170 GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL. 



together, and the birds are remarkably tame, allowing the workmen 

 to pass them closely as they sit on their eggs. The eggs are four 

 in number, pyriform, and pale buffish brown in ground colour, 

 streaked, spotted, and blotched with blackish brown, and under- 

 lying markings of gray. They measure on an average 17 inch 

 in length by V2 inch in breadth. But one brood is reared in 

 the year. 



Diagnostic Characters. — Himantopus, with the head and 

 neck white (adult). Immature birds have the back of the neck 

 and the crown black In first plumage the dark parts are 

 brown, mottled with buff. Length, 13 to 14 inches. 



