I 



GREAT SNIPE. Gallinfigo major 



and turn in a strangely zigzag fashion, and at last darts away, thereby puzzling juvenile 

 sportsmen greatly, and often escaping before its enemy lias got his aim. 



The male bird has a curious habit of rising to a great height in the air, circling 

 repeatedly over the same ground, and uttering continually a peculiar cry like the words, 

 " chic ! chic ! chic-a, chic-a, chic-a," constantly repeated. Eveiy now and then the bird 

 makes a downward stoop, and then emits a very singular sound, something between the 

 bleating of a goat and the humming of a slack harp-string. How this sound is produced 

 has long been a controversy, but I am convinced that it is produced by the wings at all 

 events that it is not from the mouth. 



During a recent stay in the New Forest, I set myself to the elucidation of this 

 problem, and in company with two friends went towards sunset to an excellent cover 

 near a large marsh, in which Snipes were almost as plentiful as sparrows. From t^is 

 post we could watch the Snipes to great advantage, and the birds would come circling 

 over our heads, piping and drumming vigorously. On several occasions, when a Snipe was 

 passing over us at so low an elevation that his long drooping beak was distinctly visible, 

 he stooped directly over our heads and uttered his " chic-a, chic-a ! " simultaneously with 

 the drumming, both sounds being distinctly heard at the same time. The first time that 

 we clearly heard the double sound was on June 27, but we repeatedly witnessed it on 

 subsequent occasions. The Snipe remains a long time upon the wing while thus engaged, 

 contrary to its usual habit, which is to fly for a short distance, and then to pitch again. 



Sometimes the Snipe clings very closely to the ground, flies very short distances, and 

 will almost suffer itself to be trodden upon before it will rise. Indeed after a few flushes 

 it will often permit itself to be approached so closely that it can be knocked down by a 

 stick, as I have often seen. 



The Snipe can be tamed successfully, as may be seen by the following communication 

 addressed to the Field newspaper by Mr. W. B. Scott, of Chudleigh, Devonshire : 



" John Constantius Upham, Esq. of Starcross, Devon, has a common Snipe, which 

 is extremely tame and familiar, and answers to the name of Jenny. In December 

 last she was caught by some boys near the warren, and was brought to Mr. Upham in a 

 starving state. She was recovered by forcing her to eat some very minute pieces of raw 



