206 



Obs. The sexes are alike ; but the summer plumage in the female has less gloss on the wings and tail, and a 

 stronger tinge of brown on the uuderparts. 



Remarks. Owing to the many transitional states of plumage in which this bird is found, both in its progress 

 towards maturity and in its seasonal changes of dress, it is the popular belief that there are two species 

 of Stilt in New Zealand distinct from the well-knowm Himantopus leucocephalus ; and this view 

 has been adopted in Hutton's ' Catalogue/ where the true H. nova zealandice is first described in its 

 winter plumage, and then, uuder another name (H. melas), in its black summer garb. But this supposed 

 third species has no real existence. Dr. Finsch, in his remarks on a collection of skins received from 

 Dr. Haast, states (Journal fiir Ornithologie, 1870, p. 349) that a bird labelled "Himantopus nova: 

 Zealandice, first year's plumage" proved, on examination, to be a mature example of H. leucocephalus, 

 readily distinguished by its longer tibia and tarsi, from which accidental mistake he seems to infer 

 that Haast is wrong in his description of the young of this species. There can be no doubt, however, 

 that the young of H. novae zealandice is as I have described it, my examples exhibiting in every 

 case that enlargement below the tarsal joint which, among birds of this group, is a sure indication of 

 immaturity. 



This species was originally made known by Gould, in the Supplement to his ' Birds of Australia,' 

 his description being founded on two specimens " killed at Port Nicholson," both of which, how- 

 ever, appear to have been in an immature state of plumage. 



It may readily be distinguished from the preceding species by its darker plumage, and by its 

 somewhat shorter legs. Its habits, however, are similar, excepting that it is less gregarious, 

 associating in pahs rather than flocks, while it appears to prefer the dry shingle-beds to the lagoons 

 and marshy grounds which constitute the favourite feeding-resorts of the other species. It is, 

 moreover, a much rarer bird, although it is generally to be found in all the river-courses of the 

 Wellington Province, and further south. Dr. Hector met with a solitary pair at Parengarenga, 

 near the North Cape ; and Mr. Robert Mair saw a flock of five at Kaipara, where it was con- 

 sidered by the natives an extremely rare visitant. A few pairs have for several years past 

 frequented the Rotorua Lake ; but it is never seen on Lake Taupo, although the White-headed Stilt 

 is extremely abundant there, single flocks sometimes numbering thirty or forty birds. In Roto 

 mahana also, where the latter bird is very plentiful at all seasons of the year, the Black Stilt is 

 rarely seen. I have met with it more abundantly in the large river-courses of the South Island ; 

 and Mr. Potts, who has found it nesting there, writes : — " It breeds early in the season, seeking the 

 sandy river-beds for that purpose. The labour of nidification is very trifling ; sometimes a nest of 

 grass is roughly constructed ; and now and then this apology for a nest may be discovered on a 

 log of drift-wood ; much more frequently, however, a slight depression in the sandy spit answers 

 all the requirements of this Stilt as a nesting-place ; and it is never very far from water. The 

 young can run almost as soon as they are hatched ; when disturbed, they conceal themselves be- 

 hind stones, or some other shelter in the most artful manner. The parent birds exhibit the 

 utmost assiduity in attempting to lead intruders from their eggs or young, and their numerous 

 cunning devices are carried on with surprising cleverness and perseverance." The same observer 

 records a nest, with three eggs, on Rakaia river-bed on the 13th of September, and another, con- 



