Mr. H. Seebohm on the Genus Scolopax. 131 



exactly to the size of a Jack Snipe. In every other respect 

 it is a Semi- Woodcock, and occupies an intermediate posi- 

 tion between the two groups into which they are naturally 

 divided. It agrees with one of them in having no traces of 

 bars on the outer web of the first primary, and with the other 

 in having the centre of the belly uniform in colour. 



This concludes the group of Semi- Woodcocks, all the 

 species of which differ from the true Woodcocks and agree 

 with the Eastern Palaearctic Snipes in having sixteen or more 

 tail-feathers, some of the outer of which are considerably 

 attenuated. 



The typical Snipes are connected with the Woodcocks by 

 two South-American species which possess characters appa- 

 rently somewhat intermediate. In their large size, thick 

 bills, barred primaries, and pale slightly spotted stone- 

 coloured eggs they resemble the Woodcocks; but in the 

 longitudinal marks of the head, in their tibise bare of 

 feathers for some distance above the joint, and in their 

 well-developed claw of the hind toe they are typical Snipes. 

 Probably the resemblance to the Woodcocks is only acci- 

 dental, that is to say, one of analogy rather than of affinity ; 

 though it is quite possible that it may be a case of reversion 

 to the characters of a common ancestor. With the excep- 

 tion of the legs and feet, which resemble those of the typical 

 Snipes, they look like giant forms of some species of Semi- 

 W^oodcock. The two forms only appear to differ in size, and 

 are probably only subspecifically distinct. 



13. Scolopax undulata. 



The Cayenne Giant Snipe is only known from the moun- 

 tains of Guiana, and is somewhat smaller than its next ally. 



14. Scolopax undulata gigantea. 



The Brazilian Giant Snipe has been obtained near the 

 course of the Parana and near Buenos Ayres. Its reported 

 occurrence in Peru and Cayenne may possibly be correct, 

 but the evidence is scarcely conclusive. The two forms 

 differ as follows : — 



