81 [Vol. xxix. 



'^ In the African species {G. cequntorialis), and more so 

 in the Eastern Asiatic species (G, solitaria, G. australis, and 

 G. me ffala), this, specialisation has become still more marked, 

 and reaches its climax in the Pin-tailed. Snipe {G. stenura). 

 In that species there are a variable number of feathers (gene- 

 rally sixteen) in the tail^ Avhich have become so attenuated 

 that the shaft has become more or less bereft of all rami 

 and radii. Thus, being shorn of their strings, so to speak, 

 only the frame remains. 



" From Taczanowski and Alan Ovvston we have good 

 accounts of the breeding-habits of G. solitaria and G. aus- 

 tralis ; and they perform in much the same manner as the 

 Common Snipe, but the 'bleat Ms of a higher pitch and is 

 much louder. 



" Of the breeding-habits of G. stenura little appears to be 

 known. Buturlin says it spreads its tail in the same manner, 

 but that in rushing through the air no sound is produced"^. 

 This statement is confirmed by my experiments, in which I 

 was unable to produce any sounds with these feathers. So 

 in this species specialisation has proceeded to such an extent 

 as to defeat the object for which these feathers were created. 



" When we turn to the Woodcocks, we find that both the 

 European and American species have remarkable nuptial 

 displays. 



" Of the European species [Scolopax rusticula) I will not 

 say much. This bird does not possess specialised feathers 

 in either its wings or tail, and, to my mind, the sounds it 

 emits are undoubtedly vocal. 



"But in the American species {Philohela minor) there is 

 a totally diff'erent condition of aff'airs. This bird has a most 

 elaborate and characteristic nuptial flight, which has been 

 well, and poetically, described by Mr. Frank Chapman. 



* [Prjevalsky has published an interesting article on this species 

 under the name Gallinago heterocera [cf. Rowley's Orn. Misc. iii. p. 91 

 (1878)]. He says that the Pintailed Snipe dashes downwards with 

 great noise, which he believed was produced by the tail-feathers. — Ed.] 



