CLXTT. 



HIMANTOPUS MELANOPTERUS. 



Black-winged Stilt. Long-legged Plover. 



This bird is too singularly conspicuous to remain long 

 alive on its \'isits to this country ; and though — were it to 

 consult its own choice — it would probably, with many 

 other species, remain with us to breed, we can scarcely 

 hope that it will ever be permitted to do so undisturbed. 



During the spring of 1826 my correspondent Mr. Sal- 

 mon, whose collection of eggs forms so attractive an object 

 in the Norwich Museum, shot a pair at Stoke Ferry, in 

 Norfolk, from the female bird of which he extracted eggs 

 in a state of forwardness. 



The only egg which is in any of the cabinets of this 

 country, is the one which I have drawn from the collection 

 of my friend Mr. John Hancock, of Newcastle. It is al- 

 together different in colour from the figure given by Dr. 

 Thieneman ; it was, however, sent to him by a coiTespon- 

 dent in France, upon whom he could rely. 



The Long-legged Plover frequents the margins of lakes, 

 and lays four eggs, in a slight depression on the bare 

 ground. 



