THE SCOLOPACINyE. 135 



in the hinder part (Hypsibates, Recurvirostra, Ilcematopus, Thinocorus). Such deviations from the 

 type of the family are, however, rare, and I have not met with them except in the genera just 

 mentioned. On the other hand, there is a perceptible and constant difference in the plumage of 

 the neck. In this respect, also, the genus Rlii/nclicea constitutes an exception, as it possesses a 

 ptilosis continua on the whole of the neck, has no lateral neck-space, and the inferior space only 

 just passes beyond the level of the furcula. In all the other genera there is a lateral neck-space ; 

 and this, indeed, is very distinct, as it bears few or no down-feathers. In Charadrius, Scolopax, 

 Numenius, Totanus, Limosa, Tringa, Phdaropus, and the majority of the genera, this space runs 

 almost or quite up to the head, and thus pretty completely separates the dorsal tract from the inferior 

 tract (Plate IX, figs. 9 and 10). In other genera, such as Hypsibates and Recurvirostra, it appears 

 not to extend beyond the middle of the neck, thus leaving the upper extremity continuous. With 

 this the division of the inferior tract-bands agrees to a certain extent. In no single genus does this 

 extend further up the neck than the lateral neck-space, but in many cases it is shorter. Examples 

 of this are furnished by the genera Scolopax, Tringa, Phdaropus, and Tachydromus, in which the 

 bands of the inferior tract only separate immediately in front of the furcula, whilst the lateral 

 neck-spaces reach to the head. On the other hand, however, there are examples of an equal 

 extension of these spaces, which sometimes, as in Charadrius and Numenius, reach the head, 

 sometimes only passes a little beyond the middle of the neck, as in Hypsibates, Recurvirostra* 

 Hcematopus, Chionis, Thinocorus, and Glareola. These distinctions are the only ones that struck 

 me in the numerous species of all the genera examined ; in all other respects the closest agreement 

 prevails. In the structure of the wings, moreover, although not perhaps in their form, one and 

 the same fundamental type is presented. This consists in the posterior secondaries being pretty 

 nearly of the same length as the anterior primaries, so as to give the wing a bilobed appearance. 

 The total number of remiges varies from twenty-three to thirty, but there are always ten on the 

 pinion, of which the first is the longest with but few exceptions (e.g. Scolopax). The humerus, 

 although not very long, bears rather strong paraptera, of which the upper is more acute than the 

 lower one, but consists of fewer feathers ; the latter passes on to the breast, and is connected with 

 the point of the outer branch of the inferior tract. The hindmost feathers of the generally strong 

 axillary tract exceed the paraptera in length, and in the extended state of the wing, as indeed 

 always, lie immediately within them, between them and the trunk. On the wing itself the upper 

 space is not very broad ; but the lower one is continued over the greater part of the humerus, 

 the wing-membrane, and the forearm. In the tail I usually found twelve feathers, but in 

 Rhyncheea only ten, and in some species of Scolopax more than twelve, even as many as twenty- 

 six. The moderately large oil-gland has a strong circlet of feathers on the mamilla, but never 

 more than two orifices, one in each half : the latter, however, are generally very wide. 



Considering these multifarious accordances, any special description of the genera and species 

 seems to be superfluous ; I shall therefore confine myself to mentioning those examined, and 

 referring under each to any peculiarity that may occur in it. 



1. Numenius. Very remarkable for the profound division (reminding us of the Stork-type) 

 of the anterior part of the dorsal tract : this extends far beyond the middle of the neck, but is 

 inferior in length to the lateral neck-space and inferior space, which reach to the head. I found 

 this condition in N. arquatus and tenuirostris, both of which possess thirty remiges. 



2. Rhynchcea capensis. The peculiarity of the ptilosis continua of the neck, and the absence 

 of a space in the posterior part of the dorsal tract, have already been mentioned : of the latter, 



