THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
the tip ; iris light brown ; feet bluish-green. Total length 515 mm. ; culmen 
55, wing 230, tail 68, tarsus 43. 
In full breeding plumage this bird has the feathers of the back of the head 
elongated and the base of the bill gets red at this season. 
Adult female. Similar to the adult male but smaller and not so dark on the head and 
fore-neck. Total length 510 mm. ; culmen 49, tail 64. 
Nest. “ Similarly situated to those of most Ducks, in herbage upon the ground ” 
(Campbell). 
Eggs. “ Clutch, ten to twelve probably ; long elhpse in form ; texture of shell 
comparatively fine ; surface glossy or greasy to the touch ; colour light 
greenish-white. Most resemble those of the Black Duck. Dimensions in inches : 
2.26-2.5 X 1.65-1.7 ” (CampbeU). 
Breeding-season. Not recorded. 
First described by Gould in 1840, still very little is known regarding the life- 
history or structure of this bird. 
Captain S. A. White has written me : “ T have only seen this fiine duck 
down South during droughts in the interior. They are very fast fliers, and 
when duck-shooting by moonlight I have known these birds to strike the 
water with such force that they have been momentarily stunned. I have 
never known them to breed. Saw a few on a lagoon on Eyre’s 
Peninsula in 1909.” 
Mr. J. W. Mellor confirms the preceding in his note : “ Called the 
‘ speckled ’ duck, also ‘ freckled ’ duck. These birds are found in South 
Australia, but are not constant with us in the southern coastal districts, 
but visit us at times in the winter months. I have seen them at the 
Reed-beds, near Adelaide, also on the lower reaches of the River Murray ; 
it is a somewhat shy bird, and not easily stalked. On the expedition 
to Eire’s Peninsula in 1909 I saw some of these ducks at Warenda, 
right in the scrub country, where they were about a small waterhole 
in an almost dry creek. A specimen was obtained, which is in my 
collection. The sexes are alike in coloration. A peculiarity about these 
ducks is the very narrow bill in comparison to that of the other 
members of the duck family, but this is compensated for by the extra 
depth especially at the base and nostrils. Occasionally these ducks are 
sent into the Adelaide market for food.” 
Mr. Tom Carter states : “ This is a rare species and has only once 
come under my notice, viz. July 23, 1900, when I shot three from a small 
flock at a pool inland from Point Cloates.” 
Hall [Emu, Vol. IX., p. 79, 1909) notes : “ Here we have a Duck quiet, 
lame and sleepy. Shooters say it has no sense of smeU. Its voice is 
likened to the grunt of a Berkshire pig.” 
The bird figured and described was collected in New South Wales. 
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