110 Birds of Colorado 



frequently to be met with during the winter where there are springs 

 which remain unfrozen, both in the plains and the mountains up to 

 9,500 feet, at which elevation " R.V.R.S." saw two on the edge of the 

 ice along the Animas River near Silverton, January 2nd, 1886. 



It is perhaps loss conmaon in summer, but has been found breeding 

 in the mountain parks up to about 9,500 feet. Dille has recently 

 stated that it nests in the plains about ten miles north-east of Boulder, 

 and Hersey and Rockwell found one nest, Jime 20th, 1908, at Barr. 

 The following are other breeding records : Middle Park at 9,000 feet, 

 Sprague (Cooke), Twin Lakes (Scott), San Luis Lakes (Aiken), and San 

 Juan CO. (Drew). In winter it has been reported from Boulder, just 

 outside the city limits, by Henderson ; near Colorado Springs, where 

 fairly common, by Aiken ; SaUda in January (Frey), Fort Lyon 

 (Thorne), Sweetwater Lake by Gilmore and Routt co. by Bonnet 

 (Cooke), and Plateau Valley (RockweU). 



Habits. — The Snipe is an unsocial bird, and is nearly 

 always found solitary or perhaps -udth only one companion. 

 It prefers open, moist ground where it can probe in the 

 mud with its long and soft, sensitive bill for worms, which 

 form the greater part of its food. 



When flushed it rises very suddenly, with a startled 

 cry of " Scaipe," and flashes off with zigzag turns and 

 twasts. It is therefore a difficult bird to kill on the wing, 

 and for the young gunner it is a moment of great satis- 

 faction when he brings down his first Snipe. 



Snipe are somewhat nocturnal in their habits, though 

 not to such an extent as the Woodcock ; still they feed 

 and migrate chiefly at night or during thick weather. 

 During the breeding season and occasionally in the fall 

 as well, the Snipe rises high in the air and then darts 

 down again with great velocity, at the same time making 

 a curious vibrating rushing sound. The noise is usually 

 known as " drumming" or "bleating." The explanation 

 is rather doubtful, but it appears to be caused by the 

 rapid vibration of the webs of the outer taU-feathers 

 as they are dra\\'n through the air. 



