Order GEALL^E.] [Fam. SCOLOPACIDJS. 



HIMANTOPUS NOVjE ZEALANDI^. 



(BLACK STILT.) 



Himantopus novae zealandice, Gould, P. Z. S. 1841, p. 8. 

 Himantopus melas, Hombr. & Jacq. Ann. Sci. Xat. 1841, p. 320. 

 Himantopus niger, Ellman, Zool. 18G1, p. 7470. 

 Himantopus melas, Hutton, Cat. Birds of N. Z. 1871, p. 30. 



Native name. — Kaki. 



Ad. ptil. cestiv. supra nitide virescenti-niger : subtus fuliginoso-niger, loiis et facie laterab palhdioribus : rostro 

 nigro : pedibus cruentatis : iride rufescenti-brunnea. 



Ad. ptil. Mem. dissimilis ptilosi Eestivse : pileo postico et cervice toto nigris : fronte, gutture et pectore albis : 

 dorso, alis et cauda nigris : abdomine fuhginoso-nigro. 



Juv. simibs ptilosi sestivse, sed dorso postico et uropygio albis : subtus etiam albus : cervice et cobo postico 

 sordide cbierascentibus saturatius variis : interscapuho, scapularibus et tectricibus alarum nigricanti- 

 brunneis, fulvo marginatis : primarbs pallide cinerascescente terminatis : cauda cinerascenti-brunnea, 

 rectricibus exterioribus versus basin pogonii interni albis. 



Adult in summer. Head, neck, and ab tbe under surface bro^misb black, incbning to slaty grey on tbe face 

 and towards the base of lower mandible; back, rump, and upper surface of wings and tail glossy green- 

 ish black. Irides and eyelids crimson ; legs and feet pinky red, the claws black. Length 15 inches ; 

 extent of wings 28 - 5 ; wing, from flexure, 10 ; tab 3*25 ; bare tibia 3 ; tarsus 3'75 ; middle toe and 

 claw 1-5. 



Adult in winter. Crown and sides of the head, hind part of neck, and the whole of the abdomen sooty black ; 

 back, wings, and tail glossy greenish black ; the rest of the plumage pure white. 



Young. Forehead, sides of the head, fore part and sides of the neck, and ab the underparts'pure white; 

 crown of the head, mantle, and scapulars blackish brown, each feather margined at the tip with 

 fulvous ; hind part of the neck and between the shoulders dark grey, mottled with paler grey ; back 

 and rump white ; upper and lower surface of wings, as web as the axblary plumes, black ; the upper 

 wing-coverts and the long inner secondaries margined with fulvous, and the primaries tipped with 

 light grey ; tail-feathers greyish brown, the outer ones white on their inner webs, with an apical spot 

 of brown. 



Chick. Covered with dark brown down ; bib and legs greyish black. 



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