340 Mr. P. R. Lowe on Coloration as a Factor in 



Again, tlie nestling young of Chionis, Dramas, (Edic- 

 nemus, Hamatopus, Recurvirostra, Tlunocorus, Jacana, and 

 Rhynchcea, among others, are all extremely interesting from 

 the point of view of the true phylogenetic relationships of 

 these forms. 



In attempting to construct this "family-tree" (exhibited 

 at the Meeting), which purports to depict the phylogenetic 

 relationships of the whole suborder of Waders, a study oi 

 the osteological characters of this group has been carried on 

 simultaneously with a study of the nestling young (not to 

 mention other aids to classification) — the result being that 

 these two aids to the whole question of phylogeny have 

 illuminated one another in the most interesting w-ay. 



But I must now hurry on to other groups of birds. 



Here, for example, are some nestling Ducks of various 

 genera, and, though I cannot pause to describe them indi- 

 vidually, I may point out the very typical, constant, and well- 

 differentiated nestling colour-pattern characteristic of such 

 genera as Tadorna, Glauciun, Nyroca, CEdemia, and Anas — 

 incidentally demonstrating to you how impossible it would 

 seem to unite Glaucion and Nyroca under one genus, as has 

 been recently done, or, on the other hand, to include the 

 Uuddy Sheld-Duck in a genus {Casarca) distinct from 

 Tadorna^ since the colour-pattern characteristic of tiie 

 nestling plumage of the Ruddy Sheld-Duck is identical with 

 that of the ( lommon Sheld-Duck. One may sum up by 

 saying that the colour-pattern in the nestling Duck seems 

 an even better guide to the differentiation of really natural 

 generic groups than the colour-pattern in the adult, which 

 last in its turn seems of more reliability than the generic 

 characters usually depended upon. 



Passing to Passerine examples, Mr. Swynnerton has kindly 

 drawn my attention to the very suggestive resemblance 

 which immature examples of Tarsiger bear to the young 

 of Ei'ithacus, as instanced in our own Robin. Here are 

 some examples for comparison ; and I think it might be 

 held that the resemblance is even more than suggestive. 

 Tarsiger at the present time is grouped with the Flycatchers, 



