OXYURA AUSTRALIS, Gould. 
Masc. Oxy. capite toto collogue nigris ; pectore, dorso lateribiisque nitide castaneis ; remigibus, tec- 
tricibus caudceque nigrescentibus ; uropygio nigricante brimneo inornato ; abdomine crissoque brun- 
neo-citiereis brunneo transversaliter obscure striatis ; rostro p>edibmqiie plumbeis. , 
FcEM. Differt toto corpore nigricante, obscuris lineis guttisque castaneis notato ; partibtis inferioribus 
corporis pallidioribus. 
Long. tot. 15 unc; rostri, 2; alcB, 6; catidce, 3; tarsi, 
Male. Whole of the head, throat, and neck black ; chest, breast, back, and flanks rich chestnut ; 
wings and tail brownish black ; rump brownish black freckled with brown ; belly and under tail- 
coverts brownish grey, obscurely marked transversely with dark brown ; feet and bill blackish lead 
colour. 
Female. Is the same size as the male, and has a plumage of uniform blackish brown, transversely 
marked with indistinct zigzag lines and freckles of chestnut brown, lighter and more greyish brown on 
the under surface ; tail-feathers black. 
Oxyura Australis, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, Part IV., 1836. 
Habitat. Australia : localities, Van Diemen's Land, and Swan River. 
