nms 



THE EAE OF THE WOODCOCK. 



To the Editors of British Birds. 



Sirs, — In the new edition of N'aumann's " Naturg-e- 

 schichte der Vogel Mittel-Europa's," in the introductory 

 article on the anatomy of the Scolopacince, it is stated that 

 the ear is underneath the eye and near the anterior corner 

 of it. The exact words are : — " die Oliroffnung-, die bei 

 alien anderen Vog-eln hinter den Aug-en steht, ist hier 

 unter das Auge g-estellt und deni vorderen Augen winkel 

 genahert." — Naumann, Vol. IX., p. 164, new edition. 



W. B. Nichols. 

 Stour Lodge, 



Bradfield, June 8rd, 1907. 



To the Editors of British Birds. 



Sirs, — If Mr. Whymj)er will consult the edition of 

 Nitzsch's "PterylogTaphy," published by the Ray Society 

 in 1867, edited by Dr. Sclater, he will find in Plate IX., 

 fig. 10, the external orifice of the ear correctly placed 

 below and in front of the orbit. 



P. Chalmers Mitchell. 

 Zoological Society of London, 

 3, Hanover Square, 



June 8th, 1907. 



[With regard to Mr. Nichols' letter, we would point 

 out that Nauniann's remarks apply to the Scoloixicidoe 

 generally : he merely repeats a statement that has been 

 made by other ornithologists on many occasions. But 

 Naumann evidently fell into the same error as all other 

 writers have done up till now. He assumed that what 

 obtained among the Snipe held good also for the Wood- 

 cock which, as has now been shown, is not the case. The 

 quotation, to which Mr. Nichols refers, evidently does not 

 apply to the Woodcock, wherein the aperture of the ear is 

 below the level of, and in front of the eye. 



Since receiving Dr. Chalmers Mitchell's letter, we have 

 again examined Nitzsch's figure, and agree that it may be 

 described as an approximately accurate figure. Nitzsch, 



