130 BIRDS OF THE DISTRICT OF GEELONG 
SPOONBILL OR BLUEWING DUCK 
Spatula rhynchotis rhynchotis 
On the Lakes, and in other parts of the district where 
Ducks resort, such as the lagoons on the north shore, 
Stingaree Bay and the coastal creeks, the Spoonbill, 
Shoveller, or Blue-wing, as he is variously called, is 
quite common, if one can say of any member of 
such a hotly hunted family as the Ducks that it is 
common. In point of size the Spoonbill lies between 
the Black Duck and the Teal, with the flocks of which 
latter species it is wont to associate itself. For it 
has this peculiarity, of attaching itself to other Ducks 
in their flight-movements rather than forming flocks 
of its own kind. 
I have only seen one nest in the district ; it was in 
the hollow of a redgum tree near the foot of the 
You Yangs, and contained, deeply embedded in down, 
nine eggs, of a creamy-white with a greenish tinge, 
rather larger than Teal's eggs. The bird is marked 
by light-blue wing-patch and shovel-shaped bill, 
whence it is sometimes called Shoveller. 
WIDGEON OR PINK-EARED DUCK 
Malacorhynchus membranaceus 
In ordinary seasons this is one of the rarest Ducks, 
and even when unusual floods in the Barwon attract 
Widgeon to the river and lakes, one does not see 
