128 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. IV. 



Now, as to the subfamily names to be used. We cannot 

 understand how there can be a type genus of a family when 

 we have no basis of priority in group names. We arrange 

 and rearrange the genera and species and utilise names of 

 different values, but we do not fix types for these groupings, 

 nor do we amend the names to suit the groups. There has 

 been enough trouble in nomenclatural realms through attempts 

 at type fixation of genera, without suggesting similar useless 

 research and care in the recognition of higher group names. 

 Oberholser has not studied the question deeply or he would 

 never have advocated such a matter. Many of the names 

 now accepted would need adjustment, so that we have con- 

 cluded all names above the rank of genera should be based 

 on the oldest genus name in the group. In this way the 

 oldest genus is generally the type genus, but we don't know 

 how that has been reached. Consequently we arrive at the 

 following grouping : 



Family SCOLOPACIDiE. 



Subfamily Cahdritinae == Canutinse Oberholser = Eroliinse 



Lowe. 

 Subfamily Tringinse — Numeniinse Oberholser = Tringinse 



Lowe. 



Subfamily Scolopacinse = id., Oberholser and Lowe (partly 

 only) 



The American genera referable to the first named would be 

 as given by Oberholser for Canutinse with the rejection of 

 Limosa and the addition of Gallinago. 



To the second, the Numeniinse Oberholser, would he added 

 Limosa ; while the last named would comprise Scolopax and 

 Philohela only as North American representatives, but as 

 extra-limital forms would include Neoscolopax, Coenocorypha, 

 and the South American Chubbia and Ho^noscolopax, and 

 probably Neospilura and Parascolopax, the last four genera 

 having been proposed for Gallinago stricklandi Gray, G. 

 imperialis Sclater, Scolopax solitaria Hodgson and Scolopax 

 saturata Hodgson respectively. 



