Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries THE LITERATURE THE CHARADRIIFORMES Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries 3733. z THE LITERATURE OF -vfS 7 THE CHARADRIIFORMES / FROM 1894-1924 WITH A CLASSIFICATION OF THE ORDER, AND LISTS OF THE GENERA, SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES BY GEORGE C. LOW, M.A., M.D., M.R.C.P., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U H. F. cSf G. WITHERBY 326 HIGH HOLBORN, W.C. 1 1924 Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries MANUFACTURED IN GREAT BRITAIN Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries PREFACE Some explanation is necessary for the production of a work such as this. Always interested in the old group of the Limicolse, the author, three years ago, acting on the advice of Dr. Percy R. Lowe, began a detailed study of the order Charadriiformes. Up to 1896 the literature of the subject had been fully dealt with by R. Bowdler Sharpe in his catalogue of the Limicolse in the collection of the British Museum (Vol. XXIY, 1896), but after that date, apart from the Zoological Records, no one had dealt with it in detail. It was felt then that it would be a good plan to bring the literature of the group (excluding oology) up to date, and so this work originated. In order to make the records as complete as possible an overlap of two years was allowed. With the completion of 1923 a period of thirty years has been covered. It soon became evident that such a study involved one in many other side issues, the chief of these being the question of classification and nomenclature—subjects upon which no two authorities agree and upon which controversy rages continuously. Some system of classification had to be adopted in order to place the references correctly, and the catalogue of the Limicolse in the British Museum (Vol. XXIV) was taken as the standard. These notes may be looked upon, then, as a continuation of the literature found there, and in addition the bringing of the genera'and species up to date. As regards classification there are two schools or extremes, namely, those who unite many genera into one, the so-called " lumpers," while others practically make all species genera, the so-called " splitters." There is little or no likelihood of ^ y Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries ('! ' vi PREFACE ever harmonizing these two extremes, and the safest line to follow is the middle one—a happy mean between the two. More advantage perhaps might have been taken of the creation of subgenera in trying to solve some of the many difficulties of this nomenclatural maze. Then again, the day of the subspecies with trinomial nomenclature has appeared and this still further complicates the situation, as a lumper of genera may be a splitter of species and all sorts of combinations become possible. As regards the second heading, nomenclature, the strict application of the Rules of Zoological Nomenclature is helping to unravel and simplify things very much, and the various Committees of the British Ornithologists' Union have rendered yeoman service in trying to harmonize names and make order out of chaos. Still, even to-day, one is constantly seeing both generic and specific names wrongly used and spelt, in fact in every journal one picks up. The question of classification is dealt with in Chapter I and need not hinder us longer here. As regards the use of names the strict application of the Rules of Zoological Nomenclature has been adhered to, and it is hoped that most—if not all—of those used are now correct. The names of the founders of the different genera have not been given as these can be got in Gray's Hand List of the Genera of Birds, or in any of the standard works which deal with this subject. The names of the creators of the subspecies are also not given, but as trinomial nomenclature is quite a recent innovation, these names occur, of course, throughout the literature dealt with. Under the heading of each genus a list of the species and subspecies, as far as at present known, is given ; where no subspecies have been described the species alone standing. Where a well-known generic name has recently been changed, the name used under the old nomenclature is also given for comparison, for example—Genus Tringa=Totanus, old nomen¬ clature. Chapter II deals with general references, with papers of a Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries PREFACE vii general nature in which some reference to the Charadriiformes is made. Here, of course, as equally in the following chapters, a difficulty crops up at once—what references should one select and what should one leave out 1 Again a middle course has been steered. It would be absolutely impossible to record every reference in which the name of any species of the Chara¬ driiformes had appeared, and in fact it is quite unnecessary. Still, especially as regards British records, this has been made as full as possible, ordinary county records of comparatively common species often being given. Rare occurrences have been specially noted of course. It must be thoroughly under¬ stood, then, that the records given do not pretend to be com¬ plete in any way, but only to be used as a help to anyone studying this special branch. One could not, of course, have accomplished so much with¬ out the assistance of the Zoological Records, and the indebted¬ ness to that periodical cannot be overestimated. Mistakes and omissions have been found there, as they are sure to be in the following pages. As regards the later years, many more references will be found here than there, and from time to time special notes have been incorporated—these will be found enclosed in square brackets. One thing is very notice¬ able in recent years, namely, the total disappearance of Russian papers since the war. As far as possible the original papers have been consulted— practically all of them for the last decade, and this has in¬ volved much labour and time. If, however, these pages benefit others and save them the hard work that has fallen to the lot of the author, then that labour and time will not have been wasted, and will not have been in vain. In addition to the compilation of the literature, a special study has been made of all the skins in the British Museum. My best thanks are due to Dr. Percy R. Lowe for his advice and general kindness in allowing me to study the skins in the Museum ; to Mr. D. A. Bannerman, Mr, Kinnear and Mr. Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries viii PREFACE Wells—also of the Museum. To Mr. W. L. Sclater and to Mr. Iredale—to the latter especially for his discussions on classification, and help in nomenclatural puzzles. These discussions proved most stimulating and instructive. Finally, I must thank Mr. H. F. Witherby and his firm— my publishers—for their courtesy and help in arranging the material which will be found in the following pages. GEORGE C. LOW. January 15th, 1924. Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries NOTE The references start at the beginning of 1894 and have been carried up to the end of December, 1923, making thirty years exactly. No 1924 references are included. Should any of my readers detect any errors or omissions I should be very grateful if they would inform me of such, as it is my intention, if the present book is found to be of use, to publish an appendix, bringing the original work up to date at the end of the next five or ten years. G. C. L. IX Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries ----- . v ^gyjKa&sssassz® -• ' --:■;.-agST-^ - m ■-. fij •>:■■-: cv - •. : - r - - -• ' -— - ". -'•••'•- - - ■ kKiy^^ss^cs- 3» rr'ry. ■. i iiw j - . 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I ------ ----- -- f-V>XV---^ •J/Ss&i jss??- --f r* - <*---> - - Np — - v-.v>; :.:rv-';' ^JSK .-.T ' ' ~ i- \ — — -', ------- : ' I ■ - ~cr-- s: - -7T- ' -s - - \. f»r»? - : Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries 7 CONTENTS CHAPTER I PAGE Classification of the Charadriiformes 1 CHAPTER II General Literature of the Charadriiformes, from 1894- 1924 13 SPECIAL LITERATURE, 1894-1924 CHAPTER III Family Otididh3 ........ 27 CHAPTER IV Family Burhinidje . .39 CHAPTER V Family Scolopacidje ........ 46 CHAPTER VI Family Charadriid^: ........ 132 CHAPTER VII Family Parridje ........ 186 CHAPTER VIII Families Chionidid^?, Dromadidhs and Glareolidje .. 191 CHAPTER IX Family Cursoriid^e . .198 CHAPTER X Family Attagidas 204 Index 207 xi Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries V Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries THE LITERATURE OF THE CHARADRIXFORMES CHAPTER I CLASSIFICATION OF THE CHARADRIIFORMES Furbringer first used the name Charadriiformes, including in it the family Otididse or Bustards. Since that time many classifica¬ tions of the order have appeared. Of the more modern ones mention may be made of Sharpe's (Catalogue of the Limicolse in the Collection of the British Museum, Vol. XXIV, 1896). Here the order is termed Limicolse, and the family Otididse is not included in it.