Stilt, a wading bird of the avocet family, and genus himantopus (Briss.). The bill is long, straight, slender, and pointed, with a groove on each side to the middle; wings long and pointed, first quill much the longest; tail short and nearly even; legs very thin and long, with scaled tarsi; toes moderate, joined at the base, with a wide membrane between the outer and middle toes; hind toe wanting; claws small and sharp; neck long. Half a dozen species are found in various parts of the world. The black-necked stilt (H. nigricollis, Vieill.) is about 14 in. long, black above, with forehead, lower parts, rump, and tail white; bill black, and legs red. It is found as far 1ST. as the middle states in spring, frequenting salt marshes in small flocks, and going S. beyond the limits of the United States in autumn; the nests are built in company, at first upon the ground, from which they are gradually raised by successive additions; the eggs are usually four, of a pale yellowish clay color, with large irregular blotches and lines of brownish black; the flight is rapid and regular, the legs extending behind; the flesh is indifferent eating.

The white stilt (H. melanopterus, Meyer) is of about the same size, and white, with the back and wings shining greenish black, and legs red; it prefers the edges of fresh-water streams, and is found in S. E. Europe, Asia, and Africa; the bill is 3 in. and tarsus 4 in.

Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus nigricollis).