HARDHEAD 
133 
from its upper plumage, which is uniform brown. 
The abdomen is whitish, and there is a bar of pro- 
nounced white across the wings which shows up very 
plainly when the bird is flying. 
Every year there are a few birds in the Lakes, but 
one does not see nowadays companies of the size 
which visited us in 1892, when there was seen an 
immense flock stretching in a continuous line for a 
mile up the river from the Sheepwash. 
BLUE-BILLED DUCK 
Oxyura australis 
Rarest of all our indigenous Ducks is this bird, whose 
most striking feature is sufficiently indicated in its 
name. Only one example is known to have occurred 
in this district ; it was shot by Mr. Mulder, between 
the Prince's and Queen's Bridges, on the Barwon, in 
the eighties. He tells me it was as easy to approach 
as is a Musk Duck, to which, indeed, this species is 
closely related, for it has the same sort of very narrow 
and stiff feathers in its tail, and is also noted for its 
powers of diving. It does not breed anywhere in the 
vicinity of Geelong. 
MUSK DUCK 
Biziura lobata 
I THINK we see far fewer Musk Duck on the lakes and 
river than was the case twenty years ago ; nor is the 
