WET-M Y-FOOT—WHA UP 1033 
(Proc. Zool. Soc. 1869, p. 431) to Ocydromus, and has certainly some 
resemblance thereto (¢f. Layard, bis, 1882, p. 535). Subsequently 
placed by Gray in Lulabeornis (Brenchley, Cruise of the ‘ Curacoa,’ 
pl. xxi.), Dr. Sharpe has more recently proposed for it a distinct genus 
Tricholimnas. Akin to Ocydromus must have been Diaphorapteryz, a 
recently extinct form made known by Mr. H. O. Forbes from one 
of the Chatham Islands, where its bones were found in plenty. 
He at first referred it to the Mauritian genus Aphanapteryx 
(EXTERMINATION, p. 217), but subsequently (Nature, xlv. p. 416) 
separated it therefrom, a course which has been justified by Prof. 
Milne-Edwards (Ann. Sc. Nat. ser. 8, ii. pp. 117-136, pls. xi.-xv.),? 
and Mr. Andrews (Novit. Zool. 1896, pp. 73-84, pl. iii.).2 There is 
a curious analogy between the two forms, but the latter, which was 
mentioned by Herbert, and is the Poule rouge of some of the old 
writers, had a slender head, a long bill, and tall, thin legs, while the 
head of Diaphorapteryx is large, and its bill and legs shorter and 
stouter in comparison, so that the appearance of the two birds must 
have been very unlike. 
The chief interest attaching to the Ocydromes is their inability 
to use in flight the wings with which they are furnished, and hence 
an extreme probability of the form becoming wholly extinct in a 
short time.*? It is to be hoped that the naturalists of New Zealand 
will not allow this to happen if any effectual means can be taken to 
perpetuate it; but, should that fate be inevitable, it at least behoves 
the present generation to see that every possible piece of information 
concerning the birds be recorded, and every possible preparation 
illustrating their structure be made, while yet there is time ; for, 
though much has been written on the subject, it is obvious from 
one of the latest papers (Trans. N. Z. Inst. x. p. 213) that there is 
still more to be learned, some of which may throw further light on 
the affinities of the extinct genus Aptornis (pages 286, 592, note). 
WET-MY-FOOT, or -LIPS, names for the QuAIL (page 754), in 
imitation of its call-note. 
WHALE-BIRD, a sailors’ name for PETRELS of the genus 
PRION (pages 34, 742). 
WHAUP, formerly Quhaip, Dutch /Vulp, the common name in 
Scotland for the Long-billed CURLEW, and there accounted “uncanny” 
or a bird of ill-omen.* 
1 This memoir was read to the Zoological Congress at Leyden, Sept. 1895. 
2 I wholly concur in the general conclusions reached by this gentleman, based 
as they are on those of Dr. Gadow (Thier-retch, Vogel, ii. p. 101). 
3 Of this inability there are other instances among the Rallidx (see Moor-HEN, 
p- 590) ; but here we have coupled with it the curious fact that in the skeleton 
the angle which the scapula makes with the coracoid is greater than a right angle, 
a peculiarity shared only, so far as is known, among the Carinatz by the Dovo. 
4 The call of the Whaup brings melancholy associations to many people, who, 
