154 IN PAIRING TIME 



But, when it is remembered that the quivering of 

 the wings synchronises precisely in its inception, 

 duration, and cessation, with the humming sound, it 

 would be more than strange if this close coincidence 

 should be without causal connection. The hum 

 itself a quivering hum runs in perfect parallelism, 

 so to say, with the quivering of the wings. The bill 

 continues closed during its production. 



This flight and humming, when practised in the 

 opening spring, are held to be a means of attracting 

 the female bird ; and later, when the latter is sitting, 

 her situation on the ground becomes the sunken 

 centre, as it were, of the great circle around which 

 the male continues to travel above and about her. 



It may be that some of us are not " sensible 

 naturalists" sensible, that is, to the superlative 

 succulence of Snipe on toast, with or without the 

 chrysanthemums and shaded lamp; it may be that, 

 in watching this wild thing of the air careering 

 round on high, we have caught something of the 

 ardour that impels him, setting earth and sky 

 spinning in a counter-flight; it may be that the sight 

 of such wide freedom unlocks for a while the spirit of 

 a man, giving it wings, and air, and a heaven to 

 move in. And if, hearing that mock-mournful 

 monotone, that something between laughter and 

 a moan, he still can follow, and make it part of him 

 and of his mood, why, then is he complete. 



For he who follows Nature will find his way 

 crossed by that he did not seek. " Fera " she was, 

 and will remain claw in pad, thorn by the rose, 

 mixing bitter with sweet. By none will she be seen 

 with unaverted face ; and he who would hear the 



