496 



STILT. 



the above extensive marsh, all the other species are found during- the 

 incubating season. 



We observed great abundance of Sterns in the fens of Lincolnshire, 

 during- the breeding season. They make a nest of flags or broad grass 

 in the most marshy places, upon a tuft just above the surface of the 

 water ; and the female lays, almost invariably, four eggs, weighing about 

 three drams each. 



The flight of the Stern is not very unlike that of the nightjar ; its 

 evolutions are rapid, and its turns short, by which means it sometimes 

 escapes the talons of predaceous birds, as we had once an opportunity 

 of witnessing. In a very hard gale of wind many Sterns were sporting 

 over the water, when a peregrine falcon passed like a shot, singled out 

 his bird, and presently coming up with the chase, made a pounce, but 

 the great dexterity of the Stern avoided the deadly stroke, and took a 

 new direction. The falcon, by his superior velocity, soon regained 

 sufficient elevation, to successively repeat his pounces, but at last relin- 

 quished the pursuit. 



*The brown tern (Sterna obscura) is, according to Temminck, this 

 species in its spring and summer plumage. The breast, the space be- 

 tween the beak and the eyes, the throat, and front part of the neck, 

 which are white in winter, are then of a brownish ash -colour.* 



STILT (Himantopus Melanopterus, Meyer.) 



Charadrius himantopus, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 255. 11 Gmel. Syst. 2. p. 690. — Lath. 



Ind. Orn. 2. p. 741. 3 — Himantopus melanopterus, Temm. Man. d'Orn. 2. p. 

 528.— Himantopus, Ruii, Syn. p. 106. 9.— 190. 7.— Ib. 193. 1. t. 1. f. 3.— Wilt. 



p. 219. t. 54 Brvs. 5. p. 33. 1. t. 3. f. 1.— 16. 8vo. 2. p. 220. 1 Flem. Br. 



Anim. p. 1 \2.Sibbald, 18. p. 13. 2.— L'Echasse, Buff. Ois. 8. p. 114. t. 8.— 

 Long-legged Plover, Br. Zool. 2. No. 209— Ib. fol. 128. Addenda.— Arct. Zool. 



2. No. 405.— White's Hist. Selb. t. p. 258 Lath. Syn. 5. p. 195. 3.— 16. Supp. 



p. 252 Lewin's Br. Birds, 3. t. 182.— Wale. Syn. 2. t. 159 Don. Br. Birds, 



3. t. 55.— Mont. Orn. Diet Ib. Supp. 



Provincial. — Longlegs. Longshanks. 

 This extraordinary species is certainly the longest-legged bird, in 

 proportion to its bulk, hitherto known. Length, from the apex of the 

 bill to the end of the tail, thirteen inches ; from that to the end of the 

 toes five inches more ; bill two inches and a half long, slender, and 

 black ; irides red ; forehead, round the eyes, and rump, white ; crown 

 of the head, back, and wings, glossy black ; tail the same, inclining to 

 grey; outer feathers white ; neck and under parts white ; the hind part 

 of the neck marked with dusky streaks ; in some these streaks are 

 wanting, the effect probably of maturity ; the thigh is bare of feathers 

 three inches and a half from the knee ; legs, four inches and a half long, 

 red ; the outer and middle toes connected by a membrane at the base. 



