BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. I 
o1 
ISB) 
PAM. RECURYV IROST RIDA:. 
SAMI IWS, Iwsees 
HIMANTOPUS NIGRICOLLIS. Véieil. 
STILT. 
Adult Male.— Yop of the 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 
upper plumage brownish. 
Length 13.50, wing 8, 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 pool 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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