THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
more than the present species, . . . During the early days of the colony of 
New South Wales, it was very common on the rivers near Sydney, particularly 
on the Hawkesbury : at the present time it is sometimes seen there, and is 
still numerous on the Hunter and other rivers towards the interior limits of 
the colony. In South Australia it is one of the commonest of the water 
birds, frequenting the brooks of the interior. ... It presents a very pleasing 
appearance while flying up and down the brooks in flocks of from six to 
thirty in number, and is equally interesting when perched in small companies 
on the branches of fallen trees which have found a resting-place in the 
beds of the rivers and waterholes, or when sitting on the topmost branches 
of the high gum-trees in the midst of the woods. Its flesh is excellent, and 
not unfrequently forms an acceptable repast for the settled colonist and 
the weary traveller. It frequently utters a loud barking note so unlike the 
voice of any goose, as at once to excite the attention of any person who 
may be traversing the parts of the country it inhabits. I found it to 
he tolerably tame in disposition^ which circumstance enabled me to procure 
numerous examples without difficulty.^'’ 
I have italicised this last sentence to show the difference in habits 
through sixty odd years’ persecution. 
Captain S. A. White has written me : “ These pretty little geese prefer 
the inland waters to those of the coast, and are to be met with in large 
flocks on the upper reaches of the Murray. They feed on the river banks on 
grasses and other vegetation, fond of perching on dead trees, and make a sharp 
barking cry. Nest in hollow spouts and carry the young on their backs to 
the water.” 
Mr. Sandland notes : “ May often be seen during a very wet winter at 
Balah, South Australia.” 
Mr. J. W. MeUor’s contribution is most interesting : “ This pretty little 
goose, commonly called the ‘‘ Wood-Duck,” is not nearly so plentiful now as 
in the early days ; it is hunted and shot too frequently and will need protec- 
tion in the near future. Its haunts amongst the old dead gums are too often 
destroyed. I have seen them in the earlier times perched on the old gum-trees 
that have fallen into the river and are practically submerged, and in this situa- 
tion they look strange ; they delight to fly along the large rivers such as the 
Murray, and alight on some Jutting point of land and dabble at the water’s 
edge. They also like the sloping short green banks of the stream, where they 
eat the grass, for like the other members of the geese family, the grass forms 
a large portion of their feed. They always lay in hollow trees, forming a nice 
cosy nest of down and feathers, where they lay 6, 8, and 10 eggs, the former 
numbers more often forming the clutch. It is said that the old bird takes 
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