AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK. 
65 
2 132 Australian Sheldrake, Chestnut-colored Shieldrake, 
5 Mountain Duck, Gasarca tadornoides, N.S.W., V., T., 
S.A., W.A., N.W.A. =vt. Eur. Sheldrake 
Stat. r. lagoons 
Head, neck shining-green; chest, upper-back pale rust-red; 
white band between green and rust-red; upper, under 
blackish; tail black; white, green, chestnut on wing; f., 
smaller, duller. Small fish, shellfish. 
1 133*BL'ick Duck (Australian Wild, Gray, Brown), Parera, 
16 Anas superciliosa, =:vt. Eur. Mallard. Sunda Is. 
to N.G., A., T., N.Z. Stat. v.c. water 
Head dark-brown; line above eye, line below eye, throat 
light-buff; upper, under brown marked lighter; glossy- 
green patch on wing; bill bluish lead-color; f., sim. 
Grass, insects, pond-snails. 
3 134* Australian Teal (Chestnut-breasted, Black, Mountain), 
15 Tete, Nettium castaneum, Java, Cel., A., T., N.Z. 
=vt. Eur. Teal. Stat. c. lagoons 18.5 
Head, neck dark bronze-green; upper rich brown; under 
chestnut; flanks spotted black; white, green patch on 
expanded wing; quills black; 1 lb. 9 oz.; f., head, necK 
brown and buffy-white; breast gray, spotted black; lib. 
8 oz. Grass. 
135*Gray Teal, Wood-Teal, N, gibherifrons, Sunda Is , Cel., 
N.G., A., T., N.Z. Stat. c. lagoons 16 
Like female of 134, but smaller; neck white; 1 lb. 2 oz. ; 
f., smaller; 1 lb. 1 oz. 
for the breeding season only, but the male Duck wears his bright 
dress for the whole year, except in the moulting period. It is then 
"eclipsed,'* with the corresponding advantage that he is protected 
from his many enemies at a time when he is most helpless. 
The remarkable Pink-eared Duck has no close relative. It has 
a small pink spot between the eye and ear, and so is called pink- 
eyed or pink-eared. It is found only in Australia. The female 
is similar in color to the male. The name Wigeon, or Widgeon, 
sometimes applied to this Duck, properly belongs to another of the 
fresh-water Ducks which is not found in Australia. Hence, this 
name should not be used for our bird. 
Another peculiar Australian Duck is the Freckled Duck. It 
is a very rare bird. One taken on the ornithologists' excursion 
to Eyre Peninsula was considered a prize. So far as is known, 
it does not change color with the season, nor has the male or 
female the usual bright metallic patch seen on the wing of a Duck. 
The "Salt-water Ducks" form the next sub-family. These 
Ducks, though, are not always true to name, for they are not con- 
fined to the salt water. The Victorian representative is the well- 
known White-eyed Duck, or Hardhead. This Duck was common 
on the Botanic Gardens Lake, Melbourne, until it was emptied 
some time ago. Thus, our one "Salt-water Duck" was often seen 
on fresh water. In the same sub-family come the Eider-Duck^ 
