ANAS SUPERCILIOSA, Gmel. 
Australian Wild Duck. 
Anas superciliosa, Gmel. Syst. Nat., vol. i. p. 537.— Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. ii. p. 852. — lb. Gen. Hist., vol. x. p. 327. — 
Eyton, Mon. Anat., p. 139. — Steph. Cont. of Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. xii. p. 108. — List of Birds in 
Brit. Mns. Coll., Part III. p. 135. 
leucophrys, Forst. Drawings, No. 77. 
Supercilious Duck, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. vi, p. 497. 
Gwoom-nan-na, Aborigines of the lowland districts of Western Australia. 
Black Duck, Colonists of New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land. 
He-turrera, Aborigines of NeAv Zealand. 
Grey Duck, Colonists of Swan River. 
This species may be considered as the Australian representative of the Common Wild Duck ( Anas Boschas ) 
of Europe. It enjoys a wide range of habitat, all the southern portion of the continent, Van Diemen’s 
Land, and the islands in Bass’s Straits being alike favoured with its presence ; it also inhabits New 
Zealand ; at least specimens from thence olfer so slight a variation that I cannot consider them to be other- 
wise than identical. 
In habits, manners and general economy, the European and Australian species approximate most closely ; 
their flesh is similar in flavour, and the one is as highly esteemed and as much sought after for the table in 
Australia as the other is in Europe : as regards external appearance, however, no comparison can be made 
between the two birds ; for while the male of the Anas Boschas during the greater part of the year is remark- 
able for the beauty of his plumage, the Anas superciliosa, being subject to no periodical change, is always 
clothed in the sombre-coloured dress represented in the Plate ; neither do the sexes offer any difference 
of colour by which the one may be distinguished from the other. Arms of the sea, rivers with sedgy banks, 
lagoons and water-holes are its favourite places of resort. I encountered it often and under every variety of 
circumstance, sometimes in flocks, at others either singly or in pairs, and not unfrequently in company with 
other species. It abounds on all the rivers of New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land. The tameness 
or wariness of its disposition depends much upon whether the locality in which it is observed has or has 
not been frequented by man ; in some of the rivers in Recherche Bay in Van Diemen’s Land and others 
in the interior of the continent of Australia, which are rarely visited, it evinced much less shyness than 
when observed on the waters of the populated districts. It is everywhere either a stationary species or 
subject to very partial migrations. In the choice of a breeding-place it appears to be influenced by circum- 
stances, sometimes depositing its eggs among long grass and sedges, and not unfrequently resorting to 
hollow spouts and boles of trees for the same purpose. I possess a fine nest of nine eggs, which was taken 
in September from the hollow part of a tree at Moore’s River in Western Australia ; they are of a dark 
cream-colour, two inches and a quarter long by one inch and five-eighths broad. 
Plead very dark brown ; a narrow line above the eye, a broad stripe from the bill beneath the eye, and 
the throat buff ; sides of the neck striated with buff and dark brown ; all the upper surface, wings and tail 
rich brown, the feathers narrowly margined with huffy brown ; tips of the greater wing-coverts velvety 
black ; speculum rich deep glossy green, bounded posteriorly with velvety black ; under surface brown, 
each feather edged with pale brownish white ; bill light bluish lead-colour ; irides bright hazel ; legs 
yellowish brown with darker webs. 
The Plate represents an adult bird of the natural size. 
