ANAS PUNCTATA, Cm. 
Chestnut-breasted Duck. 
Anas punctata, Cuy. 
Mareca castanea, Eyton, Mon. Anat., pi. in p. 119. 
punctata, List of Birds in Brit. Mus. Coll., Part III. p. 134. 
Gnwool-ye-niig-ger-rang, Aborigines of the lowland districts of Western Australia. 
Teal, Colonists of Swan River. 
The Anas punctata is universally diffused over the southern portion of Australia ; it is also equally numerous 
in some parts of Van Diemen’s Land. It is not migratory, but may be met with during every month of the 
year. In two instances I found its nest and eggs. The situation of one was rather unusual, a hole near the 
top of a large tree growing on the flats near Aberdeen on the Upper Hunter; this occurred in the month 
of October, and in the following December I raised a female from her nest among the herbage on Green 
Island in D’Entrecasteaux’ Channel. In both instances the eggs were nine in number. 
Like the Wild Duck and Teal of Europe, this bird inhabits rivers, brooks, lagoons and ponds, both inland 
and near the sea. It is a true grass-feeder, and is one of the best Ducks for the table that is found in 
the country. When surprised it rises quickly, but is less active than the European Teal ; it is, however, 
a bird of powerful flight. I frequently encountered it in vast flocks Avhile ascending the little-visited rivers 
of the southern part of Van Diemen’s Land, particularly those which empty themselves into the Recherche 
Bay. In these retired and solitary retreats it is much more tame than in frequented situations, and 
never failed to fly down the rivers over our heads as we ascended ; a measure which, although at the first 
view it appears to be that of flying into the danger it wished to avoid, was in fact the readiest means 
of escaping ; for had it taken the opposite course, it would have required great exertion to surmount the 
impenetrable forest of high trees, rising perpendicularly from the water’s edge, in which these short and 
sluggish rivers usually terminate. It is very rare that the male is killed in the nuptial dress, and I am in- 
duced to believe that it is not assumed until the bird is two or three years old ; after the breeding-season 
the sexes are alike in plumage, and for at least nine months of the year there is no difference in their out- 
ward appearance. 
The adult male in the spring of the year has the head and neck of a rich deep changeable bronzy green ; 
the whole of the upper surface rich brown, narrowly margined with light reddish brown ; all the under 
surface chestnut, with a round spot of black near the tip of each feather ; greater wing-coverts white; 
outer webs of the secondaries deep rich velvety black, two or three of the central feathers margined with 
bronzy reflexions ; remainder of the wings brown ; tail dark brown ; on either side of the vent a patch of 
white ; under tail-coverts black, freckled with tawny and white ; bill bluish lead-colour ; the nail and the 
edges of the upper mandible black, and the under mandible crossed near the tip by a band of reddish 
flesh-colour ; irides hazel ; feet lead-colour, with the membranes of a somewhat darker hue. 
The female, the male in winter, and the young male of the year, have the head and neck minutely striated 
with brown and buffy white ; all the under surface brown, with a blotch of black in the centre of each feather, 
and the upper surface, wings and tail similarly marked, but less brilliant than in the male. 
The Plate represents a male and a female of the natural size. 
