BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 215 



scapulars, and smaller upper wing coverts white; ' irides blaokish- 

 brown; bill reddish-brown; feet yellow' (Gould). Total length, 

 35 inches; wing, 18.5; tail, 8; bill, 3.25; tarsus, 3.62 " (B. M. Cat.) 



Female. — Similar to male. 



Nest. — A bulky structure of dead aquatic herbage, placed 

 among growing herbage in a swamp or lagoon. 



Eggs. — Clutch nine to eleven usually; oval in shape; texture 

 coarse; surface glossy and pitted; colour yellowish- white. Dimen- 

 sions in mm. of odd examples: — (1) 76 x 57, (2) 75 x 57, (3) 75.5 

 X 56, (4) 76 X 56.75. 



Breeding Season. — October to December. 



Geographical Distribution. — Tasmania (casual) and Australia 

 in general. 



Observations. — In June, 1888, a paper was communicated to 

 the Eoyal Society of Tasmania by the late Mr. A. Morton on Mr 

 W. P. Petterd's account, relating to the recent shooting of a 

 Semipalmated Goose in the Lake district, near Cressy. It was 

 one of a small flock that had recently been seen near Launceston. 

 I know of no other instance of this species having been seen in 

 Tasmania. 



Sub- Family — Cereopsinae. 



CAPE BAEEEN GOOSE 

 (Cereopsis novcB-hollandice, Lath.) 



Male. — Upper surface brownish-grey, the feathers margined 

 with a lighter shade, crown of the head much lighter ; some of the 

 feathers of the shoulders and wing coverts have a dark spot near 

 their tips ; the tail portions of the quills, and under tail coverts 

 inclined to blackish; under surface brownish-grey; "bill black; 

 cere lemon yellow ; irides vermilion ; eyelash dark brown ; legs 

 reddish-orange ; toes, webs, claws, and a streak up the front of 

 the legs black" (Gould). Dimensions in mm.: — Length, 850; 

 bill, 49; wing, 512; tail, 201; tarsus, 90. 



Female. — Similar to male. 



Young. — " They assume the plumage of the adults at an early 

 stage, but have the greenish-yellow cere must less conspicuous 

 (Gould). 



Young in Down. — " Sides of the head and upper parts brown, 

 under parts whitish-grey; throat white; a broad white band on 

 each side of the head, and another on each side of the back as far 

 as the sides of the rump " (B. M. Cat.) 



Nest. — Usually constructed on the ground, among salt-bush 

 or tussook-grass, of grass and herbage, the lining being down. 



Egg^. — Clutch four to six; elliptical in shape; texture coarse; 

 surface glossy ; there is always a thin coating of limy matter over 

 the shell, which is white. Dimensions in mm. of a full clutch : — 



