226 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
20. White-headed Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus Gould 
Hi-mant'-o-pus — Gk, himantopous, water-bird : leuc-o-ceph* -al-us — Gk, 
leucos, white ; Gk, cephale, head. 
Distribution. — Australia and Tasmania; also occurs in Sumbawa, 
Timor, the Moluccas, New Guinea, Lord Howe Island, and New Zealand. 
Notes. — Also called Pied Stilt, Longshanks, Stilt-bird, and Long- 
legged Plover. Usually in pairs or flocks, frequenting shallow lakes, 
swamps, and tidal flats. It often associates with the Red-necked Avocet 
and other Waders. The call-note of this species is not unlike the bark 
of a small dog. Food : aquatic animals and plants. 
Nest. — Either a slight hollow in the mud at the water’s edge, or a 
compact structure, composed of dried aquatic plants, built in a swamp. 
It usually breeds in colonies, but the nests are scattered along the margins 
of the lakes or swamps. 
Eggs. — Four, greenish-stone, covered with irregular-shaped spots and 
blotches of dark purplish-brown, and smaller underlying markings of 
lavender. Breeding-season: August to December. 
21. Banded Stilt Cladorhynchus leucocephalus Vieillot 
Clad-o-rhyncli-us — Gk, dados , curving branch; Gk, rhynchos , beak: leuc - 
o-cepK -al-us— Gk, leucos , white ; Gk, cephale, head. 
Distribution. — Australia and Tasmania; accidental to New Zealand. 
Notes. — Also called Rottnest Snipe. Usually in pairs or flocks, fre- 
quenting lakes, swamps, the margins of streams, and tidal flats. It is very 
similar in habits and economy to the White-headed Stilt, except that it 
seems to prefer salt lakes and salt-water to fresh. 
Nest. — A slight depression in the ground. Like Terns, it breeds in 
compact colonies. The two recorded breeding-areas are Lake Grace 
(Western Australia) and Lake Callabonna (South Australia). 
Eggs. — Two to four, dull white or faintly tinged with cream, covered 
with a tangle of irregular, twisted, and interlacing lines of black or brown, 
and underlying markings of grey; some eggs are marked with blotches 
and large spots, while others are almost unmarked. Breeding-season: 
July and December are the only months recorded. 
22. Red-necked Avocet Recurvirostra novce-hollandice Vieillot 
Re-curv -i-ros-tra — L., recurvus , turned back; L., rostrum , bill: novce- 
hollandice — of New Holland. 
Distribution. — Australia generally, and Tasmania; accidental to New 
Zealand. 
Notes. — Also called Cobbler, Cobbler’s Awl, Painted Lady, Scooper, 
Trumpeter, and Yelper. Usually in pairs or flocks, frequenting lakes, 
streams, and swamps. It is generally shy and quiet, but becomes very 
noisy if its nest is approached. Besides its call-note, which is somewhat 
