502 



SCOLOPAX. 



the sifting process of protective selection. The resuU of this is shown in the small range 

 of variation in colour between the species. S. <sqiiatorialis and S. cldlensis are probably 

 the least changed descendants of the common ancestors of S. gallinago and 8. major in the 

 Old World, and of S. loilsoni in the New World, which were probably residents on the 

 tundras near the Polar Basin before the Post-Pliocene Glacial Epoch drove them south. 



* * 

 * 



Typical Woodcocks. 



SCOLOPAX RUSTICOLA. 



WOODCOCK. 



Diagnosis. Scolopax rentricum apicibus siibti!is colore argenteo : primariarum pogoniis internis fasciatis ; 

 pectoris pennis omnibus fasciatis. 



Yariations. It is said that examples from the Azores are smaller than usual, but I have not seen a 

 sufficient number from those islands to form an opinion. 



Synonymy. Scolopax rusticola, Linneus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 146 (1758) ; Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 243 (1766). 



Scolopax scolopax, Brisson, Oin. v. p. 292 (1760). 

 Rusticola vulgaris, Vieillut, N. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. iii. p. 348 (1816). 



