THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
on Nov. 19, 1909, I sent to H. L. Wliite, Esq., Scone, N.S.W., for up to that 
time he had been unable to get these eggs. The birds lay from four to six 
eggs and are very late in the season, for November and December seem to 
be the months they lay in South Australia. Both the nests I speak of were 
taken in the swamps near Murray Bridge, South Australia, and these swamps 
are now reclaimed by the Government and are growing lucerne to-day.” 
Mr. J. W. Mellor writes : “ The Blue-billed Duck is a step away from the 
general family and linking on to the Musk Duck, it being very closely allied 
in its habits and nidification to the last-named species and in some districts 
it is known as the little Musk Duck. The birds are fairly numerous on large 
waters of a permanent nature, where they dive and sport about in the water 
much in the way of the Musk Duck, the stiff feathers being impervious to 
the water, and it can stay below the surface for a long time without incon- 
venience. They are to be found on the River Murray and Lakes Alexandrina 
and Albert where they have been known to breed, but the eggs are a rarity 
in all collections as the nests are rarely found.” 
Both these scant notes confirm Gould’s notes {Handb, Birds of Austr., 
Vol. II., p. 379, 1865) which I reprint for comparison, showing the little 
advancement made in our knowledge of the life-history of this bird in fifty 
years : “ This bird would appear to be so limited in its habitat as to be 
confined to the colony of Western Australia ; at least up to this time it 
has not been discovered in any other part of the country. Gilbert’s notes 
inform me that it is never seen in the rivers, either those communicating 
with the sea or those of the interior, and that it is only found on the lakes 
running parallel to and near the coast that are surrounded with high reeds 
and tea-trees. Its general habits resemble those of Biziura lobata; like that 
bird it possesses the power of remaining under water for a great length 
of time, and if closely hunted flaps along the surface without taking wing. 
Its voice is a peculiar inward tone, which the natives describe by saying, 
‘ it has no voice, but makes a noise with its heart.’ ” 
Legge {Emu, Vol. IV., p. 108, 1905) records : “ This remarkable duck, 
which is extremely rare in the lowlands and first recorded from Tasmania in 
1892, was not uncommon on the Great Lake, which can be looked upon as 
its great stronghold in this country. It was fond of taking shelter in little 
bays of the islands, sometimes sitting on the rocks, from which it would 
launch itself with a clumsy flight for a short distance, and then proceed 
further into the open water by diving. Five or six were seen in a flock 
occasionally.” 
The bird figured and described is a male collected on Herdsman’s Lake, 
West Australia, on the 10th of February, 1902. 
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