SNIPES. 271 



The Snipe breeds with us, selecting the edges 

 or drier spots of the wet moors and fens, or the 

 barren heaths of the northern districts. About 

 the beginning of April, the male Snipe begins to 

 utter his calls of invitation to his mate. " At 

 this season," say Sir W. Jardine, " or when the 

 pairing has commenced, the birds may be heard 

 piping among the herbage, or may be both seen 

 and heard in the air, performing their evolutions, 

 and uttering the loud drumming sound, which at 

 one time gave rise to so much discussion in re- 

 gard to the manner in which it was performed. 

 The sound is never heard, except in the down- 

 ward flight, and when the wings are in rapid and 

 quivering motion ; their resistance to the air, with- 

 out doubt, causes the noise, which forms one of 

 those agreeable variations in a country walk, so 

 earnestly watphed for by the practical ornitholo- 

 gist." * Mr. Selby compares the sound to the 

 bleating of a goat (a resemblance which has been 

 often noticed), and observes that at this season the 

 bird soars to an immense height, remaining long 

 upon the wing ; and that its notes may frequently 

 be heard when the bird itself is far beyond the 

 reach of sight. These flights are performed prin- 

 cipally towards the close of day, and are con- 

 tinued during the whole season of breeding. The 

 nest is very slight, consisting of nothing more 

 than a few dry blades of grass or decaying her- 

 bage, collected beside a tuft of grass, or merely 

 a scraped hollow. Four eggs are deposited, 

 about an inch and a half in length, of a yellowish 

 or a greenish hue, marked with spots of pale 

 and dark brown, running somewhat obliquely. 



* Nat. Lib. ORNITHOLOGY, iii. 180. 



