HIMANT0PID2E. 705 



and Gould's H. lexicocepliahis, figured in pi. 24 of the 6th Volume of 

 his Birds of Australia : latterly he doubted their being distinct ; and 

 he has since written me from England, that many European speci- 

 mens are colored exactly like the Indian white-headed specimens. 



The Stilt is found in numerous flocks throughout all India in 

 the cold Aveather, frequenting the edges of tanks and rivers, and 

 occasionally inundated paddy fields, and feeding on various small 

 molluscs, worms, and insects. A late observer in England records 

 that he found it feeding on the minute diptera and beetles which 

 nestle in the flowers of aquatic plants : for capturing insects under 

 such circumstances its delicate bill seems well adapted. When 

 flying it has a peculiar Tern-like call. It is stated that it swims 

 well, but I have never seen any but a wounded bird attempt 

 to do so. It breeds chiefly in Northern regions, but also in 

 Northern Africa, laying four eggs in a tuft of grass. Pallas 

 states that it frequents the salt lakes in Central Asia, coming in 

 very late, and that he has seen several dancing together, jumping 

 up with expanded wings, and at the same time calling out. 



H. leucocephalus, Gould, from new Holland, is probably a dis- 

 tinct species ; and another is H. novce zealandios, Gould, entirely 

 black. 



The onlyother recorded species, if really distinct, is II. mexicanus, 

 (himantopus, apud Wilson). Cladorhynchus orientalis, (Him. pal- 

 matus, Gould) from Australia, is exactly intermediate in form 

 between Himantopus and Recurvirostra. 



Gen. Recurvirostra, Linnseus. 



Char. — Bill very long, thin, flexible, turned up towards the tip, 

 which is very thin and pointed, channeled both above and below; 

 nostrils long, linear; wings long, pointed; tail somewhat wedged; 

 tarsi moderately long, and slender; front toes unite 1 by a web 

 which is notched in the middle ; hind toe very minute ; nails 

 short, curved. 



The Avosets from their strongly webbed feet were classed by 

 Temminck and others near the Flamingo; but Cuvier rightly re- 

 stored them to their proper place near llimantopus, which they 

 resemble in their mode of life. 



PART II. 4 U 



