THE LIMICOLZ OF THE CLYDE AREA. 47 
found in the area in August. The nest is often, though not 
always, carefully concealed among bracken, heather, long grass, 
or under a bush. The woodcock nests among bracken and 
rough growth on dry hillsides as well as in woods, indeed, 
anyone looking at a woodcock on its nest among bracken 
would be inclined to agree that the markings of its plumage 
have been evolved to harmonise with the withered bracken. 
Great Snipe (Gallinago major (J. F. Gmelin) )— An occasional 
visitor mostly in autumn or early winter. It has been obtained 
or observed several times in Ayrshire, twice in Argyll, five 
times in Renfrew, twice in Dumbarton, and once in Lanark. 
*Common Snipe (G. celestis (Frenzel))—In spring and 
summer common in many suitable localities. In others, for 
example South Ayrshire, which seem to be quite as suitable, 
it is unaccountably scarce. From autumn to spring it is more 
widely distributed, often occurring in hundreds. Nesting 
commences early in April and continues through May to June. 
The snipe has several vocal notes, the well-known “ scape, 
scape,” when flushed at any time, “‘dinker, tinker,” and “ djepp, 
djepp,” in the nesting season, and then there is the wonderful 
drumming sound in the spring when the bird is careering aloft 
round the place where his nest is situated. If the snipe is watched 
while the drumming is heard it will be seen to be descending 
rapidly with its tail outspread, the outer pair of feathers held 
stiffly apart from the others. Just as it reaches the lowest 
point of the descent it closes its tail and ascends again, to 
repeat the performance many times over. The sound is never 
heard unless the tail is expanded, and only when descending— 
the steeper the descent the stronger the drumming. Just 
before it makes the downward dive the bird spreads out its 
tail and flies a short distance horizontally without producing 
any sound. As far as I have been able to notice there is no 
difference in the beat of the wings while the drumming is being 
performed. They are moved as rapidly just before and after 
drumming, and I am satisfied that they do not help to pro- 
duce this sound.. 
Jack Snipe (G. gallinula (L))—A winter visitor arriving 
from September onwards. It is seldom seen and then usually 
singly. Owing to its habit of squatting it is often overlooked. 
However, if it is raised, it flies away quietly in a somewhat 
flickering manner, and drops to earth again at a short distance. 
