246 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



buff, which gradually fades into the white of the vent and 

 under tail-coverts ; under surface of the wing rich deep rust- 

 red ; bill black; gape yellow; feet blackish brown. 



The young of the year is similar in colour, but much 

 paler, and has only an indication of the ring surrounding 

 the throat. 



FamHy HIMANTOPODID^. 



The Stilts differ so remarkably from all the other Plovers 

 and Sandpipers, that I have ventured to raise them to the 

 rank of a family. The various species inhabit many parts 

 both of the Old and New Worlds. 



Genus HIMANTOPUS, Brisson. 



Europe, India, and Africa are inhabited by one, North 

 America by a second. South America by a third. New Zealand 

 by a fourth, and Australia by a fifth species of this elegant 

 but singular genus. 



Sp. 517. HIMANTOPUS LEUCOCEPHALUS, Gould. 



White-headed Stilt. 



Himantopus leucocephalus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc, part v. p. 26. 

 Dja^-jdr-uk, Aborigines of the lowland districts of Western Australia 



Himantopus leucocephalus, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. vi. 

 pi. 24. 



Although the extreme length of the legs of this bird, as 

 compared with the small size of its body, would seem incom- 

 patible with easy carriage and graceful deportment, this is in 

 reality not the case, for I never saw a bird which combined 

 more grace of movement and elegance of appearance than the 

 White-headed Stilt, which I for the first time observed in the 

 month of December, near Mr. Edward Uhr's station on the 

 banks of the river Mokai, where it was associated in small 



