250 Messrs. G. M. Mathews and Tom Iredale : 



the next species, but the second description is comparatively 

 complete. 



It has been suggested that as the New Zealand Stilt 

 undertakes seasonal movements it migrates to Anstralia. 

 This is easily disproved by the fact that no specimen has 

 been procured in Australia giving the subspecitic characters 

 of the New Zealand form. 



Hypsibates novaezealandiae (Gould). Black Stilt. 



Hhnantopns novazealandirs Gould, Birds Austr. 1841 

 (before Sept.), pi. 25 : Port Nicholson, North Island. 



Synonyms : — 



Himantopus melas Hombron & Jacquinot, Ann. Sci. Nat. Paris, 



2nd ser. vol. xvi. 1841 (after Nov.), p. 320: Otago, South 



Island. 

 Himantopus spicatus Potts, Trans. New Zealand Inst. vol. v. 1873> 



p. 177 : Selwyn, South Island, 

 Himantopus melas Buller, Suppl. vol. i. p. 179. 



Range : — New Zealand (breeding). 



Note: — The exact status of this form needs investigation. 

 It seems to be a fixed melanistic form, which breeds true ; 

 but the accounts are very confused and specimens are re- 

 quired to confirm the statements made. 



Genus RECURVIIIOSTRA. 



Recurvirostra Linne, Syst. Nat. 10th ed. 1758, p. 151. 

 Type (by monotypy) : R. avocetta Linne. 



Recurvirostra novsehollandiae novaehollandiaB Vieillot, 

 Eastern Red-necked Avocet. 



Recurvirostra novahoUandm Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. 

 Nat. vol. iii. 1816, p. 103 : Victoria. 

 Synonyms : — 



Recurvirostra ruhricollis Temminck, Manuel d'Orn. vol. ii. 1823, 



p. 592 : Victoria. 

 Meciirvirostra novcehollandia Buller, Suppl. vol. i. p. 180. 



Range :--New Zealand (accidental, few occurrences) ; 

 extralimital. 



