THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Immature birds appear to have more black on the primary- and secondary-quills. 
Nestling, Covered with dark greyish down. 
Nest. A large open structure composed of reeds and rushes placed near water, lined with 
roots and finer materials, either on the edge, or in a swampy place. Outside 
measurements about four feet across, and from twelve to twenty-four inches high. 
Depression, twelve inches by three. 
Nggs. Four to eight. Of a uniform pale green (duck-egg) colour, slightly rough on the 
surface. Axis 104 to 110 mm., diameter 64 to 69. Average weight: when full 
about nine ounces (Campbell). 
Incubation-period. 35 days (Sclater). 
Breeding-period. August to January (Campbell) ; June and July (Mathews). 
This bird was first given a Latin name by Latham (Index Ornith., 
Vol. II., p. 834, 1790), who gave the name Anas atrata to the description 
given by Phillip in his Voyage to Botany Bay, on p. 98, published in 
1789. Phillip wrote : “ On this lake (near Port Jackson, New South 
Wales) they first observed a Black Swan, which species, though proverbially 
rare in other parts of the world, is here by no means uncommon, being 
found on most of the lakes. This was a very noble bird, larger than 
the common swan, and equally beautiful in form. On being shot at, it rose 
and I discovered that its wings were edged with white : the bill was 
tinged with red.” 
It, however, had been discovered almost one hundred years earlier, 
the first note I have been able to trace being the one in the Philosophical 
Transactions of London, Vol. XX., p. 361, 1698, quoted but not acknow- 
ledged by Gould. All that there appears is as given by Gould, viz. : “ Here 
is returned a ship, which by our East India Company was sent to the South 
Land, Hollandia Nova. . . . Black Swans, Parrots, and many Sea-Cows 
were found there. . . .” This occurs in a “ letter from Mr. Witsen, 
Burgermaster of Amsterdam and F.R.S. to Dr. Martin Lister, FeUow of 
the College of Physicians and R.S.” The above refers to Vlaming’s 
Voyage. 
In “ Journaal . . . Voyagie . . . Zuid - Land . . . published in 
Amsterdam 1701 ” (which is a record of the voyage of Willem de Vlaming 
in 1696-7) on p. 15 under the date 7th January, 1697, is written : “ On 
the 7th the whole crew returned on board with the boats, bringing with 
them two black swans. The mouth of the said River [Swan] lies in 
31 degrees 46 minutes.” 
Again on p. 16 : “ On the 11th, at break of day we again ascended the 
river, and saw many swans (our boat knocked over nine or ten),” (translation). 
Three were carried to Batavia alive but died soon after their arrival. 
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