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KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 



Genus HIMANTOPUS Briss. 



Himantopus mexicanus. 



HIMANTOPUS MEXICANUS {Muli:). 

 BIack=necked Stilt. 



Adult : Top and sides of the head and back of the neck and back black ; under eyelid and 

 a spot above and behind the eye, forehead and sides of the head under the eye white ; rest of 

 under parts with the rump and upper tail coverts white ; tail ash gray or pearl gray ; bill black ; 

 legs red in life. 



The immature bird has the upper parts brownish ; feathers edged with whitish ; wings black- 

 ish, some of the feathers tipped with white ; wing coverts edged with buff or tawny brown ; 

 under parts white mottled with black and tawny brown. 



Length, 15.50 ; Wing, 9 ; Tail, 3 ; Tarsus, 4.25 ; Bill, 2.70. 



This species is common throughout tropical America, occasionally being 

 found in the Mississippi Valley as far north as Minnesota. It is accidental 

 on the Atlantic coast north of Florida and Southern Georgia, although it 

 has been recorded as far north as Long Island. It is common in Florida 

 after April first, and breeds in the State. 



The eggs are laid on the ground, sometimes on a little grass, and again 

 without any nest whatever. They are three to four in number and pale 

 brown or dull white, spotted and marked with chocolate brown. 



