[ Fam. XLIX. SCOLOPACIDÆ, or SNIPES.]
Like the Plovers, the Snipes are nearly universally distributed over the world’s surface, though most abundant in northern regions. Of about 35 Neotropical species 15 are known to occur in the Argentine Republic, and many additions to the list of these wandering birds may be reasonably expected.
Of the fifteen Scolopacidæ already recognized as occurring within our limits, all but three are Arctic species, which only visit the far south during their migrations. The three exceptions are the Brazilian Stilt (Himantopus brasiliensis), the Paraguay Snipe (Gallinago paraguaiæ), and the Painted Snipe (Rhynchæa semicollaris), which are resident all the year in the Argentine Republic.
[395.] HIMANTOPUS BRASILIENSIS, Brehm.
(BRAZILIAN STILT.)
Himantopus nigricollis, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 502 (Pampas); Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1868, p. 144 (Buenos Ayres); Barrows, Auk, 1884, p. 314 (Entrerios, Azul, Pampas). Himantopus brasiliensis, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 144; iid. P. Z. S. 1873 p. 454; Durnford, Ibis, 1877, p. 198 (Buenos Ayres); Gibson, Ibis, 1880, p. 162 (Buenos Ayres).
Description.—White; line behind each eye, nape, back of neck, interscapulium, and wings black; a narrow white band divides the black neck from the black upper back; bill black; feet orange: whole length 14·0 inches, wing 8·5, tail 3·3, bill from gape 2·5, tarsus 4·2. Female similar.
Head of Brazilian Stilt.
(P. Z. S. 1873, p. 454.)
Hab. South America.