126 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol IV. 



of Australia, viz., the distinction between the Woodcocks and 

 Snipes. Lowe in his second paper practically admitted this, 

 but Oberholser overlooked it, and consequently there is still 

 need for rearrangement. Superficially the differences are 

 well marked and, of course, the internal structure confirms 

 the observed items. Reference to the downy young plumage 

 mentioned by Lowe shows a clear and easy clue to the arrange- 

 ment desired. It seems that a close study of the plumage 

 changes from the egg to the breeding adults would practically 

 solve all the problems present. Owing to the fact that series 

 of eggs and downy young are not yet available, a complete 

 and exact arrangement cannot be provided. The present note 

 will assist in removing some errors and indicate the means 

 of correcting others. 



The downy young of Pelidna (i.e. Erolia Lowe errore) are 

 characterised by a pecuharly coloured down which has been 

 described as " spangled " with white dots, and we may retain 

 this term. 



This spanghng is very distinctive, and is seen in the young 

 of the Ruff, Sanderhng, Dunhn, Curlew -Sandpiper, Little 

 Stint, Broad-billed Sandpiper, and Knot, of which species the 

 Ruff has never recently been lumped in with the remainder 

 on account of its size, form and ornament, while the Sander- 

 ling has always been marked as generically distinct on 

 account of the lack of the hind-toe. However, as is well 

 known, this spanghng is a prominent feature of the Snipe, so 

 that phylogeneticaUy that must be ranked in the series. We 

 have here then a remarkable feature common to a series of 

 downy nestlings whose adults are easily and consistently 

 regarded as distinct genera. If we believe in evolution at all, 

 this series constitutes a natural group, and should be so 

 considered whatever value we allot to the group. 



A very distinct style of plumage, showing no spanghng 

 but an indistinct striped serial marking, is seen in the downy 

 young of the Redshank, Dusky Redshank, Greenshank, 

 Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and Terek Sandpiper. 

 These downy nesthngs are so alike that we have not yet 

 seen well-marked differences, in the few yet available, to 



