BIRDS OF THE LAKES, STREAMS, AND SWAMPS 
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16. Blue- winged Shoveller Spatula rhynchotis Latham 
Spat'-u-la — L., spatula , spoon: rhynch-o-tis — Gk, rhynchos, beak. 
Distribution. — Southern Australia (from North West Cape, Western 
Australia, to Richmond, Queensland), Tasmania, and New Zealand. 
Notes. — Also called Spoonbill-duck, Stinker, and Kuruwhengi. 
Usually in pairs or flocks, frequenting swamps, lagoons, or freshwater 
lakes, both near the coast and inland. It is very shy and wary,^ mostly 
keeping to the open spaces in the swamps far out from the water s edge. 
When flushed, it makes a peculiar whistling or humming noise with its 
wings. Food: aquatic plants and animals. 
Nest. — A slightly grass-lined depression in the ground, placed under 
the shelter of a tussock of grass or clump of low herbage, sometimes out 
on an open plain, but usually not far from water. 
Eggs. — Four to eleven, creamy-white tinged with green, the surface 
being slightly glossy. Breeding-season : August to December. 
17. Musk Duck Biziura lobata Shaw 
Bi-zi-ur-a — origin unknown : lob-d -ta — L., lobatus, lobed. 
Distribution. — Southern Australia (from North West Cape, Western 
Australia, to Rockhampton, central Queensland) and Tasmania. 
Notes.— Also called Mould Goose. Usually singly or in pairs, occa- 
sionally in small flocks, frequenting inland streams and lakes and inlets 
of the coast. It is an interesting duck with many quaint habits; an old 
drake will often amuse himself by throwing out jets of water on each 
side with a rapid back-kick of his feet accompanied by a deep-toned note, 
or will place his bill on his tail or throw back his head and, with pouch 
inflated and tail spread, spin round and round on the water. Food: 
aquatic plants and animals. 
Nest.— A bulky structure placed among reeds and made by bending 
down and interlacing the stems, forming a cup-shaped mass which is lined 
with grass and down. 
Eggs. — Three to six, pale green, the surface being rough and slightly 
glossy. Breeding-season : August to December. 
18. Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutjs Linne 
Ixo-bry-chus—Gk, ixos, reed; Gk, brychein, to roar: min-U’-tus L., 
minutus, little. 
Distribution. — Europe, Africa, Asia, coastal Australia (except the 
southern and north-western portion), and New Zealand. 
Notes.— Also called Minute Bittern and Kaoriki. Usually singly or 
in pairs, frequenting the margins of streams, and swamps. It is remark- 
ably shv and seclusive in habits, and difficult to flush. Generally it trusts 
to a crouching or an upright posture, hoping to avoid observation. Food: 
small fish and aquatic animals. 
Nest . — An open structure, composed of dead pieces of aquatic plants 
