Oedur LIMICOL.®.] 
HIMANTOPUS LEUCOCEPHALTIS. 
(WHITE-HEADED STILT.) 
[Fam. SCOLOPACID^. 
thmantopus leucocephalus, Gould, P. Z. S. 1837, p. 26. 
Hmantoims albus, Ellman, Zool. 1861, p. 7470. 
Native names. 
Tutumata and Tuturipourewa ; Torea (of Arawa tribe). 
albi ^ y>ndique, collo laterali et postico torquem collarem formante albis : dorso postico et uropygio 
_ • V . uigris dorso concoloribus : caud4 alba, cinerascente lavat^l, pennis duabus centraUbus 
ncrascentibus . corpore toto subtus pure albo : rostro nigro : pedibus cruentatis : iride rubr^. 
* temV tiiictus : collo postico sordide griseo-albo : tectricibus alarum et supracaudalibus albo 
blacl- . r ■ middle portion of back, scapulars, and entire upper surface of wings glossy greenish 
tion of surface of wings sooty black; the rest of the plumage pure white, with the excep- 
blaet ^ ® O’’ lo®® t“ged with smoky grey. Irides and eyelids brick-red, bill 
nal ] horn-coloured at the tip ; legs and feet deep pink flesh-colour, and sometimes beautiful 
alo*^o-^+r'^,^^ ’ claws black. Length 14 inches; extent of wings 26-6; wing, from flexure, 9; tail 3; bill 
ug e ridge 2-4, along the edge of lower mandible 2-6 ; bare tibia 2 ; tarsus 4-25 ; middle toe and claw 1-7. 
Individuals vary considerably in size. A specimen in my collection from Hawkers Bay gives the following 
the^rA'*^°^o^^“ inches; extent of wings 29-5 ; wing, from flexure, 10; tail 3-5 ; bill, along 
1 ge -70, along the edge of lower mandible 3; bare tibia 3-25 ; tarsus 4-5 ; middle toe and claw 1-75. 
, , pecimen in the Colonial Museum has the head, fore neck, and all the underparts white ; hind 
disann parts generally satiny black; across the shoulders there is some indication of white, which 
indeterminar part, nape and fore neck freckled with black, the margins of the dark colours being 
Lf/f “ottled with white ; shoulders 
surf "" darkening towards the back; upper part of back and scapulars brownish black; upper 
ace o wings glossy black ; the median coverts, as well as the feathers of the back, narrowly tipped with 
own; lower part of back and rump white; tail-feathers dull black, tipped with hrown, their coverts (which 
of ni portion, and tipped with yellowish brown; lining 
wings black; the rest of the plumage pure white ; bill black, brownish towards the base; irides reddish 
ye ow; egs pale yellow ^ the claws brown. Upper mandible 2 inches ; tibia 1-75 ; tarsus 2-75. 
1 maturity. A more advanced bird in my collection has the crown, nape, and sides of the head 
increases on the back and sides of the neck ; the rest of the plumage 
blackish bro ^’ markings on the inner edges of the wings, the lining of which is 
d 11 Crown of the head, middle portion of back, scapulars, and upper surface of wings and tail 
fe\u°°'^^ mack tinged with brown ; nape greyish white, blending on the shoulders into the darker plumage ; 
composing the mantle, upper wing-coverts, and tail-coverts tipped more or less with greyish white; 
ming of wings and axillary plumes sooty black, tipped with white ; the rest of the plumage pure white. 
