492 Mr. P. R. Lowe oa the Signi/icanee of certain [Ibis, 



in which are depicted species, typical in each ease of the 

 Pre-Charadriina?, ( -haradriina^, and Vanellinpe. 



Tlie relative position and rank o£ the genera Aphriza, 

 Arenaria, and Htematopus have always been a source of 

 difficulty and a stumbling block in attempting a classi- 

 fication of the Charadriida^. Their inclusion, along with 

 Leucopolius and Squatarola, in my Pre-(Jharadriin9e seems 

 not only to be indicated on the score of their general 

 morphological similarity, but their generalised characters 

 would appear to tit in with a Pre-Cliaradriine picture. 

 There can be no doubt that they are not Scolopacine. On 

 the other hand they are certainly not typical Plovers of the 

 Clharadriine or Vanelline group. 



In order to more clearly indicate the relative position, 

 constitution, and restiictions of my family Charadriidse, 

 it may perhaps be advisable to state that, so far as in- 

 vestigations have carried mo at present, I regard the order 

 Charadriiformos as dividing into three main branches (see 

 text-fig. 12) or suborders, viz. : — 



(1) The Limicol{B = Charadriiformes in which the basi- 



pterygoid processes persist in the adult. 



(2) The Laro-Limicola3 = Charadriiformes in which the 



basiptei-ygoid processes are lost in the adult. 



(3) The Oti-Limicolae (ffidicnemidee). 



(1) LiMiCOLyE, — In the construction of the accompanying- 

 genealogical tree (page 493) my Limicoline nmin 

 branch is represented as dividing into a Pluvialine 

 and a Scolopacine secondary branch. 

 A. The Pluvialine division again divides into the Chara- 

 driina3 and Vanelliutc, while the subfamilies 

 Pre-Oharadriinse, Lobivanellinse, Jacanina?, and 

 Hhynchaiinse spring diicctly from the Pluvialine 

 branch (the Pre-Oharadriinre ranging themselves 

 alongside the Charadriinpe, and the Lobivanellina.% 

 Jacanina?, and Rhynchpeinaj on the side of the 

 Vanellinse). All six subfamilies are embraced 

 under the family Charadriidse. 



