66 BRITAIN'S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 



and is often found at considerable elevations. Through- 

 out England and Wales it also nests, although in much 

 smaller numbers, and is commonest in such particularly 

 suitable districts as Lincolnshire and East Anglia. In 

 October and November, however, extensive immigration 

 from the Continent takes place, and the Snipe remains 

 abundant, in the southern portions of the British Isles at 

 least, till the following March. 



It is usually early in April that the four eggs are de- 

 posited in a slight nest made among the heather or rushes 

 or in a tuft of grass. They are large in proportion to 

 the size of the bird, and vary from rich yellow to deli- 

 cate green in ground-colour, boldly marked with various 

 shades of reddish brown. The Snipe is a shy and wary 

 bird, but it is wont to ti"ust rather in concealment than 

 in flight. When sitting closely on its nest a Snipe almost 

 defies detection at a few yards distance, so well does its 

 plumage harmonise with the surrounding herbage. Even 

 better for this purpose is the striped down plumage of 

 the active chicks. 



The Snipe is to a considerable extent crepuscular in its 

 habits, and becomes most active towards twilight. It is 

 at that time that we most frequently hear the familiar 

 'drumming'' or ' bleating "* noise made during the breeding 

 season by both sexes. The exact origin of this sound has 

 long been a subject of discussion, some holding it to be 

 caused by the tail, others by the wings, while a few 

 considered that it might even be vocal. Recent observa- 

 tions have practically settled the matter in favour of the 

 tail. The sound is made during rapid downward flight, 

 when the tail is spread out fan-wise, so that the two 

 outermost feathers stand clear of the rest. It is the 

 vibration of these two that produces the 'bleat.' On 

 examination it is found that these feathers differ from 



