234 Mr. H. Seebohm on the Genus Himantopus. 
distribution of the black on the back of the neck, which does 
not extend to any part of the head, and is separated from the 
black mantle by a white collar. Young in first plumage are 
said to resemble the young of the Common Stilt. 
The Australian Stilt breeds in Australia and New Zealand, 
and has occurred in Tasmania. It is probably only a winter 
visitor to the Malay Archipelago, where it has been recorded 
from New Guinea, Celebes, Borneo, Java, Sumatra, the 
Philippines, and some of the smaller islands. 
It is most nearly related to the Black Stilt on the one 
hand, and on the other to the South-American Stilt. 
Himantopus nov^-zelandue. 
Himantopus novce-zelandice, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1841, 
p. 8; et auctorum plurimorum. 
Himantopus melas , Hombr. & Jaeq. Ann. Sc. Nat. Paris, 
xvi. p. 320 (1841). 
Himantopus niyer , Ellman, Zoologist, 1861, p. 7470. 
Himantopus spicatus, Potts, Trans. New Z. Inst. 1872, 
p. 198. 
Plates : Gould, Birds of Australia, vi. pi. 25. 
Habits : Buller, Birds of New Zealand, p. 205. 
Eggs : Harting, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1874, pi. lx. fig. 10. 
The Black Stilt in adult summer plumage is black all over, 
more or less glossed with green on the upper parts. In 
winter plumage it is difficult to distinguish from H. leuco- 
cephalus, but in the Black Stilt the sides as well as the back 
of the neck are black, and the white collar and central tail- 
feathers are marked with black. The latter character is still 
more marked in young in first plumage. 
The Black Stilt is a resident in New Zealand, and is said 
to stray occasionally to Australia. 
The similarity of the winter plumage to that of the Aus¬ 
tralian Stilt proves the close relationship of the two species. 
The Black Stilt doubtless emigrated either from Chili or 
from Australia to New Zealand, and acquired in the latter 
country a special nuptial dress, the result, in all probability, 
of sexual selection. 
