THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
on the breast. These birds do not move about in large flocks in South 
Australia ; about a dozen is as many as I have seen in one locality. If 
they can get it they prefer a stony or gravelly beach to the soft muddy 
swamps. I have seen them swimming in deep water off a rocky shore, 
but have never seen them diving for their food, although I have an idea 
they do so. They have a great liking for resting on boulders and rocks: 
thus, I think, the origin of the name ‘ Mountain Teal.’ About 16 years 
ago, during a big drought in the interior, thousands of ducks visited the 
Reed-beds, and amongst them was a fair sprinkling of the teal under 
notice. This is the only time I have known them to visit the swamps 
here. They seem to prefer the large open waters, and frequent the rocky 
shores if there be such. There is no doubt John Gould took these two 
species to be one, for he speaks of having met them in great numbers 
{Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. II., p. 365). He goes on to say that it is 
very rare that a male is killed in the nuptial dress, and he is induced to 
believe that it is not assumed until the bird is two or three years old. 
One can understand Gould must have been very puzzled, seeing so few 
of the Chestnut-coloured birds in comparison to the Grey birds. 
“ Virago gibherifrons nest in great numbers in the interior during wet 
seasons, many hundreds nesting together amongst the salt bush and 
Polygonum swamps, but I have never heard of the Chestnut species nesting 
with them. Only a few nests of the latter have ever come under my 
notice, and they were placed in hollow limbs of trees. I have seen many 
nests of Grey Teal in trees, and here at the Reed-beds they once nested 
nearly every year, but never once did I see F. castanea nesting. In 
February 1912 mj^ wife and I made a trip to Lakes Alexandrina and 
Albert, and spent some little time on the waters there, making very many 
useful observations. We were very fortunate in having the services of 
Mr. Fred. Ayres, a man who has passed the better part of his life shooting 
game for the market, and he has a wonderful store of knowledge pertaining 
to the habits of the wild-fowl. I was very pleased to find that my 
observations Avere confirmed in reference to these teal. While we were on 
the lakes and amongst the swamps along their shores we saw vast fiocks 
of F. gibberifrons, but not one F. castanea, and when I mentioned this to 
our guide he at once said, ‘ If you want Mountain Teal we must steam 
over to the rockv shores at the other side of the lake.’ And I found 
t/ 
this to be correct. Seeing that these birds have distinct habits and that 
both have been found breeding, the Grey Teal in vast numbers without 
a single Chestnut bird amongst them, surely this alone must dispel any 
doubt upon the subject.” 
106 
