266 



THE ZOOLOGIST. 



the syrinx of the Jack-Snipe has not yet been described or 

 figured. 



It is difficult to describe the syringes in the two birds, but 

 as both are accessible the interested reader can readily examine 

 them for himself when the occasion arises. Briefly, the syrinx 

 of the Jack-Snipe is twice as broad as that of the Common 

 Snipe, and is totally different in shape. In the former bird the 

 bronchidestnus is narrow, in the other it is wide ; the Common 

 Snipe possesses a semi-lunar membrane, the other bird has none. 

 I hasten to add that I do not believe the syrinx to be the organ 

 of voice ; the modern English opinion has no other basis 

 than the mere assertion of one or two old anatomists, and there 



Syrinx of — a, Jack Snipe ; b, Common Snipe. Muscles figured black. 



are several very serious objections to accepting this opinion.* I 

 can recommend the dissection of the "vocal organs" of the 

 Turnstone as a disquieting business to those who hold without 

 question the views of Cuvier or Owen. 



No one can deny that these two Snipe resemble one another 

 very closely to all except expert eyes. I should think that few 

 outside the ranks of sportsmen and professed ornithologists 

 could state offhand the differences between the two birds, and I 

 have a vivid recollection of the time when I could not always 



* On this point a paper by J. M. W. Kitchen on the " Function of the 

 Inferior Larynx" ('Auk,' ii. 24-31) might be consulted. 



