OOLOGY OF NEW ZEALAND. 559 
the same spot had been occupied the previous year; there was great 
contention amongst two pairs for its possession, at length the old | 
birds were victorious, after two or three days contention, during 
which time the struggle was carried on by cries, menacing gestures, 
fluttering of wings, the birds often leaping over each other. From 
the long legs of these waders their postures and actions in this 
quarrel seemed very grotesque. The younger and defeated pair 
retired to about half a chain distant where they successfully reared 
a family, this too in sight of the passengers on a roadway. 
October 18th.—I have a note of 8 nests of this species in a 
swamp near Lowcliffe, with four eggs to each clutch; some of these 
nests were very close together. I have known it breeding almost in 
association with Zarus Pomare, Bruch. 
81. Himantopus melas, Hombr. et Jacq. 
Black Stilt.—This wader breeds early in the season* seeking the 
sandy river beds for that purpose, the labour of nidification is very 
tritfling—sometimes the nest is built of grass, roughly constructed, I 
have seen it on a log of driftwood, very often a mere depression in the 
sand suffices. It lays three to four eggs very similar to those of the 
preceding species; the young are clad with dark brown down, bills 
and legs are dark, almost black. 
Note. —Sept. 13—Nest with 3 eggs on a spit, Rakaia river bed. 
Dec. 14—Nest with 2 eggs on a driftlog, Rakaia river. 
82. Humantopus picatus, Potts. 
Black-throated Stilt Plover.—In January, 1872, I described a 
Pied Stilt, a female that had been obtained on the Wai-Keri-Keri. I 
have a set of eggs from that locality, a clutch of four that can be 
readily picked out when placed with a series of those of H. leuco- 
cephalus. They are yellowish brown with a slightly greenish tint, 
blotched with very bold marks of umber brown, black and a few 
purplish splashes, these are not crowded together, and offer a very 
decided contrast with the ground colour. This is mentioned for 
the consideration of naturalists. 
Genus—Tringa. 
83. Tringa canutus, L. 
Knot.—Has been obtained on the 90-mile Beach. 
Genus—Limnocinclus. 
84. Limnocinclus acuminatus, Horsf. 
Sandpiper.—Several have been procured from Ellesmere or 
Waihora. 
Genus—Gallinago. 
85. Gallinago aucklandica, Gray. 
Snipe.—Met with on the Chatham Island group. 
Genus—Phalaropus. 
| 86. Phalaropus pelicarius. 
Grey Phalorope.—A specimen of this wader has been placed in 
the Canterbury Museum. 
*Notes on breeding habits N.Z. Birds, Potts. ‘‘ Trans. N.Z. Institute,” Vol. II. 
