Vo, 'i92? V ‘] EDWARDS, Wild Ducks of NS. IV. 145 
Wild Ducks of South-eastern 
New South Wales 
By H. V. EDWARDS, R.A.O.U., Bega, N.S.W. 
Three species of Wild Duck (exclusive of the “Wood Duck,” 
or Maned Goose, also a local species) are common in the South¬ 
ern Monaro district in any season, but although they may occur 
in small numbers irrespective of the season, certain Ducks resort 
to that quarter in numbers, as a rule, only in exceptionally wet 
years. 
The local varieties are the Black (or Grey) Duck, Grey Teal, 
the handsome Chestnut-breasted Shelduck, or “Mountain Duck” 
—fast, alas, becoming scarce, owing probably to the depredations 
of foxes—and the Musk Duck. The Chestnut-breasted Teal 
occurs occasionally, but is far commoner in the coastal districts 
below. 
Now for the visitors. During one exceptionally wet year I 
observed on a large surface pool, in company with the three 
local species first named, Pink-eared Ducks, Shovelers, Whistling 
Tree-Ducks, and White-eyed Ducks—the latter being known 
locally as “Red Ducks,” while the rare Freckled Duck might be 
seen at times feeding and flying in company with Grey (Black) 
Ducks, with which it seemed to be on amicable terms. Shovelers 
in particular came in enormous flocks, drought-driven, probably, 
from some less favoured part of Australia. 
Out of one flock of Shovelers no less than nine birds fell to 
a single shot from a long single-barrelled “duck gun,” so densely 
did the birds pack together in some instances. During one ex¬ 
ceptionally good season on Monaro, when duck food was plen¬ 
tiful, I observed a very large Duck swimming among a flock of 
Black Duck of full average size. I shot this bird, which proved 
to be a Black Duck of extraordinary size. 
The Magpie Goose is an occasional but rare visitor to Monaro. 
The Pink-eared Ducks keep mostly to the lakes and surface 
pools, being rarely seen on the rivers. 
The curious Musk Duck—most retiring in habit—occurs mostly 
in secluded pools or long, still reaches of the rivers, or in the 
larger lakes. In the coastal districts immediately below the 
Monaro highlands, this Duck is becoming rare, owing to the 
draining of many lagoons and swamps, which in earlier years 
gave this bird sanctuary. Some years ago, however, in a large 
swamp near Tilba Tilba, on the South Coast of New South 
Wales, I observed several pairs of the Musk Duck. The eggs, 
very rounded in shape, and, I believe, only two in number, were 
taken occasionally. 
The Grey Teal often nested on Monaro, in the shelter of large 
tussocks on the margins of rivers, a site much exposed to visita¬ 
tion by foxes, which constantly prowl along the banks. One 
nest discovered by the writer in June contained ten eggs, 
