158 THE BIRDS OF MAINE 



Along the coast the species occurs during migration and not 

 commonly from April 20 until about the middle of May, and 

 again commonly on the marshes locally from September until 

 well along in November. Inland about the breeding places on 

 the interval lands and meadows they arrive in early May and 

 depart the second week in November. When flushed they fly 

 with a tortuous flight (the so-called zigzag flight of the sports- 

 man) uttering a sound which is like the words"escape, escape" 

 uttered several times in succession. 



In late May and June about many of the low lands along 

 the isolated streams of central Maine I have seen the soaring 

 and heard the drumming of the Snipe, very often at midday 

 though more frequently at dusk or later. They rise in spirals 

 until far above the meadows and soar in circles, descending 

 swiftly with a "whuu-whuu-whuu-whuu" again rising in spirals. 

 Another cry uttered while on the ground is a "kuk-kuk-kuk". 

 While we have the most conclusive evidence that they nest in 

 northern Maine, the young being found while unable to fly, 

 as well as the birds actions in other instances indicating they 

 were breeding, I have never yet been able to find or see a 

 Maine collected egg of the species, though the eggs have been 

 reported as found by others. 



Davie describes the nest as being placed on the ground, a 

 mere depression in the grass or moss of a bog or meadow. The 

 eggs are said to be pyriform shaped, grayish olive or brownish 

 ashy colored, heavily marked with chocolate chiefly at the larger 

 end. Three or usually four eggs are laid of an average size of 

 1..55 X 1.08. The food eaten by the birds is similar to that of 

 the Woodcock, but the birds feed in rather more open situations 

 on the average, often at night but also quite frequently during 

 the day. During migration they occur in small bands of three 

 to seven in most parts of the State, but are in more numerous 

 groups locally. 



