494 Certain Characters in Charadriine qenera. [Ibis, 



B. In like niannor the Scolopacine branch divides into 

 four secondary branches — the Plialaropinaj, Trin- 

 gina?, Eroliinre, and Scolopacina?, the last being 

 represented as springing from the Eroliina? and 

 the first from near the commencement of the 

 Scolopacina?, the wliole being embraced under 

 the family Scolopacidre. 



(2) The Latio-LimicoltE, the second of my three subonlers 



into which the order Charadriiformes divides, con- 

 sists of the following families : — Glareolidre, Chio- 

 nidas, and Dromadida^ ; the Stercorariida^, Sternidcie, 

 Rhyncopidre, and Larida? ; and finallyj the Alcida?. 

 The various branches are depicted in the genealogical 

 tree as l)eing arranged in their probable closeness of 

 affinity to the Charadriida.^ or probably, to be more 

 correct, in an ascending order of specialisation away 

 from the Limicola3, the less specialised modern 

 representatives of the old Charadriiform types being 

 here regarded as represented by the Eroliina; and 

 Tringinre. 



(3) The Oti-Limicol.^. — As I am awaiting embryological 



and other material, I have no remarks to offer as yet 

 upon this most difficult group. I have provisionally 

 placed the ffidicnemida," alongside the Otidid;o in 

 such a way as to suggest convergent evolution, but the 

 colour-pattern in the nestling suggests affinity with 

 Htvmatopus or a derivation from a common ancestor. 

 Moreover, I am not yet convinced that the Otididae 

 are gruiform birds, so that it is possible that they 

 may eventually find a permanent resting place in my 

 Oti-Limicolpe. 



As regards Thinornis and Phegornis, I am, while awaiting 

 further material, reluctant to commit myself, but I lean 

 strongly to the opinion that they sprang from the Limicoline 

 stem before that stem had divided into its Pluvialine and 

 Scolopacine branches, and that it may therefore be eventually 

 found impossible to include them in either the Oharadriidse 



