144 Mr. H. Seebohm on the Genus Scolopax. 
In conclusion, one question suggests itself as a necessary 
corollary to these curious facts of the geographical distribu¬ 
tion of the Snipes. What connection can be traced between 
them and the Zoological Regions into which the world has 
been divided by Sclater and Wallace? The only reply that 
can be honestly given is :—none at all! The fact is that the 
so-called Zoological Regions are not zoological. They are 
fairly accurate as regards the distribution of the Mammals ; 
somewhat more so in relation to Passerine Birds, and some¬ 
what less so in relation to true Reptiles. For Fishes and 
Batrachians we are told that an entirely different set of 
Regions have had to be invented, and tljese appear to be 
much more applicable to Non-passerine Birds than those 
usually adopted. 
The geographical distribution of Scolopax appears to be 
somewhat anomalous from either point of view. The Painted 
Snipes are confined to the Equatorial Southern Zone, and 
are found in each of its four Regions,-—the Indian, the 
African, the Tropical American, and the Australian Regions. 
The Woodcocks are also found in the Northern Zone, but 
those inhabiting the Europeo-Asiatic Region and the eastern 
half of the North-American Region appear to form one 
group, whilst the other is found only in the south-east of 
the Indian and the north-west of the Australian Regions. 
The range of the Semi-Woodcocks being confined to the 
Himalayas and the Andes, with outlying species in Japan, 
and in Auckland Island, south of New Zealand, would be most 
complicated if expressed in terms of either system of Regions. 
The typical Snipes are only absent during the breeding-season 
from the Oriental and Australian Regions; but it is worthy 
of note that the only species found in the Nearctic Region 
finds its nearest ally in the Palaearctic Region, whilst some 
of the Snipes of the Ethiopian Region are doubtfully distinct 
from some of those of the Neotropical Region. The final 
conclusion to be arrived at appears to be that the Snipes 
recognize to a considerable extent the Regions of Gunther 
and Boulenger, but are lamentably ignorant of those pro¬ 
pounded by Sclater and Wallace. 
