( (Razin) 
BLACK-NECKED STILT. 
HIMANTOPUS NIGRICOLLIS, VIEILL. 
PLATE CCCXXVIII. Aputt Mate. 
A rew individuals of this singular species occasionally pass the 
winter in the lower parts of Louisiana, especially in the section called 
Oppellousas. I have also found it at the same period in the Floridas, 
but the greater number follow the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, and 
proceed beyond our southern limits. In April 1837, I observed their 
first appearance at Galveston Bay in Texas, where many remained 
until our departure. They were in small flocks, seldom composed of 
more than seven or eight individuals, which almost immediately sepa- 
rated into parties of two or three, and commenced their search for food. 
They kept about the small shallow brackish ponds on the islands of 
the bay, and now and then were observed following the sinuosities of 
bayous in company with other birds. They were much more shy than 
they are while breeding, and it was with some difficulty that we pro- 
cured specimens. When one was killed, the rest would fly to a con- 
siderable distance, sometimes from one island to another, in a rapid 
manner, with regular beats of the wings, their necks and legs extended. 
On such occasions they uttered a whistling cry, different from the cleek, 
cleck, cleck, which they emit when they have nests or young. 
All the writers who have described the habits of this bird, allege 
that it walks with a “ staggering gait ;” but this is by no means the 
case, for they appeared to us to walk as firmly as any other long-legged 
birds, such as Herons, Curlews, and the American Avoset; and I had 
many opportunities of observing them, as had my friend Enwarp 
Harris, my son, and all the members of our party. 
Toward the end of April, flocks of this bird reach the Middle Dis- 
tricts, by following the coast, for they are very rarely met with at any 
great distance from the sea shore. They generally betake themselves 
to extensive marshes abounding in muddy inlets and small ponds, in 
the vicinity of which they usually place their nests. About the middle 
of May, parties of from ten to twenty collect, and are seen wading 
sometimes up to their breast, in search of food, which is extremely 
