, versus apicem pallidiore : 

 pileo summo et collo postico sordide ocbrasceutibus : facie laterali pallidiore, fulvescentiore : gutture albo : 

 jugulo et pectore superiore ochi'asceutibus vix rufescente lavatis : pectore laterali clarius rufescente, 

 nigro transfasciato : plumis hyponchondriacis elongatis lanceolatis flavicanti-albis, utrinque nigro 

 anguste limbatis : abdomine medio et subcaudalibus albicantibus, his purioribus : subalaribus pallide 

 rufescentibus brunneo transnotatis : rostro pallide brunneo, nigro marmorato : pedibus pallide brunneis : 

 iride saturate brunneL 



Adult. Head, neck, and fore part of breast yellowish brown, tinged with ochre-yellow on the crown and 

 nape, and fading to greyish white on the throat ; the whole of the back, rump, and upper surface of 

 wings dark cinereous brown, the inferior scapulars and some of the interscapulars margined with 

 greyish white ; upper tail-coverts yellowish white, broadly tipped with blackish brown ; upper sides of 

 the body and lower part of breast chestnut-brown, with numerous regular transverse bars of black, 

 broad and conspicuous on the sides, but becoming narrower on the breast ; the long acuminate feathers 

 covering the flanks yellowish white, broadly and distinctly margined with black ; abdomen and under 

 tail-coverts pure white ; quills and tail-feathers dull coppery brown. Irides dark brown ; bill yellowish 

 brown, largely blotched with black, the nail darker brown; legs and feet pale flesh-brown. Length 

 16 inches ; wing, from flexure, 9 - 5 ; tail 3 ; bill, along the ridge l - 75, along the edge of lower mandible 

 L75; tarsus 2; middle toe and claw 2 - 4; hind toe and claw - 75. 



There are two recorded instances of the recent occurrence of this species in New Zealand : — the 

 one at the Thames * ; and the other at Kaitangata, in the Province of Otago f . It is therefore 

 entitled to be admitted into our list of birds as a straggler from the Australian continent, on the 

 north-west coast of which it is said to be extremely plentiful. 



Captain Stokes has furnished the following account of its habits : — " When on the wing it 

 makes a peculiar whistling sound that can be heard at a great distance, and which changes, as it 

 alights, into a sort of chatter. It perches on trees in a very clumsy manner, swinging and 

 pitching to and fro. On the north-west coast it is one of the commonest birds of the country. 

 We subsequently often found it on the rivers of the north coast, but not within some miles of 

 their mouths, or near their upper waters, from which it would appear that it inhabits certain 



* Cat. Birds of N. Z. 1871, p. 77. t Trans. N. Z. Instit. iv. 1871, p. 213. 



