THE FRECKLED DUCK 151 



The Australian Shoveller (Blue-wing). 



Spatula rhynchotis. 



Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. 



Crown of head and chin brownish black; a white band between the 

 bill and the eyes; rest of head and neck bluish grey; back brownish black, 

 edges of feathers reddish; rump greenish black; lower neck and upper 

 breast white, with dark crescent bands; lower breast rufous chestnut 

 with black bands; shorter scapulars brown, with white crescent bars; 

 upper wing-coverts light blue, tipped with white; speculum glossy green; 

 tail black. Total length 22 inches, wing 9.75, tail 4, culmen 2.55, tarsus 

 1.3. Female, brown-spotted on the underparts, and tail brown with 

 reddish bars. 



Nest, usually a depression among thic-k vegetation, &c., and 

 lined with a little grass and down, occasionally in a hollow in a 

 tree. The clutch is from seven to nine, of a pale-cream colour, 

 and they measure about 2.10 x 1.52 inch. 



Genus Malacorhynchus. 

 Bill spoon-shaped, with soft membranes on sides towards tip. 



The Pink-eared Duck (Widgeon). 



Malacorhynclius memiranaceus. 



Australia and Tasmania. 



Crown greyish brown; sides of the head greyish white; a patch on 

 the sides of the head and passing down to the back of the neck, dark 

 brown; an oblong mark of pink just behind the dark patch surrounding 

 the eye; neck, breast and underparts greyish white, crossed by numerous 

 brown bars; upper parts greyish brown, minutely dusted with lighter 

 points; a white band on wing; tail brown, tipped with white. Total 

 length 17 inches, wing 7.15, tail 2.5, culmen 2.5 to 2.65, tarsus 1.25. 



Nest, generally in the deserted nest of another bird, such 

 as a Coot, Heron, &e., and thickly lined with down, in which 

 the eggs are embedded. From seven to nine creamy-white eggs 

 are laid, which measure about 1.88 x 1.36 inch. 



Genus Stictonetta. 

 Plumage uniform without bright speculum on the wing. 



The Freckled Duck. 



Stictonetta nmvosa. 



Southern and Western Australia and Tasmania. 



All dark brown minutely freckled with irregular oblong bars of white; 

 under surface lighter; wings without speculum; primaries plain brown. 



