34 CHARADRIID^l. 



which are often confluent. The underlying markings are faint 

 purple and inconspicuous. Three examples measure respectively : 

 1-82 by 1-2 ; 1-75 by 1-2; 1-81 by 1-21. 



3. Argentine Republic, Oct. A. H. Holland, Esq. [C.]. 



Himantopus leucocephalus, Gould. 



Himantopus leucocephalus, Gould, Handb. Birds Austr. ii. p. 246 (1865) ; 

 Ramsay, P. Z. S. 1867, p. 600 ; Harting, P. Z. 8. 1874, p. 4-59 ; 

 Campbell, Nests $ Eggs Austr. Birds, p. 55 (1883) ; Seebohm, Geogr. 

 Distr. Charadriida, p. 283 (1887) ; North, Nests fy Eggs Austr. Birds, 

 p. 310, pi. xvii. fig. 3 (1889); Sharpe, Cat. Birds B.'M. xxiv. p. 317 

 (1896); id. Hand-L i. p. 156 (1899). 



The sole egg of the Australian Stilt in the Collection is of a 

 somewhat pointed oval form and very slightly glossy. It is of a 

 greenish stone-colour, and is covered sparingly with spots and 

 blotches of deep brown and underlying pale purple. This egg 

 resembles many of those of the Common Stilt. It measures 1*7 

 by 1-2. 



1. River Murray, near Adelaide, 17th E. S. Moulden, Esq. [P.]. 



Dec. 



Himantopus picatus, Ellm. 



Himantopus novae-zealandiae, Potts, Trans. New Zeal. Inst. ii. p. 70 (1869). 

 Himantopus leucocephalus, Hartinq, P. Z. S. 1874, p. 459 ; Buller, Birds 



Neiv Zeal. 2nd ed. ii. p. 21 (1883). 

 Himantopus leucocephalus picatus, Seebohm, Geogr. Distr. Charadriidce. 



p. 284 (1887). 



Himantopus albicollis, Butter, torn. cit. p. 27. 

 Himantopus picatus, Sharpe, Cat. Birds B. M. xxiv. p. 319 (1896) ; id. 



Hand-L i. p. 156 (1899). 



The two eggs of the New Zealand Pied Stilt in the Collection are 

 pointed ovals and have a small amount of gloss. They are hardly 

 separable from the eggs of the Common Stilt, but they are rather 

 larger. The ground-colour is olive-buff, and it is spotted and blotched 

 with dark brown. The underlying markings are of a rather dark 

 inky-purple and very prominent. Two examples measure respec- 

 tively : 1-9 by. .1-2; 179 by 1-2. 



2. Canterbury, New Zealand, 14th Oct. Seebohm ColL 



(J. R. Cook: Harting Coll}. 



Himantopus mexicanus (P. L. S. Muller). 



Himantopus nigricollis, Thien. Fortpflanz. ges. Voq. tab. Ixiii. fig. 6 a, b 



(1845-54). 

 Himantopus mexicanus, Baird, Brewer Sf Ridgiv. Water Birds N. Am. i. 



p. 345 (1884) ; Seebohm, Geogr. Distr. Charadriidce, p. 279 (1887) ; 



Sharpe, Cat. Birds B. M. xxiv. p. 320 (1896) ; id. Hand-L i. p. 156 



(1899). 



