THE BIEDS OF AUSTKALIA. 
ih., p. 244, 1910 ; Littler, Handb. Birds Tasm., p. 219, 1910 ; Ogilvie-Grant, Ibis 
1910, p. 174 ; Barnard, Emu, Vol. XL, p. 20, 1911 ; Stone, ib., XII., p. 121, 1912 ; 
Mellor and White, ib., p. 161, 1913 ; White, ib., p. 183, 1913 ; Hill, ib., p. 254, 
1913 ; Orton and Sandland, ib., XIII., p. 76, 1913 ; North, Austr, Mus. Spec. 
Cat., no. 1, Vol. IV., p. 74, 1913; White, Emu, Vol. XIII., p. 124, 1914; 
MacgiUivray, ib., p. 147, 1914 ; Barnard, ib., Vol. XIV., p. 41, 1914. 
Anas novmJiollandice Stokes, Discov. in Austr., Vol. I., App., p. 483, 1846 ; nomen nudum ; 
Leichhardt, Joum. Overl. Exped. Austr., pp. 203, 291, 1847 ; nomen nudum. 
Anas superciliosa superciliosa Mathews, Nov. ZooL, Vol. XVIII., p. 237, 1912. 
Anas superciliosa rogersi Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., p. 33, 1912 ; id.. List 
Birds Austr., p. 91, 1913. 
Distribution. Australia ; Tasmania. 
Adult male. General colour above bronze-brown, the feathers everywhere margined 
with buff slightly darker and more blackish-brown on the lesser and median upper 
wing-coverts where the margins are grey ; outer greater coverts velvety black, which 
form a short black bar on the wing ; primary-coverts and primary-quills uniform 
bronzy-brown ; outer webs of secondaries dark metallic green, subterminally velvety 
black and edged with white at the tips, outer webs of some of the inner secondaries 
also velvety black, the innermost secondaries like the long scapulars ; tail-feathers 
bronze-brown edged with rufous buff ; crown of head black as also a broad line 
in front, below, and behind the eye, another short black line from the gape on to 
the fore-cheeks ; chin and throat buff, as also a broad line on the sides of the face 
and the supercihary streak ; hinder cheeks, sides of the upper-neck and hind-neck 
minutely streaked with dark brown ; entire surface below bronze-brown with pale 
or rufous edgings to the feathers ; sides of the body like the upper-surface ; under 
wing-coverts pure white, some outer greater coverts pale grey on the outer webs. 
Bill black ; iris brown ; feet yellowish-brown. Total length 580 mm. ; culmen 54, 
wing 272, tail 91, tarsus 49, 
Adult female. Similar to the male but smaller and the general markings paler and coarser. 
Bill blue-black ; iris reddish-orange ; feet orange-yellow. Total length 557 mm. ; 
culmen 52, wing 248, tail 82, tarsus 43. 
Nestling in down. Sooty-brown above with yellowish-white markings on each side of the 
back and rump ; throat and sides of the face yellowish buff, which is crossed by a 
black streak through the eye and a short one on the hinder cheeks ; under- 
surface straw white with a buffy tinge on the fore-neck. As the bird grows it 
practically assumes the adult plumage as soon as the downy stage is passed. 
Nest. Sometimes placed in deserted nests in trees ; at others in a hole in a tree ; at 
others under a small bush sometimes near water, or some distance from it. 
Composed of grass and leaves Kned with down, and measures about a foot across 
by six inches deep. 
Eggs. Clutch, eight to thirteen ; ground-colour pale greenish-white, surface smooth and 
slightly glossy. Mostly nest stamed. Axis 56 to 58 mm. ; diameter 41 to 42.5. 
Breeding-season. January to April (ducklings in June), (North Queensland) ; July and 
August (Tasmania) ; August to October (November ?). 
On account of its dull coloration and commonness this bird has no early 
history, being simply classed in “ Ducks.” Confused with the New Zealand 
race, almost all the early technical references simply refer to the latter. 
86 
