WOOD-DUCK OR MANED GOOSE. 
Nestling. Upper-surface brown, head darker ; a white spot on each side of the back 
near the tail ; white bar on the wing ; under-surface white, brownish on the sides 
and lower throat ; chin white ; from the bill a white stripe above and below the 
eye ; a dark brown one from the bill through the eye, and another of the same colour 
below the white one ; feet greenish. 
Nest The nesting-site is a hole in a tree lined with down. 
Eggs. Clutch, six to twelve ; creamy white, slightly glossy with smooth surface. Axis 
60 mm., diameter 39. 
Breeding-season, August to January ; June (North). 
This is another Australian Duck Latham named for the first time in his 
Supplement, Vol. II., to the Gen. Synops. Birds ; this time the male was 
described from Latham’s own collection, but he refers to the drawings of 
Mr. Lambert for a variation. Watling has two pictures, but his only notes 
read : “ This species of duck is found at Hawkesbury ; sometimes perching,” 
and “ This is the only Duck of this kind ever seen. May.” 
Mr. E. J. Christian has given me the following note : “ This bird was 
very plentiful last autumn and winter (1907), but whether on account of the 
extreme dryness it has not been here (Victoria) since. They build up in tall 
gums, sometimes to a height of 40 feet in a hollow. I have always found that 
they are birds who seem to prefer the night or early morning to the daytime. 
To hear them on a dark morning in winter the cry is very deceptive ; it is a 
‘ mow ’ long drawn out and something like the cry of a cat. This call is used 
frequently. They are one of the hardest birds to steal upon, as they always 
post a sentry who is ready at any moment to give the alarm. I have often 
tried to steal upon them to watch them, and it was only once or twice that I 
have been successful. When feeding in the creek one or two always stand on 
a horizontal bough of a dead tree ; the bough has to be a very thick one so 
that they can retain their balance. One day I saw a flock settle on the creek 
and it took me over an hour to get up to them only 100 yards away ; there 
were 22 of them ; they swam about the tank, but most of them stood in 
a lazy attitude in the mud, giving vent now and again to their peculiar cat- 
like call. The calls grew louder as they always do when they fear an enemy is 
near, and off they went. Another time I got up to a flock when a Notophoyx 
novcB-hollandicB came and being taken by surprise called out his hardest, and 
the ducks of course went. As a rule they are quieter during the day than at 
night. . . . This bird did not return till June 24, 1908; the extreme drought 
had kept them away since they left in the winter of 1907. Oct. 5, Pair 
have 9 young. Oct. 26. Noticed 8 young swimming in the creek.” 
This account should be contrasted with that given by Gould over sixty 
years earlier ; “ During the period I had the privilege of observing the birds of 
Australia in a state of nature, no one of the natatorial forms interested me 
