738 Mr. D. A. Bannermaii on the [Ibis, 



Family CharadriiD/E.* 



Scolopax rusticola. Woodcock. 



Scolupax rusticola Linn. Syst. Nat. lOtli ed. 1758, p. 146 

 — Type locality : Sweden. 



It is difficult to judge without more evidence whether the 

 Woodcock in the Canary Islands should be classed a Resident 

 species or a Partial Resident. Until we have proof to the 

 contrary I prefer to include it under the former heading. 



Hah. in Archipelago. 



Western Gronp : Tenerife, Palma, Goruera. 



Obs. It is impossible to tell whether any migration of 

 this species in the Canary Archipelago takes place. I am 

 inclined to believe that the birds inhabiting the western 

 group of islands are isolated birds which have ceased to 

 have any connection with the continent, but in this I may 

 be quite wrong. The Woodcock is a highly migratory 

 species in other parts of the world and has an extensive 

 range, but up to the present there is no evidence whatsoever 

 that migration takes place in the Canaries. Meade-Waldo 

 wrote of this species (Ibis, 1893, p. 204) : " It is hard to say 



* When we come to deal with the Wading Birds which pass through 

 the Canary Islar.ds on niio-ration, we tind.tliat it is almost impossible, 

 from the very meagre data available, to determine whether a species 

 should be considered strictly a Bird of Pas^-^age (?". e., occurring regularly 

 on migration every year) or whether it is more accurately placed amongst 

 the Occasional Visitors. 



In almost ever}- cat-e when there is insufficient data to show that a 

 species passes through the Archipelago annually in spring and autunni, 

 I have placed this species amongst the Occasional Visitors, although 

 when referring to the Waders the term "Occasional Bird of Passage" 

 might better express their status, as they are for the most part genuine 

 migrants and not chance visitors. This, I maintain, is far the safer plan, 

 as there will be no danger of drawing the erroneous conclusion that such 

 and such a species passes regularly through the Canary group until the 

 fact has been proved, and this can only be done by systematic observation 

 over a term of years. 



Further observation will assuredly necessitate the transference of 

 many of the Charadriida? from the group which I have termed Occasional 

 Visitors to the group of regular migrants Avhich I have termed Birds of 

 Passage (see Part 1. p. 98). 



