BIRDS OF THE LAKES, STREAMS, AND SWAMPS 245 
tralia; also occurs in the Philippines to Malaysia, New Caledonia, 
and Oceania. 
notes. Also called Whistling Duck and Tree-duck. Usually in flocks, 
frequenting chiefly streams, lakes, or lagoons of the inland districts. 
Most of its food is procured out on the plains, which it visits at night, 
resorting to streams and lakes during the day, where it rests and sleeps, 
either on the water or in nearby trees. It is called Whistling Duck on 
account of its whistling or piping call. Food: chiefly grass and other 
herbage. 
nest. A depression in the grass, without lining; often a great distance 
from water. 
eggs. Eight to twelve or more, creamy-white, slightly glossy, and 
pointed at both ends. Breeding-season: February, March, May, and 
November. 
12. Plumed Tree-duck Dendrocygna eytoni Eyton 
eytoni— T. C. Eyton (1809-1880), British ornithologist. 
distribution. Northern, central, and occasionally southern Aus¬ 
tralia; accidental to Tasmania and New Zealand. 
notes. Also called Plumed Whistling Duck and Eyton's Tree-duck. 
Usually in flocks, frequenting chiefly streams, lakes, swamps, or water- 
holes of the northern inland districts. It prefers shallow water near 
the margins of streams or swamps, except during the breeding-season, 
when it resorts to well-grassed lands some distance from water. It also 
perches in trees. Like the Whistling Tree-duck, it has a loud whistling 
call. Food: chiefly grass and other herbage. 
nest. A slight hollow in the ground, lined with dried grasses; placed 
among grass or herbage growing upon plains, and generally far from 
water. 
eggs. Eight to twelve, pale cream colour, with a glossy surface; 
sometimes stained or minutely spotted with light brown. Breeding- 
season: September to December, occasionally as late as February. 
13. White-headed Shelduck Tadorna radjah Garnot 
Tad-orn'-a— N.L., tadorna , from an Italian word for duck: radjah — 
native name of the duck was said to be radja. 
distribution. North-western Australia, Northern Territory, and 
Queensland, accidental to New South Wales; also occurs in the Molucca 
Islands and New Guinea. 
notes. Also called Burdekin Duck, Mangrove Duck, and White- 
headed Shielduck. Usually in pairs or small flocks, frequenting lakes 
and swamps. It prefers shallow water and often resorts to adjacent 
grass-lands and mangrove swamps. Food: aquatic plants and animals, 
crabs, molluscs, and other marine-life. 
nest. In a hollow limb or hole in a tree. 
eggs. Four to eleven, rich creamy-white, the surface being smooth 
and slightly glossy. Breeding-season: December to February. 
