THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Latham founded his other name Anas melanoleiica, not recognising that the 
drawing referred to his earlier named Anas s&impalmata. 
Mr. J. P. Rogers’ notes read as follows : — 
Feb. 23, 1902. Eleamurda Swamp, North-west xlustralia. Nest 
contained seven eggs : was in a shallow swamp covered vith long water- 
grass and weeds and consisted of a large mass of grass and weeds about 
24 X 24 inches wide at the water-line. The nest was not floating but rested 
on the bottom and was trodden solid. The bowi contaming the eggs 
measured 14 x 14 x ^3 inches deep and the nest tapered from the water-line 
to the nesting bowl. The nests of this bird are easily found ; if when wading 
through the swamps a single bird rises, search the place and the nest will 
usually be found in the centre of a little clearing. The birds drag the nearest 
weeds together to make the nest. In this district the geese rise straight from 
the nest, whilst the other waterfowi usually creep away before rising, unless 
surprised. 
March 5, 1902. Same locality. Nest contained eleven eggs, centre 
of swamp water 18 inches deep. Nest was very large, being 48 x 30 inches 
at the water-line, sloping up to the top wdiere it measured 18 x 18 inches 
outside measurement. Inside 16 X 16 x. 5 deep. This is by far the largest 
nest I ever saw. 
“ Nov. 23. Had a heavy showier and two hours after a large flock flew'^ 
round to see if the swamps were filled. A month ago they w'ere rare, now’^ 
they are seen everywhere. I saw a flock of 200 on Parry’s Lagoons on the 
25th Nov. They are to be heard trumpeting as they fly to and fro at night. 
On Dec. 7th they left the water and are now feeding in the short new grass on 
the plams. There must be over one thousand on the plains now. A flock of 
250 passed m}^ house at 10 a.m. 
“ Dec. 19, 1908. An immense flock of these birds spent the day in a 
dry swamp near my camp in which are only a few little puddles. There were 
about 500 of them. When I first heard them this morning I thought the flood 
waters had come down, the low roar of their voices being not unlike the roar 
of the flood water. 
“ Dec. 20, 1908. The rains last night put 2 inches of w'ater in the swamp, 
the water covering about 2 acres. 
“ Jan. 26, 1909. In large flocks, but not breeding, as water is not 
plentiful. Feed on a species of millet which grows in swampy ground 
and bears a heavy crop of seed. 
‘‘ Feb. 10, 1909. Saw the blacks with some eggs. 
“ March 12, 1909. Have just heard that a party of thi’ee took 100 eggs 
of this species from a swamp 9 miles north of my camp. 
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