Oedeb ANSEEIFOEMES.] 



[Family ANATIM1. 



CASAECA VAEIEGATA. 



(PAEADISE DUCK.) 



Casarca variegata (G-melin), Buller, Birds of New Zealand, vol. ii., p. 264. 



This fine Duck, formerly so plentiful in the Marlborough District, is becoming scarce, large 

 numbers perishing every season through taking the poisoned grain laid for rabbits. Mr. 

 McDonald, of Blenheim, informs me that years ago he was a constant attendant when the Maoris 

 hunted the " flappers," or moulting birds, when incapable of flight, and that he has known upwards 

 of Rye thousand to be taken in this manner during a single season. They are now counted only 

 by tens and twenties. 



A tame Paradise Duck was an inhabitant of the Masterton fish-ponds for several years. I 

 was assured by the curator at the time that this bird was as useful as any watch-dog could be, for 

 it would set up an unceasing clamour on the appearance of a stranger. Its affection for the 

 keeper was most remarkable, for it would follow him everywhere and nestle about his feet in the 

 most demonstrative manner, squatting on the ground with its neck outstretched and uttering all 

 the time a sort of purring note of satisfaction. It finally had a mate, and they bred and brought 

 up a large brood of young ; but previously to this it every season laid a number of unfertilised 

 eggs, and then took to hatching-out a nest of domestic Duck's eggs. 



A tame Duck of this species which I had at the Papaitonga Lake attached itself in the same 

 marked way to one of the domestics, but was shy and distant with everyone else. A pinioned 

 male bird which I afterwards placed on the lake wandered off to the sea, a distance of several 

 miles, and did not return. 



The handsomely-striking plumage of this bird, coupled with its docility and readiness to 

 breed in confinement, mark it out as being specially suitable for private ponds and ornamental 

 waters. 



I have remarked (vol. ii., p. 267) on the devotion of this species to its young, and the devices 

 to which it resorts to draw intruders away from the vicinity of its nest. I have met with the 

 following in the columns of a newspaper, and the record is worth preserving : — 



" The following is a touching instance of the affection of birds for their young : Mr. Shalders 

 informs the North Otago Times that, having been requested to obtain some young Paradise Ducks 

 for the purpose of exchanging with the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria, he, while travelling 

 with another man up-country, with a waggon and team, saw on a stream two parent birds and 

 eight or nine young ones. On his essaying to capture some of these, the parent birds, like the 

 home Lapwings, endeavoured, by feigning lameness, to decoy him from their young; but he 

 captured three of them, and placed them in a small box on the waggon. They proceeded a dis- 

 tance of six miles and camped for the night, and on rising early in the morning Mr. Shalders' 

 first care was to look after the young birds. On leaving the tent, however, he saw not far from 

 the waggon a Paradise Duck and Drake, and remarked to his mate that he believed that the birds 

 had followed them. To ascertain if this were so, he took the little ducklings out and placed them 

 on the ground some short distance from the waggon, and watched. They were almost immediately 

 taken charge of by the Drake, who made off with them through the mate-kauri in the direction 



