GAME-BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA 



Ethiopian Snipe are much easier to shoot than English 

 Snipe, and they very often rise and ily off witli a heavy 

 flapping flight like a Coot or Water-hen. 



In one small marsh near Potchefstroom, not far from 

 my house, I frequently killed two couple— never more— 

 although I made a careful search through the marsh with 

 a keen spaniel. I made a practice of returning the following 

 week and invariably found that four more birds had come in. 

 During the breeding season these birds " drum " just 

 as the English Snipe do, and may be seen weaving about 

 high in the air, and every now and then rushing downwards, 

 which act is accompanied by the curious vibrating drumming 

 sound. This sound has been cleverly proved by Mr. P. H. 

 Balir to be produced by the vibration of the web of the outer 

 tail-feathers as they are rapidly drawn through the air. 

 The proof lay in fixing the two outer tail-feathers of a Snipe 

 in a large cork and whirling the cork round at the end of a 

 long string ; this action resulted in a sound which exactly 

 resembled the " drumming " of a breeding Snipe. 



Ayres found this bird breeding in the swamps near 



Potchefstroom in August, and on one occasion as late as April. 



The nests were placed and formed in a tussock of grass, 



the centre of which the bird trod well down, while the outer 



blades formed a shelter from the sun and cold winds. 



The eggs are of an olive - buff colour, spotted and 

 blotched, chiefly at the obtuse end, with two or three shades 

 of dark brown ; they have a fair amount of gloss and measure 

 about 1.75 by 1.25 in. 



These Snipe are very good-eating and taste exactly 

 like the European bird. 



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