HIMANTOPUS HIMANTOPUS 307 



extremely abundant. Eastward the species ranges across Asia as 

 far as China. In Africa it ranges southward to Cape Colony. 



The present species frequents the sea-shore, as also inland lakes, 

 and in Tunisia appears to be partial to the sebkas and salt marshes. 

 Essentially a gregarious and sociable bird, it is nearly always to be 

 found in parties and flocks, usually composed of merely a few 

 individuals, but occasionally of a hundred or more. Even daring the 

 breeding season several pairs may be found together. It is rather 

 shy and wary and rarely allows itself to be approached. Its flight is 

 light and buoyant, and its movements both on land and in the water 

 are easy and graceful. Its usual note, is a soft flute-like " kluit." It 

 feeds principally on worms and marine insects, which it obtains, as a 

 rule, in shallow water, and with a peculiar sideways scooping move- 

 ment of its bill. 



The species makes little or no true nest, but generally deposits 

 its eggs, three or four in number, on the bare ground. The eggs are 

 of a buff-colour, with blackish spots and blotches. Average measure- 

 ments 50 X 37 mm. 



HIMANTOPUS HIMANTOPUS (Linnsus). 

 BLACK-WINGED STILT. 



Charadrius himantopus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 255 (1766). 

 Himantopus himantopus, Sharpe, Ibis, 1891, p. 114 ; id. Cat. Birds 



Brit. Mtis. xxiv, p. 310; Erlanger, J. f. 0. 1900, p. 62. 

 Himantopus melanopterus, Malhcrbe, Faune Oni. de I'Alg. p. 32 



(1855). 

 Himantopus candidus, Loche, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 285 (1867). 

 Himantopus rufipes, Koenig, J. f. 0. 1888, p. 282; id. J.f. 0. 1893, 



p. 91. 



Description. — Adult male, spring, from Tunis, North Tunisia. 



Hind part of the crown, nape, and an irregular line down the upper 

 neck black ; wing^^, scapulars and hack black, with metallic-green reflec- 

 tions ; rump white ; tail pale dove-grey ; entire under parts white, with a 

 pale vinous tinge on the breast and abdomen. 



Iris red ; bill black ; feet pink. 



Total length 15 inches, wing 9-70, culmen 2-80, tarsus 4-75. 



Adult female resembles the male, l)ut has the dark parts paler and 

 duller, and is slightly smaller. 



