THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
been a general reluctance on the part of ornithologists with regard to 
recognizing these divisions. It may be that in this group Nature allows 
more external variation in forms very closely alhed than is usual : but until 
this is proved to be the case, it seems necessary, to keep pace with the progress 
of ornithology, to consider the characters of the different sections as of fuU 
generic value.”* 
This dictum has been commonly recognised by accurate workers, but while 
accepting very Hmited genera in the smaller Waders, these have just as 
consistently rejected better-marked genera among these larger ones. 
Thus, upon examination, I find that the Curlew group, as above restricted, 
can be accurately defined and separated from the “ Whimbrels ” without 
taking into consideration the coloration of the head. 
The bird known as the Thinbilled Curlew does not enter into the genus 
Numenius but would come closer to the Whimbrels. In coloration however 
it approaches the former, but is separable from both by its long legs and 
small feet. I propose for it the genus-name ZARAPITA, nov. : Type, 
N. tenuirostris Vieillot. 
The Whimbrels, commonly so called, are easily separated by their 
smaller size and the head-coloration. It appears to have been overlooked 
that the structural proportions are quite different in these and in the Curlews, 
and I propose to emphasise them by tabulating the differences : — 
Numenius : bill longer than half the 
wing. 
Numenius : bill longer than tail. 
Numenius : bill longer than meta- 
tarsus and middle toe together. 
Numenius : tail shorter than meta- 
tarsus and middle toe together. 
Numenius : middle toe about or less 
than half the metatarsus. 
Phoeo'pus : shorter. 
Phceopus : shorter. 
Phoeo'pus : shorter. 
PhcBopus : longer. 
PhcBopus : middle toe more than 
half the metatarsus. 
In every detail except coloration and the last item, N. tenuirostris agrees with 
Phoeopus : as however the long legs and short toes— the latter being much 
less than half the metatarsus are distinctive, it seems absolutely necessary 
to recognise this aberrant form as worthy of generic separation. The species 
Numenius minutus^ seems to have reaUy httle affinity with any of the 
previously -mentioned forms, and Sharpe was fuUy justified in introducing the 
genus Mesoscolopax for it alone. It is also suggested that Seebohm’s reference 
to Bartramia will solve the problem of its relationship. The character of the 
* Froe. Acad. Nat, Sci. (Philad,) 1861, pp. 170, 205. 
168 
