198 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



The order Charadriformes is held to include the Crypt ari 

 (40 species), Gallium (310), Grallce (150), Limicolce (280), Gavice 

 (200), Procellaridce (100), Impennes (20). The suborder Limicolce 

 comprises eight families ; viz. Pteroclidce, Tumicidce, Thinocoridce, 

 Dromadidce, Charadriidce, Otidce, Parridce, and Chionidce, the 

 number of Charadriidce being 192 species. 



Although the writer's views on classification may not be 

 generally acceptable, it is only fair to remark that his exposition 

 of them affords evidence of a due consideration of those of 

 Parker, Garrod, Forbes, and Newton, references to whose papers 

 are furnished in the text. 



The second chapter explains Mr. Seebohm's theory (already 

 broached in ' The Ibis' for 1887), — that the Charadriidce originated 

 on the shores of the Arctic Ocean, exemplifying the laws of Evolu- 

 tion, with special reference to teleological variation. Mr. Romanes' 

 theory of " Physiological Isolation," which is discussed and 

 rejected as untenable in the third chapter, paves the way for 

 Mr. Seebohm's conjectures as to the part played by glacial epochs 

 in the subsequent dispersal of types. As regards the successive 

 " ice ages," Mr. Seebohm admits that their dates are at most a 

 matter of mere " guess-work." In any case his views rest on 

 the calculations of Dr. Croll, which, though received on all hands 

 with respect and deference, have not by any means become generally 

 accepted. Mr. Seebohm's suggestion, that the Polar species were 

 driven south by ice, is at least plausible on its own merits ; but 

 we fail to understand his assurance that the primitive type of the 

 Charadriidce acquired migratory habits prior to the earliest of the 

 supposed glacial epochs, i. e. without any hypothesis suggesting 

 the necessity or advantage of such migration. In Chapter V. the 

 author dwells upon the extent to which the Charadriidce perform 

 long journeys, pointing out that their double annual moult is due 

 to the necessity of repairing feathers which have become abraded 

 by long use and exposure. 



Mr. Seebohm's experiences of migration at Heligoland are 

 already well known, nor is any new information on this point 

 added in the present chapter, excepting a neat table of observa- 

 tions on certain Limicolce made by Herr Gatke in 1885, showing 

 that the migration of these birds continues even during the depth 

 ofwinter. 



In Chapter VII. Mr. Seebohm states his opinion that the 



