Snipe 'drumming' 73 



Frenxh — Chevrc-volantc=" llying-goat " ; Chevre-celeste—" goat-of-thc-sky." 



Great Russian — Barashek or Barachet—" \:imh" (diminutive of iara«=sheep). 



Lettish — Pehrkona-kasa=" thunder-he-goat " ; Pehrkona-ahsis = " thunder-she- 

 goat. 



Lithuanian — Perkuno-ozys=" thunder-goat " ; Perkuno-ozelis=" thuiulcr-kid " ; 

 Dangans-ozys=" sky-goat " ; Dewo-ozys=" God's-goat." 



Finnish — Taiwaan-ii'tiohi=" sky-goat " ; Taiwaan-jaara = " skv-ram." (?) 



The majority of these names liken tlie sound to the hlcntiiio^ of 

 a goat or the baaing of a lamb. 



The Seandinavian names, on the other hand, compare the noise 

 to the neio/iing of a horse. 



Numerous legends have gathered round the Snipe, due to the 

 dnnnming sound it makes. 



In parts of Sweden, the belief still exists that criiiinallv the iiiul 

 really was a horse, and has been miraculoush^ changed into a Snipe. 



" Once on a time," the story runs,* " a peasant had a horse, 

 " which for several days together W'as led by a servant to a distant 

 " pasture entirely destitute of water, without the animal having 

 " been previoush" allowed to drink. One fine afternoon both master 

 " and man proceeded to the field, which was well fenced, for the 

 " purpose of fetching home the horse : but on arriving there they 

 " found, to their great surprise, that he had vanished altogether. 

 " \Miilst pondering on the matter, they, to their still greater wonder- 

 " ment, heard a neighing overhead, and the next instant saw the lost 

 " steed quietly drinking from a spring in an adjoining pasture. 

 " They hastened to secure the animal ; but as soon as he had drunk 

 " his fill, and under their very eyes, he was transformed into a Snipe, 

 " and forthwith flew up in the air, where he was afterwards heard 

 " neighing as long as daylight lasted." 



In compiling the above list, I am greatly indebted to several 

 distinguished Professors for assistance. 



For the Scandinavian words, to Prof. P. ^'inogradoff ; for the 

 Sclavonic words, to Prof. W. R. Morhll ; for the Celtic words : 

 Welsh, to Prof. J. Rlns, Principal of the Jesus College, O.xford ; 

 Irish, to Prof. T. K. Abbot, Trinity College, Dublin ; Gaelic, to Rev. 

 ]. Sutherland, of Ledaig. 



All observers are agreed on certain facts connected with this 

 drumming noise. 



1. That it is heard, speaking broadly, only in the breeding 



sea,son, in this country, say, from March 20th to mid- 

 July — I refer to exceptions at the end of this paper. 



2. That it is heard only when the bird is on the icing, 



never when it is on the ground, f 



*" Game birds and Wild Fowl of Sweden and Norway," Lloyd, p. 234. 

 t Hintz, " Xaumannia." 1854, p. 2qo. who urged that the sound was produced vocally, 

 asserted that the birds would bleat sometimes while perched upon trees. — Editor. 



