166 ^Ir. C. Ingram — Ornithological 



by other members of the genus. About the middle of May 

 (and doubtless from an earlier date) these were being per- 

 formed throughout the greater part of the day, and it was 

 unusual if one could not observe two or three birds overhead 

 at the same time. Like most aviue sounds, the peculiar 

 noise made by this species is almost impossible to be described 

 on paper. 



As this Snipe quarters the sky in wdde sweeps, it gives 

 utterance to a very curious rasping sound, which is increased 

 in volume and considerably changed as the bird suddenly 

 dives downward preparatory to " drumming." The first of 

 these discordant cries is a harsh, grating khha, khha, khha, 

 and is being constantly repeated during the roundabout 

 flight ; but when the bird is about to make its downward 

 swoop this is altered to a still stranger utterance — a curious 

 kee-oow, kee-oow, a sound which I can only liken to the 

 sucking noise sometimes produced by water passing through 

 tlie narrow waste-pipe of a bath. 



The " drumming" of this species does not differ materially 

 from that of G. yallinugo, but the " swishing " sound is 

 ])erhaps louder, and on the whole it is less like the bleating 

 of an animal. I believe that both sexes take part in the 

 performance. 



Owing to a mistake, the only clutch of eggs in my col- 

 lection (with the l)ird shot at the nest) was brought to me 

 on May 19th, and I was deprived of the pleasure of actually 

 taking it myself, although the site of the nest was sub- 

 sequently pointed out to me. But later on I was fortunate 

 enough to find young birds on two separate occasions. 

 Taking into consideration the habits of its allies, the 

 breeding-ground selected by this Snipe is very remarkable. 

 For instance, I found newly-hatched and almost helpless 

 young on the perfectly dry mountain-side, at least a mile 

 and a half from the nearest water, which was in the form of 

 a torrential stream, and apparently never visited by these 

 birds. The ground in question, being composed largely of 

 porous cinders and ashes (deposited during the comparatively 

 recent volcanic disturbances), dries up with astonishing 



