PINK-EARED DUCK 45 



The hollow seems to have been formed by natives cutting a slab of bark for a canoe 

 many years ago. The nest itself seems to be entirely formed of a mass of dark slaty- 

 gray down, of which a remarkably large amount is used. The eggs are concealed by 

 a thick layer of this down, and appear to be quite immune from the attacks of ravens 

 or crows. 



The clutch numbers six to eight or even nine; the eggs are oval in form and pale 

 creamy or yellowish white in color. They measure about 45 by 32 mm. (North, 

 1913). 



Mr. Barrett writes me that the nest when in a hollow is sometimes betrayed by a 

 feather caught in a splinter. While he was examining one clutch, the owners swam 

 about quietly one hundred yards from the stump. He adds that he found it useless 

 to seek for nests by watching the birds, for they seemed to keep away from all the 

 likely places. 



Status. An idea of the general scarcity of the bird may be obtained from the 

 account of the distribution. Its appearance is so irregular and sporadic that no ac- 

 curate idea of its numbers can be obtained. It is certainly most common in New 

 South Wales, Victoria, and the eastern parts of South Australia. Writing me from 

 the Marree district (interior of South Australia), Mr. L. Reese says that in the great 

 breeding year of 1920 the Pink-eared Ducks nested there in numbers. He ranked 

 them with the Australian Black Duck, Gray Teal and Whistling Tree Duck. 



The elevated position of the nest may protect the eggs from raids of the various 

 introduced mammals that have raised such havoc with Australian ground-nesting 

 birds. The actual status has probably not changed much, at least in the interior. 



Sportsmen are not especially keen on shooting them, at least when better ducks 

 are available, so they seem to be in little danger of extinction at the present time. 



Food Value. Berney (1907) considers it dry and poor eating, and says its small 

 size protects it from extensive slaughter. Mr. Barrett describes the flesh as "not 

 very palatable." 



Behavior in Captivity. The Director of the Melbourne Gardens, Mr. D. Le 

 Souef , writes me that Pink-eared Ducks have been exhibited there but never showed 

 any inclination to breed. He does not think they have ever bred anywhere in con- 

 finement. Mr. Blaauw, who has had nearly all obtainable ducks on his estate at 

 Gooilust, Holland, told me that he had never succeeded in importing it. No hybrids 

 have ever been recorded. 



