THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
C. 7nontanus Podasocys. 
wilsoni OchtJiodrmnus. 
falklandicus ^gialitis. 
while the “ Minores ” group contained (p. 157) — 
C. cantianus Mgialitis, Catalogue of Birds. 
saTictcehelence „ 
‘pecuarius „ 
tenellus „ 
7narginatus „ 
dealhatus „ 
peroiii ,, 
ruficapilhis ,, 
nivosus „ 
collaris ,, 
occideTitalis . ,, 
Seebohm wrote : “ The form of the bill is frequently an important 
character, but in the genus Charadrius the variations are so slight that it 
is impossible to believe that they have any taxonomic value ; they are 
obviously the result of pure accident, such, for example as the nature of the 
food and the facihties for obtaining it in the various localities where the 
species have been dispersed. To unite C. geo^royi with C. Tjtnlsoni is reasonable, 
but at the same time to separate C. geoffroyi from C. 7no7igoUcus is a reductio 
ad ahsurdu7rhy which goes far to prove that in this group of birds the slight 
differences in the shape of the bill are of very recent origin, and are of no 
value whatever in determining relationship.” 
Seebohm differentiated the Sand-Plovers from the Ring-Plovers by 
means of the coloration of the tail, and such a character would obviously lead 
to disaster if blindly followed in systematic work. He also used Gould’s 
scientific name, and it is of interest in this connection to quote Gould’s own 
diagnosis and reasons for its proposal : “In accordance with the spirit of 
minute subdivision which now pervades all branches of natural science, I 
have for a long time considered that the small Plovers hitherto comprised in 
the genus Mgialitis, of which the Maticula is the type, required a further 
subdivision: I therefore propose the term above given for the JE. cantianus 
of Europe, and to associate with it the ruficapillus of Australia. There are 
many other species of the form all or nearly all of which have black bills and 
long legs, and are less banded with black than the members of the genus 
jEgialites. They have a different note, are very nimble of foot, and affect 
situations bordering the open sea.” 
110 
