354 The Water-fowl Family 



species has many of the habits of the red-breasted 

 snipe, going through the same pecuHar evolutions 

 in its mating season. According to Nelson, sev- 

 eral males will chase a female through the air in 

 rapid twisting flight, pausing often to utter a harsh 

 peet-u-weet, then continuing the pursuit. When 

 mated the male, hovering fifteen or twenty yards 

 from the ground, on quivering wing, pours 

 forth a lisping but musical song, imperfectly 

 expressed by peet-pcet ; pee-ter wee- too ; wee-too. 

 The nest is a little hollow on the ground, and the 

 eggs are four in number. Late in July the birds 

 are seen on their return trip along the same 

 migratory courses followed in the spring. Arriv- 

 ing on the California coast, the flocks frequent 

 the shallow flats and marshes, where many are 

 killed. I saw them in numbers on the shores of 

 the small lakes, scattered at long intervals through- 

 out the plains of northern Mexico, in flocks of ten 

 or fifteen and in company often with the teal and 

 shovellers; gentle and not annoyed by our ap- 

 proach, they fed together unconcerned, wading 

 deep into the water or dabbling at its edge. When 

 we came a little too close they ran together and 

 stood motionless in a compact little bunch. The 

 flight was in the same close array, and few would 

 have escaped a shot. On the wing occasionally 

 their note was heard, a whistle, which was quickly 

 responded to. The birds circled and returned, 



