85 [Vol. XXXV. 



such a form occurred^ and say in our opinion this is a sub- 

 species of such-and-such a bird on that island, but in many- 

 cases it was impossible to say even this, as the series is not 

 complete from all the islands. 



Mr. W. P. Pycraft : I think in using " colour-pattern '^ 

 females and young should be regarded as indicative o£ phylo- 

 geny rather than the males, which indicate the present-day 

 standard of evolution. That, I think, Dr. Lowe has brought 

 out. By Dr. Lowe's system the Jack-Snipe, both in the 

 nestling and adult coloration, would have to be included in one 

 and the same genus with the Common Snipe. If, however, 

 structural characters be taken, like the syrinx and sternum, it 

 will be found that the Jack-Snipe is markedly different from 

 the Common Snipe. The question here then is, which 

 factors are you going to adopt ? Are you going to take the 

 deeper-seated and morphological characters, or the nestling- 

 down and the adult coloration ? Of course, one would 

 find many such cases where it would be difficult to decide, 

 unless it is agreed that the deeper-seated and morphological 

 characters are the olderr and safer guides. 



The next Meeting of the Club, which will be held on Wednes- 

 day, the 10th of March, 1915, at PAQANI'S RESTAUEANT, 

 42-48 Great Portland Street, W., will be devoted to a show 

 of Lantern-slides j the Dinner at 6.45 p.m. Members of the 

 Club intending to dine are particularly requested to inform 

 Dr. P. R. Lowe, at 27 Ormonde Gate, Chelsea, S.W. 



The Annual General Meeting of the British Ornithologists' 

 Union will be held on the same day (10th of March), and the 

 Annual Dinner of the B. 0. U. will take place conjointly with 

 that of the B. 0. C. 



(Signed) 

 W, Rothschild, D. A. Bannerman, P. R. Lowe, 



Chairman. Editor. Sec. Sf Treas^ 



