234 Mr. H. Seebohm on the Genus Himantopus. 



distribution of the black on the back of the neck, which does 

 not extend to any part of the head, and is separated from the 

 black mantle by a white collar. Young in first plumage are 

 said to resemble the young of" the Common Stilt. 



The Australian Stilt breeds in Australia and New Zealand, 

 and has occurred in Tasmania. It is probably only a winter 

 visitor to the Malay Archipelago, where it has been recorded 

 from New Guinea, Celebes, Borneo, Java, Sumatra, the 

 Philippines, and some of the smaller islands. 



It is most nearly related to the Black Stilt on the one 

 hand, and on the other to the South- American Stilt. 



Himantopus novvE-zelandi/E. 



Himantopus novas- z el andia, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1841, 

 p. 8; et auctorum plurimorum. 



Himantopus melas, Hombr. & Jacq. Ann. Sc. Nat. Paris, 

 xvi. p. 320 (1841). 



Himantopus niger, Ellman, Zoologist, 1861, p. 7470. 



Himantopus spicatus, Potts, Trans. New Z. Inst. 1872, 

 p. 198. 



Plates : Gould, Birds of Australia, vi. pi. 25. 



Habits : BuUer, Birds of New Zealand, p. 205. 



Eggs : Harting, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1874, pi. Ix. fig. 10. 



The Black Stilt in adult summer plumage is black all over, 

 more or less glossed with green on the upper parts. In 

 winter plumage it is difficult to distinguish from H. leuco- 

 cephalus, but in the Black Stilt the sides as well as the back 

 of the neck are black, and the white collar and central tail- 

 feathers are marked with black. The latter character is still 

 more marked in young in first plumage. 



The Black Stilt is a resident in New Zealand, and is said 

 to stray occasionally to Australia. 



The similarity of the winter plumage to that of the Aus- 

 tralian Stilt proves the close relationship of the two species. 

 The Black Stilt doubtless emigrated either from Chili or 

 from Australia to New Zealand, and acquired in the latter 

 country a special nuptial dress, the result, in all probability, 

 of sexual selection. 



