1901.] COMMON AND JACK SNIPES. 601 



structure of the avian syrinx, but it is so far a valid distinction 

 between the two species of Snipe. The protuberance of this part 

 of the syrinx is further increased by the considerable development 

 of the intrinsic syringeal muscles. In Gallinago coslestis these 

 muscles are thin and narrow slips, which are attached to the 

 membranous interA^al between the first two syringeal rings ; these 

 band-like muscles are so slightly marked that they are not visible 

 in a badly preserved syrinx of that bird which I have in my 

 possession. 



G. gallinula shows the greatest contrast in these muscles. In 

 the first place, it has distinctly two pairs of intrinsic muscles. 

 I do not think that the existence of two pairs of intrinsic syringeal 

 muscles has been recorded in any other genus of Limicoline birds. 

 In any case it is certain that the majority of the genera have either 

 a single pair only of intrinsic muscles, or that these muscles are 

 entirely absent. This comparatively complex musculature of 

 G. gallinula is to be seen in the accompanying drawing (text-fig. 69, 

 p. 600), which represents a lateral view of the syrinx. It will be 

 noticed from that drawing that the most purely lateral in position 

 of the two muscles is the larger and that it spreads out in a fan- 

 shaped way at its insertion. Which of the two muscles corre- 

 sponds to the single one of G. coelestis does not seem to be so 

 certain ; but I am inclined to regard the larger of the two muscles 

 as the one. The other muscle lies more posteriorly. 



Now of all the features that have been dwelt upon in comparing 

 G. coelestis and G. gallinula, the syrinx of Scolopax rusiicida most 

 nearly resembles that of the Common Snipe, G. coelestis. I need 

 not enter into details since the drawings illustrating a former 

 paper ^ clearly show the closeness of the correspondence '. 



The few points with which I have dealt in the present communi- 

 cation obviously reopen the question of generic separation among 

 the members of this large genus Scolopax or subfamily Scolopacinse^. 

 Mr. Seebohm stands at the one extreme of ornithological opinion, 

 since he includes all the 23 species of Snipe and Woodcock in the 

 genus Scolopaoc, though admitting possible subgeneric divisions. 

 On the other hand, many persons separate Gallinago (Snipe) from 

 Scolopaw (Woodcock), while others retain Limnocryptes for the 

 Jack Snipe and still further subdivide generically the remaining 

 members of the group. 



So little is known at the present time concerning the anatomy 

 of the numerous species of birds which are undoubtedly Snipes or 

 Woodcocks, that it is really premature to attempt any final settle- 

 ment of the question. I have not attempted to prejudge it in the 

 foregoing pages, and have therefore used Gallinago for the Snipes, 



1 Above, p. 589. 



' Since reading this paper I find that it is only the male Jack Snipe which 

 has the more complex ayrinx ; the syrinx of the female is like that of the male 

 Cr. coelestis, and with but a single pair of slender muscles. 



^ From which Mhainclima iis of course to be removed. 



