201 



Pig, .;. ScolopaA (Telmatias) Jrenata, lllig. 



M 



Fig. 4. Scolopux (Telmatieu) javerui*. 



Fig. 5. Scolopax (Telmatias) major, L. 



Fig. 6. Scolopax {Philolimnos, Brehm) gallinula, L. 



The structure of the tail-feathers in the last-named species differs 

 considerably from that of the others ; it gives upon experiment no 

 humming sound ; and all the feathers of the tail are, as in Scolopax 

 rusticola, formed pretty much like one another. 



If it be considered desirable to divide the Linnean genus Scolopax 

 into subgenera, 1 should propose to class those together which have 

 musical feathers in the tail, under the name Odura. 



The interesting discovery recorded in the above paper was first an- 

 nounced by M. Mcves in an account of the birds observed by him- 

 self during a visit to the island of Gottland in the summer of the 

 year lN.">ft, which account appeared in a publication of the Vetens- 

 kaps Akademi at Stockholm the following winter. 



In the succeeding summer M. Meves kindly showed me his expe- 

 riments. The mysterious noise of the wilderness was reproduced in 

 a little room in the middle of Stockholm. First the deep bleat now 

 shown to proceed from the male Snipe, and thru the fainter bleal 

 of the female, both most strikingly true to nature, neither producible 

 with anv other feathers than the outer ones of the tail. 



