I had an opportunity of examining a male stuffed specimen of the “musk duck,” which had lately been shot in the Cudgegong river. I felt desirous of procuring a recent specimen for dissection, to ascertain from what gland the musk was secreted, which diffuses so strong an odour over the body of this bird, and its situation, but did not succeed in securing one fit for the purpose; I felt more desirous of deciding the point, as those persons with whom I had conversed on the subject, and who had seen the bird in its recent state, were much divided in opinion, and gave very contradictory accounts. The bird is of an uniform dark speckled colour over the whole body, except upon the breast and abdomen, where it became lighter; the bill is black and short, in proportion to the size of the bird; the wings are short, and inadequate for the purpose of flight, but assist the animal as it runs over the water; the second penfeather of the wings is the longest; the tail is short, and consists of several very stiff feathers. It is a shy bird, diving the instant it is approached, and afterwards only elevates its head above water to watch proceedings, disappearing again on the least appearance of danger. It requires a good marksman, as well as much caution, to secure a shot even at the small mark the head of this bird presents. The female is said to be smaller than the male. This estate is used by Mr. Cox principally as a dairy-farm, and a quantity of cheeses are made upon it, about which some of the men were at this time employed. They had now sufficient milk to make four cheeses, and expected soon to increase to ten, daily. Mr. Cox informed me he has made four tons of cheese on this farm in one season, and expected, during the succeeding one, to make nine or ten tons. The price of this article of course varies at Sydney; but it has been sold at forty-six pounds the ton. Attached to the neat little habitation at this farm is a garden, which contains strawberries and gooseberry bushes in a thriving condition, and was rendered gay by many of our European flowering plants in full bloom.