BIRDS OF THE LAKES, STREAMS, AND SWAMPS 
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flags growing well away from the margins of lakes or swamps. Most 
of its food is procured by diving; it remains under water for considerable 
periods. Food: aquatic animals and plants. The female is freckled grey- 
brown, the underparts being lighter than those of the male. 
Nest. —A bulky structure, composed of flags or reeds, and lined with 
down. The nest is made by bending down and interlacing the flags. 
Eggs. —Four to six, pale greenish-white (unless nest-stained), the 
surface being slightly glossy and rough. Breeding-season: October to 
December or January. 
6. White-quilled Pygmy Goose Nettapus coromandelianus Gmelin 
Net'-ta-pus —Gk, netta, duck; Gk, pus ( pons ), podos, foot: Coromandel - 
ianits —of the Coromandel coast, India. 
Distribution .—North-eastern Australia, as far south as the Clarence 
River (New South Wales) ; also occurs in India, China, Malaysia to the 
Celebes, and Sunda Island. 
Notes. —Also called White-quilled Goose-teal. Very little has been 
recorded of its habits. It is said to frequent lakes, streams, and swamps, 
where it congregates in small flocks. 
Nest. —In a hole in a tree. 
Eggs. —One authentic egg is described as faint creamy-white, the shell 
being very fine and smooth and without gloss. Breeding-season: not 
recorded. 
7. Green Pygmy Goose Nettapus pulchellus Gould 
pul-chel'-lus —L., pulchellus, pretty. 
Distribution. —North-western Australia, Northern Territory, and 
northern Queensland; also occurs from the Celebes to New Guinea. 
Notes.— Also called Green Goose-teal. Usually in pairs or small 
flocks, frequenting lakes, streams, or swamps. It is generally shy and 
difficult to approach. When disturbed, it rises quickly and utters a peculiar 
whistling note while on the wing. Food: aquatic animals and plants. 
Nest.—A flat structure, occasionally with a slight cavity, composed of 
long dry grasses; lined with feathers and down. Generally placed among 
herbage growing in water. It also nests in a hole in a tree. 
Eggs. —Four to eleven or even more, faint creamy-white (unless nest- 
stained), the surface being smooth and lustrous. Breeding-season: 
February and March, or during the rainy season. 
8. Maned Goose Chenonetta jubata Latham 
Chen-o-net’-ta —Gk, chen, goose; Gk, netta, duck: ]ub-a-ta —L., jubatus, 
maned. 
Distribution. —Australia and Tasmania. 
Notes. —Also called Wood Duck. Usually in pairs or flocks, showing 
a preference for the upper reaches of streams and the timbered margins 
