132 A. L. V. Manniche. 



extremely swollen and the ovaries of females contained eggs, which 

 were relatively considerably larger than in other waders. 



The pairing notes of the males filled the air everywhere a few 

 hours after their arrival. 



The male suddenly gets up from the snowclad ground, and pro- 

 ducing the most beautiful flute-like notes, following an oblique line 

 with rapid wing strokes, mounts to an enormous height often so 

 high, that he can not be followed with the naked eye. Up here in 

 the clear frosty air he flies around in large circles on quivering 

 wings and his melodious far sounding notes are heard far and wide 

 over the country bringing joy to other birds of his own kin. The 

 song sounds now more distant now nearer when 3 or 4 males are 

 singing at the same time. Now and then the bird slides slowly 

 downw^ards on stiff wings with the tail feathers spread; then 

 again he makes himself invisible in the higher regions of the air 

 mounting on wings quivering even faster than before. 



Only now and then the observer — guided by the continuing 

 song — succeeds for a moment in discerning the bird at a certain 

 attitude of flight, when the strong sun-light falls upon his golden 

 coloured breast or light wings. 



Gradually, as in increasing excitement he executes the convul- 

 sive vibrations of his wings, his song changes to single deeper 

 notes — following quickly after each other — at last to die out 

 while the bird at the same time drops to the earth on stiff wings 

 strongly bent upward. This fine pairing song may be heard for 

 more than a month everywhere at the breeding places, and it won- 

 derfully enlivens this generally so desolate and silent nature. The 

 song will at certain stages remind of the fluting call note of the 

 Curlew fNumenius arqvaliisj, but it varies so much with the temper 

 of the bird, that it can hardly be expressed or compared with any- 

 thing else. The notes here given represent the theme, which is 

 varied in the song. 



(5) — Ifg-. — • ; s' 



Tringa canutus's pairing song. 



The bird principally sings in the afternoon, when the weather 

 is clear and tranquil. 



