mbrane Duck.

A beautiful duck, of delicate plumage, but little fit for the table. It
is very common on most of the Australian creeks and streams, and is
called the Whistling Duck. This duck is rather larger than our teal. It
has a grey head, with a brown tinge, and is mottled in the breast
something like the woodcock. Its eye is dark and clear, and it has a line
of rose-pink running longitudinally behind it.

134. ANAS PUNCTATA, CUV.--Common Teal.

Somewhat larger than the English Teal, and equally good for the table.
The plumage of this little bird is dark, like that of the wild duck, from
which, in this respect, it hardly differs. It is the most numerous of the
water birds of the interior, and was sure to be in greater or less
numbers on any extensive waters we found. A pair had a brood on one of
the ponds in the Depot Glen; but the whole were taken off by a kite,
Milvus affinis, that watched them land and then flew at them. So long as
they kept in the water they were safe, but on land soon fell a prey to
the kite.

135. LEPTOTARSIS EYTONI, GOULD.--Eyton's Duck.

This new and fine bird was first shot on Strzelecki's Creek by Mr.
Browne; and was subsequently seen by me in considerable numbers on
Cooper's Creek. Its range was not to the westward, nor was it seen north
of the Stony Desert. I believe I am wrong in stating that the first was
killed at the place above mentioned; for, if my memory does not deceive
me, we had already secured a specimen at the Depot. In its general
plumage it is of a light brown, with a mottled breast and neck. It has
long white feathers crossing the thighs, with a fine black line along
them, and altogether it is a handsome bird. Under ordinary circumstances
we might have fared well on this duck at Cooper's Creek; but it was so
wild as to keep out of our reach, being evidently hunted by the natives
of the creek.

136. BIZIURA LOBATA.--Musk Duck.

This ugly bird was common on the Murray, and was seen by me in hundreds
on Lake Victoria; but it is seldom seen on the Darling--never to the
westward of Stanley's Range. It is an Oxford grey in colour, with a light
shade of brown; he flaps only, not being able to do more than skull along
the top of the water. It trusts therefore for its safety to diving; and
is so quick as to be shot with difficulty. The peculiarities of this bird
are two-fold: first its strong, musky smell, and secondly the large
appendage the male bird has attached to the u