BIRDS OF ARGENTINA, PARAGUAY, URUGUAY, AND CHILE 151 



opinion. Mathews "* used the genus Iliornis of Kaup for the little 

 greenshank, and remarks (p. 199) that "the species T. fiavipes seems 

 to fall easily into the genus Iliornis.'''' Further ^^ he unites the greater 

 yellowlegs with Glottis nebularius in the genus Glottis. Mr. Ridg- 

 way -^ has segregated the two yellowlegs in the genus Neoglottis. 

 Doctor Hartert ^^ has united them in the genus Tringa with eleven 

 other species, namely, incana, totarms, guttifer, ergthropus, nehularia, 

 ochropus, soUtaria, hypoleucos, macularia, stagnatilis, and glareola. 



Comparison of the greater and lesser yellowlegs fails to reveal 

 characters of generic value that may serve to separate them. Save 

 that the bill may be a trifle shorter in relation to the length of tarsus 

 the lesser yellowlegs is practically a miniature of the greater. 

 Mathew's suggestion that the two are not congeneric may be dis- 

 missed as untenable. 



With due respect to Mr. Ridgway's opinion I do not believe that 

 the two yellowlegs may be separated successfully in a generic sense 

 from Totanus totanus. Examination of melanoleucus, -fiavipes, 

 totanus, nebularius, erytJiropus, and stagnatUis reveals much of in- 

 terest. Glottis has been considered as a distinct genus for nebularius 

 on the basis of the recurved bill in that species. In this character it 

 is approached by nielanoleucus and furthermore varies in amount 

 of curvature so that in series melanoleucus and nebularius may not 

 be separated on this basis. Some specimens of Totanus totanus have 

 a distinct Aveb between middle and imier toes, while in others this 

 web is reduced in extent. Development of this web grades clown in 

 unbroken series from totanus through erythropus where it is distinct 

 but small, to melanoleucus, fiavipes, and sfagnatilis, in which it is 

 faintly indicated. The bill is shorter than the tarsus in melanoleucus, 

 fiavipes, and stagTiatilis, from somewhat shorter to as long as the 

 tarsus in totanus and longer than the tarsus in erythropus. Here, 

 again, there is no line of demarcation. The little greenshank, 

 stagnatilis, has the bill somewhat more slender than the others but 

 in insufficient amount to validate its separation as a distinct genus. 

 There is no reason apparent for not including in Totanus the follow- 

 ing species, totanus, erythropus, nebularius, mda/rioleucus, fiavipes, 

 and stagnatilis. In addition it seems doubtful if Pseud ototanus may 

 be successfully maintained for guttifer, a matter that is here left in 

 abeyance since I have seen only one skin of this species. 



The course followed by Doctor Hartert in lumping 13 species under 

 the genus Tringa seems ill advised. Four of the included species, 

 hypoleucos, macularia, solitaria, and ocrophus have but two notches 



"J;irds Australia, vol. 3, pt. 2, May 2, 1913, p. 197. 



^ .'Ol. 3, pt. 3, Aug. 18, 1913, p. 224. 



* Birds North and Middle America, vol. 8, 1919, p. 129. 



^ Vog. PaUiark. Fauna, vol. 2, Heft. 13, Feb., 1921, pp. 1607-16C8. 



