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Genus HIMANTOPUS, Briss.
G en . Chab. B e a k lon g , slender, cy lin d r ical, flattened at its base and compressed a t th e p o in t ;
b o th m andibles ch an n e led to th e e x ten t o f h a lf th e ir len g th from th e base. N o s tr ils
lateral, linear. T a rsi v e r y lo n g an d slender. Toes th ree b efo re, th e ex te rn al and middle
toes united b y a membrane ; m ils sma ll and flat. W ings v e r y lon g , th e first q u ill-fea th e r
th e longest.
L O N G - L E G G E D P LOV ER.
Himantopus melanopterus, M eyer.
L ’E chasse & man teau noir.
The genus Himantopus although widely distributed, contains, we believe, only two well-authenticated species,
— the example here figured, and one very nearly allied to it from North America.
This bird, so singular in its appearance, from the extraordinary length and slenderness o f its legs, has been
often killed in England; but it must be classed among those birds whose visits are accidental and uncertain.
It is equally scarce in Holland and the northern portion o f Europe: in fact, though apparently abundant nowhere,
it exhibits so wide a range, that its deficiency in point o f number in any given locality is counterbalanced
by its almost universal distribution. We have been presented with skins which we consider to belong to this
same species, from Africa, India, the Islands o f the Indian Archipelago, and, i f we mistake not, from North
and South America.
The Long-legged Plover, as its conformation would lead us to conclude, is a bird whose most congenial
habitat is morasses, and the low flat shores o f lakes, rivers and seas. Hence in the eastern portions o f Europe,
where it is said to arrive from Asia in small flocks, it takes up its abode along the lakes and among the vast
morasses o f Hungary and Russia, where, according to M. Temminck, it rears its progeny, and where it fearlessly
wades in search o f its food, without much chance o f being carried out o f its depth; but should such an
occurrence happen, or the waves drift it out from the shore, it possesses, like many o f the true wading birds,
the power o f swimming with the greatest ease and lightness ; in fact, in whatever point o f view we consider
the Long-legged Plover, we find it adapted in the best possible manner for its habits and modes o f life : few
birds exceed it in the powers o f fligh t; its wings far exceed the tail, and it passes through the air with
astonishing rapidity. When on firm ground, it appears as if tottering on long and awkward stilts: but firm
ground is not its congenial habitat. The egg as figured by Dr. Thienemann measures one inch nine lines in
length by one inch three lines in breadth, o f a pale blueish green, spotted and specked with dark brown.
In the male, the top o f the head, face and under parts are white with a faint tinge o f rose-colour-; back
o f the head and neck black ; back and wings black with green reflections; tail light g r e y ; beak black; irides
crimson; tarsi and feet fine orange-red. In some stages o f plumage the head and neck are perfectly white,
the black being, in all probability, the plumage o f summer.
The female differs from the male in having the back brown instead o f black, with green reflections.
The young have their colours altogether more obscure, with a brown tinge; the tarsi and irides are also less
brilliant.
We have figured a male in perfect plumage, nearly o f the natural size.