208 Mr. O. V. Aplin on the 



laida, a Snipe fluttered from under my horse's feet ; this was 

 thirty yards at least from the river and quite dry ground. 

 The nest was in a tuft of paja, formed of a few grass-blades, 

 and contained two fresh eggs. By Christmas all, or nearly 

 all, the Snipe had disappeared from the neighbourhood, the 

 country having become excessively dry. A very few put in 

 an appearance about the end of February and early in March, 

 but it was not until early April (after a heavy rain-storm) 

 that we saw any great number. All through that month and 

 in May they were rather numerous, although more plentiful 

 on some days than on others. Their habits at that season 

 almost exactly resembled those of our bird. The cry on 

 rising was " quirk, queak/' or " quir-eakJ" 



It seems just possible that some of these Snipes which visited 

 us in autumn may have bred at that season. At all events 

 1 noticed that in May, while most of the birds remained 

 more or less wild, as autumn Snipe are, some were tame and 

 behaved exactly as others did in spring. In the early part 

 of May we had some very fine warm weather, and it was on 

 the 1st of that month that I first noticed Snipe drumming 

 in the autumn just as they did in spring; I observed this 

 during the day as well as at sundown for a fortnight after- 

 wards, but in the cold period which followed I did not notice 

 them, and I left about the end of the month. In the first 

 week I saw two or three supposed pairs, and on the 8th 

 I observed one pair especially, where the Saiice ran swiftly 

 through low green banks, sheltered by higher banks, tall 

 paja, &c., and was studded with green islets. The pair, on 

 being disturbed, settled on the short green turf in full view, 

 the male rising again, but the female remaining on the 

 ground uttering a loud chuk chuk chuk continuously (rather 

 like the alarm-call of a hen Partridge which has small young 

 in the grass) for some time, then rose and flew a few yards 

 with upraised wings, and, alighting again, continued calling. 

 When on the wing her note was a rapid tuka tuka. Mean- 

 while the male was drumming loudly overhead. I could also 

 that afternoon (had I been so inclined) have shot a few other 

 Snipe on the ground, but at the same time the rest of the 



