It is not a good eating bird, however, as is often
the case with the birds of finer plumage.
131. ANAS SUPERCILIOSA, GMEL.--The Wild Duck.
Unlike the preceding, this bird is one of the finest eating birds of
Australia, being the wild duck of that continent. It is a fine bird in
point of size, but cannot boast the plumage of our mallard. It is a bird
of dark, almost black plumage, with a few glossy, green, secondary
feathers, characteristic of the genus. It is spread over the whole of the
interior, even to the north of the Stony Desert, but was there very wild,
and kept out of our reach.
132. SPATULA RHYNCHOTIS.--Australian Shoveller.
Not quite so large as the wild duck, but extremely good eating. This bird
is not common in the interior, and was only seen once or twice amongst
other ducks. Its plumage is a dark brown, and it has a light dull blue
band across the wing. It takes its name from its peculiar bill, and may
be termed the Shoveler of Australia. The specimens we procured in the
interior are precisely the same as those of the southern coast of the
continent.
133. MALACORHYNCHUS MEMBRANACEUS.--Membrane 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.
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