BIRDS OF THE LAKES, STREAMS, AND SWAMPS 247 
notes. Also called Spoonbill-duck, Stinker, and Kuruwhengi. Usually 
in pairs or flocks, frequenting swamps, lagoons, or freshwater lakes, 
both near the coast and inland. It is very shy and wary, mostly keeping 
to the open spaces in the swamps far out from the water’s edge. 
When flushed, it makes a peculiar whistling or humming noise with 
its wings. Food: aquatic plants and animals. 
nest. A slightly grass-lined depression in the ground, placed under 
the shelter of a tussock of grass or clump of low herbage, sometimes 
out on an open plain, but usually not far from water. 
eggs. Four to eleven, creamy-wliite tinged with green, the surface 
being slightly glossy. Breeding-season: August to December. 
17. Musk Duck Biziura lobata Shaw 
Bi-zi-ur'-a— origin unknown: lob-a'-ta— L., lobatus, lobed. 
distribution. Southern Australia (from North West Cape, 
Western Australia, to Rockhampton, central Queensland) and Tas¬ 
mania. 
notes. Also called Mould Goose. Usually singly or in pairs, occasion¬ 
ally in small flocks, frequenting inland streams and lakes and inlets 
of the coast. It is an interesting duck with many quaint habits; an old 
drake will often amuse himself by throwing out jets of water on each 
side with a rapid back-kick of his feet, accompanied by a deep-toned 
note, or will place his bill on his tail or throw back his head and, with 
pouch inflated and tail spread, spin round and round on the water. 
Food: aquatic plants and animals. 
nest. A bulky structure placed among reeds and made by bending 
down and interlacing the stems, forming a cup-shaped mass which 
is lined with grass and down. 
eggs. Three to six, pale green, the surface being rough and slightly 
glossy. Breeding-season: August to December. 
18. Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus Linn£ 
Ixo-bry'-chus—G k, ixos , reed; Gk, brycliein , to roar: min-u'-tus— L., 
minutus , little. 
distribution. Europe, Africa, Asia, coastal Australia (except the 
southern and north-western portion), and New Zealand. 
notes. Also called Minute Bittern and Kaoriki. Usually singly or 
in pairs, frequenting the margins of streams, and swamps. It is remark¬ 
ably shy and seclusive in habits, and difficult to flush. Generally it 
trusts to a crouching or an upright posture, hoping to avoid obser¬ 
vation. Food: small fish and aquatic animals. 
nest. An open structure, composed of dead pieces of aquatic plants 
and grasses, and geneially attached to reeds just above the surface of 
the water. 
eggs. Four, pure white, oval in form. Breeding-season: November. 
