144 Mr. H. Seebohm on the Genus Scolopax. 



In conclusion^ one question suggests itself as a necessary 

 corollary to these curious facts of the geographical distribu- 

 tion of the Snipes. What connection can be traced between 

 them and the Zoological Regions into which the world has 

 been divided by Sclater and Wallace ? The only reply that 

 can be honestly given is : — none at all ! The fact is that the 

 so-called Zoological Kegions are not zoological. They are 

 fairly accurate as regards the distribution of the Mammals ; 

 somewhat more so in relation to Passerine Birds, and some- 

 what less so in relation to true Reptiles. For Fishes and 

 Batrachians we are told that an entirely different set of 

 Regions have had to be invented, and these appear to be 

 much more applicable to Non-passerine Birds than those 

 usually adopted. 



The geographical distribution of Scolopax appears to be 

 somewhat anomalous from either point of view. The Painted 

 Snipes are confined to the Equatorial Southern Zone, and 

 are found in each of its four Regions,^ — the Indian, the 

 African, the Tropical American, and the Australian Regions. 

 The Woodcocks are also found in the Northern Zone, but 

 those iuhabiting the Europeo-Asiatic Region and the eastern 

 half of the North-American Region appear to form one 

 group, whilst the other is found only in the south-east of 

 the Indian and the north-west of the Australian Regions. 

 The range of the Semi-Woodcocks being confined to the 

 Himalayas and the Andes, with outlying species in Japan, 

 and in Auckland Island, south of New Zealand, would be most 

 complicated if expressed in terms of either system of Regions. 

 The typical Snipes are only absent during the breeding-season 

 from the Oriental and Australian Regions ; but it is w^orthy 

 of note that the only species found in the Nearctic Region 

 finds its nearest ally in the Paleearctic Region, whilst some 

 of the Snipes of the Ethiopian Region are doubtfully distinct 

 from some of those of the Neotropical Region. The final 

 conclusion to be arrived at appears to be that the Snipes' 

 recognize to a considerable extent the Regions of Giinther 

 and Boulenger, but are lamentably ignorant of those pro- 

 pounded by Sclater and Wallace. 



