the genus. 



314 IBIDOEHTNCHUS. 



Synonymy of the Oenus Ibidorhynchus. 



Type. 

 Ibidorhynchaj Vigors, Proc. Comm. Sc. and Corr. Zool. Soc. i. p. 174 (1830) . I. struthersi. 



Chlorhyachus, Hodgson, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. iv. p. 701 (1835) I. struthersi. 



Falcirostra, Severtzow, Turkest. Jevotn. p. 146 (1873) 1. struthersi. 



The fact that the Ibis-billed Oystercatcher was independently discovered by three 

 ornithologists in different regions is the only excuse for the existence of a synonymy of 

 the genus. 



As it only contains one species there can be no dispute as to the type. 

 Origin of The fact that the Ibis-billed Oystercatcher is a resident in Central Asia may be 



explained in two ways. It may have been driven into its present quarters by the Pre-Pliocene 

 Glacial Epoch, and have remained there ever since, in which case it is entitled to full 

 generic rank ; or it may be the present representative of a party of the ancestors of the 

 various species of Hcematopiis which escaped from the Polar Basin during the coming on of 

 the Post-Pliocene Glacial Epoch, and, being unable to find a sea-shore, was obliged to 

 modify itself to its novel environment or suffer the penalty of extermination. In the latter 

 case it ought only to claim subgeneric rank. The fact that it fills up a rather important 

 gap in the area of distribution of the genus Hcematopus is a slight argument in favour of 

 the latter view. Sundevall's opinion that it is nearest related to the genera Bhynchcea and 

 Numenius is almost as absurd as the association of the Pratincoles with the Swallows by 

 Linneus. 



The genus Ibidorhynchus also agrees with Hcematopus in belonging to the Temperate 

 Region. 



IBIDORHYNCHUS STRUTHERSI. 



IBIS-BILLED OYSTEBCATCHER. 

 Diagnosis, Ibidorhynchus rostro pedibusque rubris. 



Synonymy. Ibidorhyncha struthersii, Vigors, Proceedings of the Committee of Science and Correspondence of 



the Zoological Society, i. p. 174 (1830). 

 Chlorhynchus strophiatus, Hodgson, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. iv. p. 701 (1835). 

 Numenius struthersii {Vigors), Schlegel, Mas. Pays-Bas, Scolopaces, p. 103 (1864). 

 Falcirostra kaufmanni, ") „ 

 Falcirostra longipes, / ^''''''°^> Murkest. Jevotn. p. 146 (1873) . 



