BIRDS OF THE LAKES, STREAMS, AND SWAMPS 
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16. Blue-winged Shoveller Spatula rhynchotis Latham 
Spat'-n-la —L., spatula, spoon: rhync/i-d-tis —Gk, rhynchos, beak. 
Distribution. —Southern Australia (from North West Cape, Western 
Australia, to Richmond, Queensland), Tasmania, and New Zealand. 
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-white tinged with green, the surface 
being slightly glossy. Breeding-season: August to December. 
17. Musk Duck Bisiura 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 Tasmania. 
'Notes.—Also called Mould Goose. Usually singly or in pairs, occa¬ 
sionally 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 Ixobryckus minutus Linne 
Ixo-bry-clms ■—Gk, ixos, reed; Gk, brychein , 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 observation. Food: 
small fish and aquatic animals. 
Nest. —An open structure, composed of dead pieces of aquatic plants 
