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BIRDS OF ARGENTINA, PARAGUAY, URUGUAY, AND CHILE 151
opinion. Mathews "* used the genus Iliornis of Kaup for the little
greenshank, and remarks (p. 199) that "the species T. fiavipes seems
to fall easily into the genus Iliornis.'''' Further ^^ he unites the greater
yellowlegs with Glottis nebularius in the genus Glottis. Mr. Ridgway
-^ has segregated the two yellowlegs in the genus Neoglottis.
Doctor Hartert ^^ has united them in the genus Tringa with eleven
other species, namely, incana, totarms, guttifer, ergthropus, nehularia,
ochropus, soUtaria, hypoleucos, macularia, stagnatilis, and glareola.
Comparison of the greater and lesser yellowlegs fails to reveal
characters of generic value that may serve to separate them. Save
that the bill may be a trifle shorter in relation to the length of tarsus
the lesser yellowlegs is practically a miniature of the greater.
Mathew's suggestion that the two are not congeneric may be dis-
missed as untenable.
With due respect to Mr. Ridgway's opinion I do not believe that
the two yellowlegs may be separated successfully in a generic sense
from Totanus totanus. Examination of melanoleucus, -fiavipes,
totanus, nebularius, erytJiropus, and stagnatUis reveals much of in-
terest. Glottis has been considered as a distinct genus for nebularius
on the basis of the recurved bill in that species. In this character it
is approached by nielanoleucus and furthermore varies in amount
of curvature so that in series melanoleucus and nebularius may not
be separated on this basis. Some specimens of Totanus totanus have
a distinct Aveb between middle and imier toes, while in others this
web is reduced in extent. Development of this web grades clown in
unbroken series from totanus through erythropus where it is distinct
but small, to melanoleucus, fiavipes, and sfagnatilis, in which it is
faintly indicated. The bill is shorter than the tarsus in melanoleucus,
fiavipes, and stagTiatilis, from somewhat shorter to as long as the
tarsus in totanus and longer than the tarsus in erythropus. Here,
again, there is no line of demarcation. The little greenshank,
stagnatilis, has the bill somewhat more slender than the others but
in insufficient amount to validate its separation as a distinct genus.
There is no reason apparent for not including in Totanus the following
species, totanus, erythropus, nebularius, mda/rioleucus, fiavipes,
and stagnatilis. In addition it seems doubtful if Pseudototanus may
be successfully maintained for guttifer, a matter that is here left in
abeyance since I have seen only one skin of this species.
The course followed by Doctor Hartert in lumping 13 species under
the genus Tringa seems ill advised. Four of the included species,
hypoleucos, macularia, solitaria, and ocrophus have but two notches
"J;irds Australia, vol. 3, pt. 2, May 2, 1913, p. 197.
^ .'Ol. 3, pt. 3, Aug. 18, 1913, p. 224.
* Birds North and Middle America, vol. 8, 1919, p. 129.
^ Vog. PaUiark. Fauna, vol. 2, Heft. 13, Feb., 1921, pp. 1607-16C8.