274 BEACH GRASS 



the top of a bottle, produced by the neck-sacks 

 of this same bird, should, I suppose, be classed 

 as instrumental song. The sounds made by the 

 clapping together behind the back of the wings 

 of the domestic pigeon, of the clapping on the 

 sides of the pheasant are, of course, in the instru- 

 mental class. 



The woodcock in his wonderful courtship 

 flight, as he ascends straight up in the dim light 

 of early morning or late evening, gives forth loud 

 sounds that cease whenever the bird sets his 

 wings and momentarily soars — instrumental 

 sounds made apparently by his wings. During 

 the last part of the ascent and during the descent 

 he gives forth sweeter vocal notes or whistles. 

 Before he is again on the wing he emits at in- 

 tervals loud vocal peents, preceded by faint 

 gulping sounds accompanied by a puffing out of 

 the body and slight raising of the wings. 



The Wilson snipe flies about in his ecstatic 

 courtship when the light is so poor that it is 

 difficult to observe his flight, and sounds arise — 

 quavering or bleating in character — which are 

 believed to be instrumental in their nature, due 



