129 
Mr. H. Seebohm on the Genus Scolopax. 
web. The Asiatic species is distinguishable at a glance by 
the broad buff dorsal stripes, which are almost obsolete in its 
South-American allies, as well as by its smaller size (wing 
under 5f inches instead of over 6 inches). 
7. Scolopax solitaria. 
The Himalayan Solitary Snipe breeds at an elevation of 
from 10,000 to 15,000 feet, from Turkestan north-east as 
far as the Altai range, and south-east in the Himalayas as 
far as Assam, descending in autumn to winter in the lower 
valleys. Its nearest ally is scarcely more than subspecifically 
distinct from it, and probably interbreeds with it somewhere 
in South-east Siberia; but it has also a very close ally in 
£. stricklandi, which inhabits the forests of Patagonia. 
These three Semi-Woodcocks differ from the other three of 
which mention has been made in having traces of pale bars 
on the outer web of the first primary, and on both webs of 
some of the inner primaries and secondaries. They are 
further distinguished by the almost entire absence of bars 
on the centre of the belly. The Himalayan Solitary Snipe 
may be distinguished by its pure white lower breast. 
8. Scolopax solitaria japonica. 
The Japanese Solitary Snipe breeds in Northern Japan, 
and probably in South-eastern Siberia as far east as Lake 
Baikal. It winters in China, though a few remain all the 
year round in Yezo. It has hitherto been generally con¬ 
founded with the preceding species, the synonymy of the 
two forms being still more confused. The Scolopax hiemalis 
of Eversmann (Bull. Soc. Mosc. 1845, p. 257, pi. vi.), from 
the Altai Mountains, is unquestionably the Himalayan bird. 
The Gallinago japonica of Bonaparte (Compt. Bend. 1856, 
p. 715) is apparently a nomen nudum without description of any 
kind,and may belong to any of the half-dozen Snipes of Japan. 
It therefore must be allowed to drop altogether out of the 
synonymy, leaving the coast perfectly clear for the adoption 
of Swinhoe's Gallinago japonica (Ibis, 1873, p. 364), of 
which the type is now in my collection. The differences be- 
