PINK-EARED DUCK 43 



DISTRIBUTION 



The present species is a moderately common bird, confined to Australia, where it is generally dis- 

 tributed. In West Australia it is not common, but has been found in the vicinity of Point Cloates 

 and Northwest Cape and in northwest Australia along the Fitzroy River (Keartland, . .. 



in North, 1898; Carter, 1904). Also on Lake Muir, southwestern West Australia (Car- 

 ter, Emu, 1923, p. 137). Eylmann (1911) found it on the North Peninsula and on the lakes of the 

 interior of the North Territory, where it was fairly common. S. A. White (1914) took a pair at the 

 mouth of the Finke River, in the MacDonnell Range, and Ingram (1907) has recorded it from the 

 Alexandra district. It seems to be more abundant in eastern Australia, appearing with the rains, as 

 most ducks do in that region. On the Cloncurry River, in northwestern Queensland, it is found in 

 great numbers and breeds (Macgillivray, 1914), but on the Herbert River, northeastern Queensland, 

 it is not common (Boyd, in North, 1913). The same is true of the Richmond district (Berney, 1907). 

 Lyons (1902) says it was found all along the Diamantina River, but nowhere in large numbers, and 

 Mr. C. T. Barnard writes me that it is so rare a bird near Duaringa that he has no notes on the 

 species. Ramsay (1878) has recorded the species for Port Denison and Wide Bay. 



In New South Wales this duck is tolerably common after the rains; perhaps most so in the western 

 parts (Ramsay, 1876; North, 1913). In Victoria it is very common when the conditions are suitable 

 (A. C. Stone, 1912; Batey, 1907) and in South Australia it is found far in the interior (Lake Frome dis- 

 trict) though on the lower Murray it is scarce (T. P. Belchambers, in litt.). Lyons (1902) says it was 

 found on Lake Eyre. S. A. White (1917) found a few breeding on Cooper Creek. Mr. L. Reese 

 writes me from the Marree district in the interior, that in flood years like 1920 this species nests there 

 in considerable numbers. Chenery (in North, 1913) found the Pink-eared Duck breeding at Port 

 Augusta. Further records of its distribution will be found in the pages of the "Emu." 



In Tasmania the species is rare and irregular in its appearance (Gould, 1865; Legge, _, . 



1887). m 



GENERAL HABITS 



Although the Pink-eared Duck resembles the Shovellers in its feeding habits, it 

 cannot be considered as related to that group. Generally speaking it is a rare bird, 

 excepting perhaps in the interior of southeastern Australia. It is entirely a fresh- 

 water bird, is never seen on the coast, and shows a decided preference for open, 

 shallow lagoons with muddy bottoms. Very little is known about its life-history. 



Wariness. All writers agree in describing this duck as one of the very tamest, 

 perhaps the tamest of Australian water-fowl. It allows a very close approach, and 

 when flushed flies only a very short distance. Austin (in North, 1913) classes it 

 as much the tamest of all the ducks, and says that it seldom flies high, so that a great 

 many are shot. He has known a flock to fly round and round a lagoon till they were 

 all killed. The species does not seem to have gained in wisdom from its contact with 

 man, since the latest writers as well as the earliest speak of it as ludicrously tame 

 (Gould, 1865; Berney, 1907; Austin, in North, 1913; Eylmann, 1911). In a recent 

 letter to me Mr. Charles Barrett of Victoria speaks of them as "confiding" and "apt 

 to evince curiosity rather than fear, when approached by a boat." 



Daily Movements. No information. 



