348 THE COMPLETE WILDFOWLER 
It may be distinguished from the Common Snipe by its 
larger size, proportionately shorter legs and bill, and more 
boldly barred under parts. It has sixteen or more tail feathers, 
whereas the former has only fourteen. The young in first 
plumage closely resemble adults. Length from 11 to 12 in. ; 
bill 2°3 in. ; wing 5°5 in. 
COMMON SNIPE 
Scolopax gallinago (Linneus) 
This bird is a common resident in these isles and is found. 
wherever swamps, marshes, and damp meadows suitable to its 
habits are still left. Large additions to its numbers come from 
the Continent every autumn. 
During the breeding season this species may often be seen 
‘‘drumming’”’ or ‘‘bleating.” This is a sound much like the 
‘bleating’ of a goat, and considerable doubt as to how it was 
produced has long existed, although a Swedish naturalist 
stated many years ago that it was brought about by the rapidly 
vibrating tail feathers as the bird descended at a certain angle 
through the air. This has recently been clearly proved as cor- 
rect by an English observer, Mr. P. Bahr, who points out that 
the sound is produced by the two outer tail feathers, which 
during the flight are held out widely separated from the rest of 
the tail. The sound can be produced artificially by placing 
these feathers on a cork and rapidly whirling them round with 
a piece of string. During the breeding season it utters also a 
loud vocal ‘‘chip, chip” when on the ground, while when 
suddenly flushed the alarm-note of ‘‘scape, scape”’ is well 
known. It flies very rapidly and straightly when once on the 
wing, but on first rising its flight is made in short zigzags, 
offering a very difficult shot. Sometimes, however, it will 
‘‘squat’”’ on the approach of danger, and even on a bare patch 
\ 
