THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
regularly from a box in company with a sick Ram, that had allowances 
of chaff. The nests are thickly lined with down, and may be placed 
on the very edge of the water, or built under a bush a mile distant 
from any water. Only last week I found a nest from which young had 
hatched this year in such a position. The earliest date on which I have 
noted eggs was July 25, 1912, when I found eight in a nest. I think 
these birds had a second brood as I saw very small young in down, 
at the same place on October 20, 1912. Sept. 22, 1907. Nest with 8 
fresh eggs. These hatched about Oct. 17. August 16, 1908. A nest 
found on open sand plain, far from water. Oct. 28, 1910. Young in 
down about two days old. Oct. 21, 1908. Young over three-quarters 
grown. Nov. 2, 1906. Small young in down. Nov. 7, 1905. Young 
in down.” 
Mr. Sandland writes : “ Often seen on the tanks at Balah, South 
Australia : never very plentiful.” 
Mr. E. J. Christian, writing from North Victoria, states : “ The bird 
has not been here for six months. After the heavy rains at Christmas, 
1907, they came here and were seen on every swamp ; they stayed till 
the middle of January and after that only an odd one or two. It prefers 
the swamp to the dam except in the evening or early morning. It builds 
in trees and carries its young down to water. One built (1906) in a 
deserted Black-backed Magpie’s nest here, in a Casuarina, and brought 
out a brood.” 
Mr. James J. Scrymgeour (Callandoon) writes : “ A Black Duck’s 
nest in a dead gum tree a mile and a quarter from water. Two seasons 
previously an Eagle Hawk built there and part of the old nest of the 
latter was clearly visible.” 
“ Found nest of twelve eggs on Oct. 13th, 1909, in hollow of tree 
about four feet from the ground : on Nov. 18th the young bad all left 
the nest. On Oct. 16, 1909, I saw a nest with eggs covered with feathers : 
at first I thought the nest was empty.” 
Mr. Dove on the 10th May, 1909, wrote from Tasmania : “At the 
same time as the Graucali (Cuckoo-Shrikes) were making to the North- 
west, a considerable flock of duck (probably either Black Duck or Grey 
Teal, but too high to determine — they both frequent our river) passed 
at a much greater altitude than the Cuckoo-Shrikes, headmg about 
N.N.E., right out over the Straits : they were flying straight and hard, 
and possibly would be going over to the Furneaux Group of Islands. 
I do not know whether there is any interchange between our duck and 
the mainland individuals.” 
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