down tit*- Bides, and are fainter i>n the abdomen : irides, dark brown ; 

 mandible, white ; tarsi, crreen or yollowish-brown ; webs, dark brown. 



bill, <>li\ e : t i|» of the lower 



abital : The southern parts of Australia. 



GENUS ERISMAT U R A (Bonaparte). 



\LMOST equalling the Musk Duck in sustained diving powers, the members of this genus, which 

 are limited in number, although Pound in Europe, America, Africa. Asia, and Australia, rely 

 u|)..ii their capabilities for immersion alike for procuring their food and protection from danger. 



A striking feature of the species inhabiting Australia is the very considerable difference of 

 plumage in the -exes. 



EEISMATUEA AISTRALIS. 



BLUE- BILLED DUCK. Genus: Ekismatura. 



rill I AT series of reedy-margined lakes running parallel to the coast of Western Australia, and 

 ' alluded to in Plate XLVI1L. is the especial range of the present species, and. indeed, only in 

 very rare instances has the bird been seen elsewhere in Australia. 



Although little is known of its habits, in many respects this Duck appears to much resemble 

 the />/./"/•</ fjubata, being like that bird an expert diver, often remaining under water for a considerable 

 time, particularly if disturbed by the approach of man or the discharge of a gun in its neighbourhood ; 

 the m>t is also similarly constructed to that of the H. Lobata. 



Fresh-water mussels, cockles, shrimps, small tish. and aquatic growths constitute the food of 

 this species, and when procuring it a Hock -which usually numbers from eight or ten to twenty 

 birds — is seldom seen out upon the open water, preferring to remain near the margin of the lake, 

 when concealment from observation is secured by the long sedgy herbage or the pendulous branches 

 of the tea-tree. 



The breeding months are September and October, when each Hock inhabiting the lakes retire! 

 to the security afforded by the reedy margins and build their nests ; these are similar to and almost 

 a- carefully constructed as those of the Musk Duck. The eggs vary in number from two to ten. are 

 of large size, of a bluish-white colour, two inches and five-eighths long by two inches broad, and 

 have a very roughly grained surface, more resembling the eggs of the (loose than those of any Duck. 



In the male, the head, throat, and neck are deep blue-black : breast, wings, and back, rich 

 red-brown ; rump and tail, dark brown ; abdomen and under tail-coverts, light brown, with blurred 

 transverse markings of a darker shade ; irides, dark brow n : bill, light blue : outside of tarsi and 

 webs, dark grey ; front and inner sides, light grey. 



The female is equal in size, but is of a uniform shade of dark brown, with transverse 

 irregular markings of reddish-brown: under surfaces, more greyish-brown: tail, black: bill, olive-green; 

 irides and feet, lighter in colour than those of the male. 



Habitat 



Western Australia. 



