338 USEFUL BIRDS. 



September and October. It is not an upland bird, but 

 is seen chiefly in fresli-water meadows and lowlands along 

 streams. It is sometimes met with in low, moist gardens. 

 Mr. William Brewster says, in his " Birds of the Cambridge 

 Region," that during exceptionally wet autumns great num- 

 bers of Snipe occasionally visit the truck forms of Arlington 

 and Belmont, to feed in the water-soaked fields of corn, pota- 

 toes, and other crops. As they do not injure the crops, but 

 probe the ground with their long bills, in search of worms 

 and larvfe, it is probable that they do considerable good 

 at such times. The Snipe when started from the ground 

 usually goes oflf in a rather low, erratic course, but when well 

 up in the air it sometimes makes a long and stead}^ flight. 

 It may be identified by its long bill. It seems to be some- 

 what nocturnal, particularly on moonlit nights, when its note 

 may be heard as it flies about the meadows or runs over 

 them. Its alarm note is a harsh scaipe, and it utters also a 

 nuiffled "bleat." In spring the Snipe may be seen to rise 

 from the meadow, mounting high in air, and then describing 

 a oreat circle, sometimes fully a mile in diameter. During 

 the flio-ht it alternatelv rises and falls diaaonallv, producini>- 

 each time in its descending course a loud, intermittent, win- 

 nowinof or whistlinsf sound. A sino-le individual will some- 

 times continue this erratic circular flight for nu)re than an 

 hour. The sound, which ajipears to be made ])y the wings, 

 is loud and clear, and may be heard at the distance of over 

 one mile under favorable conditions. This is looked upon 

 as the song flight of the Snipe. Apparently this habit 

 is common in the mating and l)reeding season. The per- 

 formance varies in length and the flight varies in altitude 

 and direction, but it always is interesting and uni(]U('. 

 Often, particularly in autunm, the Sni[)e will rise to a great 

 height and then drop swiftly toward the earth, producing a 

 thrumming noise with the wings. This is the so-called 

 drummino- of this bird. It feeds mainlv on worms, ofrass- 

 hoppers, and other small forms of animal life. This bird's 

 chief economic value lies in the delicacy of its flesh, and as 

 an object of sport it has few superiors. 



