132 
Mr. H. Seebohm on the Genus Scolopax. 
S. undulata. S. gigantea. 
in. in. 
Wing. 6-6± 6f-7 
Bill . 4-4^ 4|-5 
Tarsus . 1| 21- 
Middle toe . 2£ 2f 
Probably a large series of examples would show that the 
two forms completely intergrade. In both forms several of 
the outer feathers of the tail (which is supposed to consist of 
only fourteen feathers) are attenuated. 
We must now take into consideration a very important 
group of typical Snipes, the creme de la creme of the genus— 
possibly the most highly developed, because showing the 
least trace of Woodcock blood and the closest relationship 
amongst themselves. Although there are ten of them, they 
vary so little that they must be regarded as having had a 
common origin at a comparatively recent date. But perhaps 
the most remarkable fact connected with them is their 
geographical distribution, which may throw considerable 
light upon the anomalies already pointed out in the distri¬ 
bution of the Semi-Woodcocks. 
Ten species inhabit Africa south and east of the Great 
Desert; three breed in Eastern Siberia ; and the remainder 
are natives of South America, principally the south and 
west of that continent. These facts can only point to one 
conclusion—that the original colony was in East Siberia, and 
that when the Glacial epoch drove them out of that region 
some emigrated east to the west coast of South America, 
whilst others wandered westwards to the east coast of Africa. 
15. Scolopax stenura. 
Of the three East-Siberian species the Pintail Snipe is the 
smallest (wing 4*9 to 5*3 inches), with the greatest number of 
tail-feathers (twenty-four), and with the outer half-dozen or 
so on each side the most attenuated (about T inch in width). 
It breeds as far north as the Arctic Circle, from the valley of 
the Yenesay to the Pacific. It is doubtful whether it breeds 
as far south as the valley of the Amoor, but it winters in 
India, China, and the islands of the Malay Archipelago. 
