2Q Mr. Ambrose A. Lane on some 



co-operation in this, as in most other matters, should lead to 

 the best organization for all parties interested to work upon ; 

 so that the anatomical expert in the museum laboratory can 

 keep in touch with the field-naturalist and sportman, who 

 studies the same species alive amidst their natural surround- 

 ings. Whereas the former may find deviations in structure 

 or marking that may suggest a new species, the field- 

 observer may encounter large numbers of closely allied forms 

 possessing such characteristic traits that he would never 

 think of classifying them as other than mere local variations 

 of the same species — interesting enough in themselves, but 

 not to be dissociated from the type represented by the genus 

 to which they belong. In no way is this more striking to the 

 traveller than the often surprisingly similar movements or 

 utterances which confirm the individuality between species 

 of the same family or genus, although separated by the 

 widest geographical distribution, whilst now and again a 

 strong connecting link will be found between species of widely 

 differing families. Thus the Bush-Wrens (Pteroptochida?), a 

 very distinctive S. American family, show some striking 

 similarities to the Gallinpe — most species of Bush-Wren, being 

 chiefly terrestrial in habit, having immensely developed run- 

 ning powers, wings shaped like a Guinea-fowl, and possessing 

 the same reluctance to take to flight, if they can escape by 

 running. In addition, the very peculiar note of some species 

 of Bush-Wren resembled the crowing of a Gallinaceous 

 bird. 



But these may be chance resemblances, or contracted by 

 similarity of habit, as the Pteroptochidse take the place in 

 wooded slopes and glades on the S. Pacific coast which is 

 economically occupied by the Pheasant-group elsewhere. 

 Apart from these resemblances, which may be merely for- 

 tuitous, are the very decided characteristics of widely separated 

 species of the same genus. Take, for instance, the genus 

 Turdus. I have only seen to my knowledge two kinds in 

 S. Africa, neither of which I had the opportunity of identi- 

 fying as to the exact species, but even the most casual obser- 

 vation was sufficient to place them without hesitation in 



