Mr. A. E. Knox on the Habits of the Black-winged Stilt. 395 



does not extend so far down upon the breast. The under wing- 

 coverts are rufous brown, whereas those of P. aglaice are black 

 and white. 



The black of the head and neck is separated from the 

 plumbeous of the back by a narrow line of ash-colour ; and the 

 ears are tinged with pui'ple. Beneath, this species is much 

 lighter than P. aglaice, being ashy white. 



The tail is bx'own, edged with ash — but emarginate, whilst that 

 of P. aglai(B is round. 



The specimen from which the description is taken is an adult 

 male, received by M. Verreaux from Mexico, in 1858. The 

 female has not yet, to my knowledge, been met with. I give 

 below a measurement of the two species. 



P. aglaice. 

 Length . 

 Wing 

 Tail . . 

 Tarsus . 

 Middle toe 

 Bill above 

 „ alonj 



700 

 3-60 

 3-30 

 1-00 

 •60 

 •68 

 •95 



-a gape • 

 Width of bill at nostrils •40 



P. affinis. 



Lengtb .... 6*00 



Wing 3-45 



Tail 2-90 



Tarsus -83 



Middle toe ... . -55 



Bill above .... -50 



„ along gape . . -65 



Width of bill at nostrils -30 



XXXIX. — On the Habits of the Black-ivinged Stilt, as observed 

 on its occurrence in Sussex. By A. E. Knox. 



On the 17th of May last, a specimen of the Black-winged Stilt 

 [Himantopus melanopterus) was killed on the banks of a small 

 pond about a mile from this place, in a partially enclosed district 

 surrounded by unreclaimed moorland, near the junction of Mid- 

 hurst and Bepton commons. 



This is the first time that the Stilt has ever been obtained or 

 seen in the county of Sussex ; and it would appear to be nearly 

 equally scarce in all parts of the British Islands. 



Opportunities for observing the habits and manners of these 

 rare and accidental visitors so seldom occur, that I shall make 

 no apology for the length of this communication. Apart, how- 

 ever, from the rarity of the species, there are circumstances 



