134 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



when the tide is just on the turn. As the waves retreat the birds 

 run down as far as they can and hunt about in the wet sand with 

 great energy. As the waves come tumbling shorewards back the 

 birds scurry as fast as their legs will carry them, only to hurry 

 down the sandy beach again in the wake of the retreating breakers. 

 Unless hard pressed this bird does not take readily to flight, 

 preferring to trust to its legs to carry it out of danger. 



Sub- Family Himantopodinae. 



*WHITE-HEADED STILT 

 (Himantopus leucocephalus, Gould). 



Male. Back of the neck, back, and wings glossy greenish- 

 black; rest of plumage pure white; bill black; legs flesh colour. 

 Dimensions in mm. : Length, 370; bill, 56; wing, 223; tail, 77; 

 tarsus, 105. 



Female. Similar to male. 



Young. Crown of the head, back, wings, and tail dull black, 

 tinged with brown; under surface pure white. 



Nest. Constructed of grass, twigs, and aquatic herbage, and 

 placed some inches above the water in a shallow swamp. 



Eggs. Clutch four; pyriform in shape; texture of shell fine; 

 surface fairly lustrous; colour yellowish-olive, heavily marked 

 with sepia and dull greyish-black. Dimensions in mm. of a 

 clutch : (1) 44 x 29, (2) 43 x 28, (3) 44 x 30, (4) 43.5 x 29. 



Breeding Season. Erratic. According to Mr. A. J. Campbell, 

 August or September, or even as late as April or May. 



Geographical Distribution. Tasmania, Australia in general; 

 also New Guinea and Moluccas. 



Observations. The first notice of this species being found in 

 Tasmania was a communication to the Tasmanian Royal Society, 

 July, 1852, when it was reported that a specimen had been shot 

 at South Arm in April of that year. 



Its appearance in certain localities depends greatly upon 

 climatic conditions. During a wet season, when there is an 

 abundance of water in swamps and lagoons, it is sure to be found 

 in greater or lesser numbers. The White-headed Stilt is very 

 graceful in all its actions; but for its delicate proportions its long 

 legs would appear incongruous. It associates in small flocks 

 along the maigins of inland swamps and lagoons, where its long 

 legs are of great use in allowing it to wade among the aquatic 

 plants and search for its food. 



The late Sir Walter Buller says of this species: "Notwith- 

 standing the extraordinary length of its legs, this bird is most 

 graceful in all its movements ; it is a very pretty sight to watch a 

 flock of them on the edges of a lagoon stalking about in the 



