BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 1 53 



FAM. RECURVIROSTRIDyE. 



STILTS, Etc. 



niMANTOPUS NIGRICOLLIS. Vieil. 

 Stilt. 



Adult Male. — Top of tlie head, including the eyes and nape, 

 back, and wings, black; rest of the plumage, white; tail, grayish; 

 legs, pink; bill, black; iris, orange. Immature birds have the 

 upi^er plumage brownish. 



Length 13.50, wing S, tail 2.70, tarsus 4.20, bill 2.75. 



As the summer advances, these birds become very abundant, 

 frequenting the salt ponds and marshes with which these islands 

 abound. At Inagua, almost every j^ool was tenanted by one or 

 more of them, and during the month of June they were evidently 

 breeding ; but although I searched carefully for the nest, I never 

 had the good fortune of finding it. The nest is a rough construc- 

 tion, and generally contains four eggs. While flying the Stilt 

 presents a curious appearance, with its long legs trailing behind it 

 after the manner of the herons. Its note is loud and sharp, and is 

 generally uttered while flying. 

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