BIRD LIFE, ETC. 171 



different and ordinary motion of its wings. I have never 

 heard it under any other circumstances. Were it pro- 

 duced by the voice, it might be emitted when the bird 

 is on the ground, or during its ordinary flight ; but 

 should one hear it on the moor, he will invariably find 

 that it proceeds from on high. In this manner the snipe 

 may continue to amuse itself for, perhaps, an hour or 

 more ; and sometimes, in the clear sky, one may trace 

 it until at length it mounts so high as to be no longer 

 perceptible. 



This drumming noise of the snipe commences in 

 April and is continued through the summer. It is 

 altogether a solitary act, although several individuals 

 may often be heard at the same time, and may be an 

 expression of the happiness of the bird, or an intimation 

 of its presence to its mate while sitting upon her eggs. 

 We have no means of ascertaining its object, nor has it 

 been determined whether it be performed by the male 

 only, or by the female also. When the bird has gone 

 through his evolutions, he descends, often with astonish- 

 ing velocity, on partially extended and apparently 

 motionless wings, diminishes his speed a little as he 

 approaches the ground obliquely, and alights abruptly. 

 British Birds, vol. iv. p. 371. 



21. THE GREY HERON. 



Far away through the green valley winds the silver 

 Tweed, now rolling its waters over the white pebbles, 



