A Reference List of the Birds of Neiu Zealand. 255 



Hypsibates leucocephalus albus (Ellman). New Zealand 

 Stilt. 

 Himantopus albus Ellman, Zoologist, 1861, p. 7470: New 

 Zealand. 



Synonyms : — 



? Himantopus picatus Ellman, Zoologist, 1861, p. 7470: New 



Zealand. 

 HimantopHs albicoUis (nee Vieillot), BuUer, Trans. New Zealand 



Inst. vol. vii. 1875, p. 224 : North Island. 

 Himantopus picatus Buller, Snppl. vol. i. p. 177. 

 Himantopus leucocephalus id. ib. p. 178. 

 Himantopus alhicolUs id. ib. p. 179. 



Range : — New Zealand (breeding). 



Note : — There can be no donbt that the New Zealand 

 Stilt is only subspecifically distinct from the Australian 

 H. leucocephalus Gould (Synops. Birds Austr. 1837, pt. ii. 

 pi. 34 : New South Wales), from which it was first diiFeren- 

 tiated by Sharpe in the Cat. Bird.s Brit. Mus. vol. xxiv. 

 1896, p. 319. The reference by Buller of a specimen to 

 H. leucocephalus (as above) is due to the fact that some 

 examples approach ver}^ closely to the typical form. Buller's 

 H. albicoUis is simply founded on a plumage change. 



The correct nomination of the form lias given considerable 

 trouble, as this is the only case where the names introduced 

 by Ellman have to be seriously treated. When Sharpe 

 separated the New Zealand form he nsed Ellman's H. picatus, 

 but we are forced to consider that indeterminable. We 

 would also have been pleased to have dismissed EUman's 

 H. albus under the same plea, but feel compelled to admit 

 its validity. In order to place the matter fairly before the 

 critic, we append Ell man's accounts : — 



'^ Pied Stilt (Torea-iti) Himantopus picatus: of various 

 proportions of black and white. 



White Stilt (Tore-aiti, Tutumata) Himantopus albus. This 

 species is scarce, smaller than the preceding, and is not 

 subject to varieties of plumage. The head, neck, back, 

 and belly are pure white. The wings are of indigo-black. 

 Both sexes are similar in plumage." 



The former might be applicable to a seasonal change of 



