The Musk Duck Poem by Francis Duggan

The musk duck are interesting creatures i have yet to see them on land
To most other ducks they look different as different as earth looks from sand
Under his bill the male has a fleshy bag which he can so easily inflate
And his short spiky tail becomes erected in his courtship display for his mate
I can't say i know much about them though i see them on Hamilton Lake
You see them once and again you recognize them for them you could never mistake
Male and female are dark brown in colour of similar shape and of size
And by the dark fleshy bag under his bill the male from her you recognize
They dive for their food underwater diving ducks by nature and breed
Even in their range they are not plentiful of protection they would seem in need
Even strange sort of ducks by their voices a whistle or plonk sound they make
On Lake Wendouree i have seen them and I've seen them on Hamilton Lake
They are quite distinctive from others in small flocks they live on their own
They keep their safe distance from humans and little about them is known.