346 ANAimai. 



Genus ERISMATUEA, Bonaparte. 



ERISMATURA AUSTRALIS, Gould. 

 Blue-billed Duck 

 Gould, Handhh. Bds. Aust., Yol. ii., s{k 594, p. 379. 



This bird is dispersed over the southern and western poftions of 

 the continent of Australia, and is tolerably abundant on the 

 Gippsland Lakes in Victoria ; it has also recently been found on 

 Lake Buddah, near Trangie in New South Wales. 



According to Mr. Gould " it breeds in September and October, 

 constructing a nest very like that of the Biziura lohata, and laying 

 from two to nine or ten eggs, which are of a large size, and of a 

 uniform bluish-white, with a very rough surface ; two inches and 

 five-eighths long by two inches broad." (Gould, Handhk. Bds. 

 Aust., Vol. ii., p. 379.) 



Hab. New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, West 

 and South-west Australia. . (Bamsay.) • 



Genus BIZIURA, Leach. 



BIZIURA LOBATA, Shaw. 

 Musk Duck. 

 Gould, Handhh. Bds. Aust., Vol. ii., sp. 595, p. 381. 



" The nest of this species is placed among the rushes, reeds, and 

 weeds on the banks of the small islands in the lakes and the 

 lagoons. It is composed of aquatic plants, leaves of the reeds, 

 flags, and the like, and lined with a few feathers. The eggs are 

 usually two in number, of a pale olive colour, 3-2 inches in length 

 by 2'1 inches in breadth. The sheU is minutely granulated, rough, 

 and very strong. The breeding season begins in August and 

 continues to the end of November." {Ramsay, Ibis, 1867, Vol. 

 iii.. New Series, p. 413, pi. viii., fig. 1.) 



ffab. Wide Bay District, Richmond and Clarence Rivers 

 Districts, New South Wales, Interior, Victoria and South 

 Australia. (Bamsay.) 



