616 On the Systematic Position of the Ruff. 



(12) In the Tringinse, the supra-occipital region, when 

 the skull is viewed from above, forms a somewhat con- 

 spicuous and conical projection backwards. In the Eroliinse 

 the outline of the skull in this region when viewed from 

 above forms an arc of an almost perfect circle. This 

 distinguishing character is a useful ana constant one. 



Finally, it may be shortly stated that in regard to the 

 systematic position of the Semipalmated Sandpiper {Ereu- 

 netes pusillus), everything that has been written above 

 bearing on the proper position of the Ruff applies to this 

 form, except that there are no such Tringine deviations such 

 as are given as applying to the Ruff under paragraphs (7) 

 and (10). 



It is a most remarkable fact that all the authorities 

 quoted in the opening paragraph of this article include 

 Ej^eunetes with the Tringinae, whereas it is without question 

 a typical Eroliine form. 



Tested by the osteological characters given above, there 

 seems to be no room for doubt that the following forms, 

 whose skulls and other skeletal features I have been able to 

 examine, must be included in the subfamily Eroliinse : — 



Erolia alpina alpina ; Erolia minuta ; Arquatella mari- 

 time ; Ereunetes * (? Erolia) pusillus ; Ancyluchilus 

 subarquatus ; Calidris arenaria-, Heteropygia macu- 

 lata ; Micropalama himantupus ; Canutus canutus ; 

 Eurynorhynchus pygmaus ; and Machetes pvgnax. 



On the other hand, so far as the material which I have at 

 present been able to examine is concerned, the following 

 forms must be included in the subfamily Tringinse : — 



Tringa ochropus ; Tringa solitaria ; Tringoides hypo- 

 leucos; Tringoides macularius ; Rhyacophilus glareola; 

 Tringa calidris ; T. flavipjes ; T. nebularia ; and 

 T. stagnatilis. 



* I can discover no osteological features either in the skull or else- 

 where which would seem to justify the creation of a separate genus 

 {Ereunetes) for this form. 



