Jim Davidson, Melbourne, acquired from North East Arnhem Land by in the early 1960s
Private collection, Melbourne
The diver duck totem is connected with the mortuary ceremonies. These birds feed on catfish in the waterways and billabongs, the soul of the deceased enter the catfish and when the diver duck swoops and takes the fish from the water it symbolizes the soul of the person being plucked from the pool of life. It also represents the concepts of birth, new life, and death.