BLACK-WINGED STILT. %6 



The food of the present wader consists in small insects 

 that hover close to the surface of the water or bog, small 

 beetles and their larvae, as well as the spawn of frogs and 

 other aquatic creatures. Small worms it pulls out of the mud, 

 and frequently out of the water. It captures small fish or fry, 

 by dipping the head and neck at full length below its sur- 

 face. 



The nest of the Black-winged Stilt is placed on a raised 

 lump of the surrounding bog, and consists in a cup-shaped de- 

 pression, with little or no lining : in it four eggs are deposited ; 

 these are described as being pale blue, spotted with olive- 

 green and brown, but we are unable at present to offer a 

 representation of this rare egg, until an opportunity presents 

 itself upon which we can rely with certainty. 



The entire length of the Black-winged Stilt is rather more 

 than thirteen inches ; its beak two inches and a half ; naked 

 part of the tibia three inches and a half, the tarsus four inches 

 and a half. 



The top of the head and nape are black mixed with white ; 

 back and wings black with greenish reflexions ; forehead, 

 cheeks, and all the under parts pure white, with a tinge of 

 rose-pink about the breast and belly ; the tail ash-coloured : 

 the beak is black ; the hides carmine red, and the legs Vene- 

 tian red. 



