VOL. VI.] "DRUMMING" OF SNIPE. 355 



But however this may be regarded, the present instance 

 in which the " drumming " has increased in frequency 

 throughout February up to its normal period, seems to 

 me indicative rather of a general ante-dating of the 

 period of sexual activity among a proportion of the 

 Snipe present. 



Throughout the whole of the past winter the weather 

 was unusually open, and Snipe correspondingly plentiful 

 without apparent fluctuation in numbers, until February 

 when there was a decided increase. Thus, during that 

 month, it may fairly be assumed that among the birds 

 present some were English breeders, some Scotch, and 

 some Continental, with sexual organs in varying conditions 

 of activity, and that whatever the condition of the organs 

 of the south English breeders, those of the Continental 

 and most if not all of the Scotch birds, whose breeding- 

 grounds are not open until much later in the year, would 

 still be in their winter shrunlvcn condition. 



The following examination of some of the Snipe 

 selected at random from among those shot in these 

 particular marshes is at any rate not inconsistent with the 

 foregoing supposition, and if we recognise " drumming " 

 to be normally a breeding-season function it may be 

 still further suggested that the "drumming" birds were 

 among the English breeders. 



Sexual organs. 

 Distinctly commencing to enlarge. 

 Jiist commencing to enlarge. 

 No enlargement. 

 No enlargement. 

 Well advanced. 



Easy winter-conditions of life, whether produced 

 artificially or naturally, are well known to quicken 

 sexual activity, and if we regard the mild winter as 

 the factor that has accelerated the breeding instincts of 

 the Snipe wintering in the south of England, it is after 

 all only doing what is commonly accepted as the explana- 

 tion of this year's unusually early awakening of plant-life 



* These birds, shot at dask, were specially selected by the shooter 

 as being very probably actual "drummers." 



