SNIPES AND WOODCOCKS. 
Hodgson and G. solitaria Hodgson, wliicli also show peculiar structural features. 
The former has a very deep bill, resembling that of a Woodcock but really 
that of a Snipe, while other characters are all typically Snipe-hke ; the latter 
has a typical Snipe-hke biU, but legs like those of a Woodcock and a pecuhar 
tail. All the remaining species have a general resemblance to G. gallinago, 
but all show more or less modification in their tails. 
The group — as a whole so well marked off from all the other Wading 
birds, that Seebohm classed them all under Scolopax with the diagnosis : 
“ Charadriine birds with the bill twice as long as the tarsus and the toes cleft 
to the base” — would repay the earnest student for prolonged study. The 
question as to the relative value of coloration versus structural characters 
would receive an impetus from the result o^ this study, obtained by an 
unbiassed student. Seebohm’s conclusions aU show the prejudice against 
all structural features, while more recent ornithologists have shown just 
as much prejudice against the use of coloration. 
In the group left, after eliminating the species above named, little 
differences are seen in the coloration and general structure until the tail 
is examined, and then we obtain very extraordinary results. The tail- 
feathers of S. gallinago Linne are fourteen in number, those of G. stenura 
Bonaparte are twenty-six, but because the coloration and size and other 
structural features show httle differences, these two birds are considered 
congeneric by authors who generically separate 8. galUnula Limie, where 
the external structural differences are less marked ; the tail being composed of 
twelve feathers. Study of the skeleton and other internal features of this latter 
species have ehcited differences which appear deep seated. The logical con- 
clusion would be the recognition of all species as generically distinct which 
show marked external differences. The argument is simple. We have 
here to deal with a group of ancient hneage, whose coloration is shown to 
be so fixed that it is little liable to variation, and that in many instances 
structural alterations can be brought about without change in colour. Two 
courses only are open : the absolute rejection of structural characters and 
the usage of colour solely, or the acceptance of structural features co- 
ordinate with colour-variation. The latter course necessitates the acceptance 
of many genera — but so does the former, if faithfully carried out. The 
peculiar idiosyncrasies of the writers who have hitherto dealt with this 
group have left their mark upon the present classification, as by no method 
of logical reasoning can either Seebohm’s or Sharpe’s classification be 
implicitly accepted. 
I am here attempting to dehmit the groups, taking into consideration 
the structural characters, and also giving fuU value to the coloration 
289 
