28 On some widely distributed Birds. 



developed, except in the case o£ the Penguins, Cormorants^ 

 and a few others whose powers of locomotion are limited. 



A much greater variety in appearance and form is to be 

 found amongst those species of the Flover-family of the 

 Lapwing-type. The English "Peewit" (Vannellus vulgaris), 

 the S. American " Fraile " ( V. cai/ennensis), and the two 

 S. African genera Stephanihyx and /ioyDZopi^rus("Kievietje"), 

 and probably many others, all possess the same family traits, 

 akliough the Peewit has a more graceful mode of flight and 

 does not make such a clamour as the other species mentioned; 

 still they are each most characteristic of their type, and none 

 of them could well be mistaken for any other. Those birds 

 which attach themselves to human habitations usually acquire 

 a wide range, but seem su1)ject to diverge into local types, 

 thouoh still bearing close resemblance to the orioinal stock. 

 Such is the case with the Sparrow {Passer) in the Old World; 

 it did not originally exist in the New, so far as I know, but 

 its place is taken all over temperate S. America by the Diuca 

 Finch (i). grisea), whose white throat and light slate colouring- 

 give it a vastly different appearance — but in its attachment 

 to human habitations, its nest, and eggs, it is as much oi 

 a Sparrow as the S. African "mossie." On the other hand, 

 the S. American Song-Sparrow {ZonotricJiia pileata) resem- 

 bles the genus Passer more or less in plumage, bnt its song 

 and habits are more like those of the Chaffinch. 



In conclusion, I would suggest that in any scheme of 

 classification one should hesitate before subdividing any 

 existing species, unless very conclusive reasons exist for 

 doing so. 



It also appears to me that we have already too many 

 genera. Certain species very closely connected in habits 

 and presenting marked characteristics of one particular family 

 may vary slightly in structure, but this should not entitle 

 them to a separate genus — in fact, to the field-naturalist and 

 sportsman, who wishes to identify such species in their natural 

 haunts, it often causes some confusion. We want our local 

 lists to be of practical use, and a classification that can be 

 readily comprehended and practically applied. 



