THE SNIPE. 



59 



THE SNIPE. 



The SNIPE (Scolopax Gallinago ; family, Scolopacidce). In 

 the early spring, as one strolls by the side of the stream, 

 a curious sort of drumming sound is often heard in the 

 air above, which to the uninitiated is somewhat puzzling ; 

 but stand still for a few moments and you will see a 

 bird (the male snipe) suddenly mount from the meadow to 

 a considerable height in sweeps, then suddenly stop, open 

 the wings and tail like a fan, and then fall in short 

 zigzag flights, producing this peculiar humming or drum- 

 ming, and when the bird arrives about twenty yards from 

 the ground the tail closes, the drumming ceases, and on 

 touching the earth, he makes a short run to where his 

 mate is lying couchant. This peculiarity has given the 

 snipe the name of Heather-Bleater in Scotland, Moor- Lamb 

 in Lincolnshire, Air-Goat in Wales, Chevre Volante in France, 

 Himmel Zeige in Germany. 



The cause of this bleating or drumming sound has been 

 the subject of considerable controversy. It was supposed 

 for a long time to be produced by the wings in its down- 

 ward flight ; but Mr. W. Meyer, of Stockholm, made a 

 series of experiments to prove it was due .to the stiff 

 vibration of the outer tail-feathers. Mr. Hancock, how- 

 ever, doubts this, and considers it the result of the strong 



