AMERICAN SNIPE 37 



the derivation of the old word, dowitch, as being 

 originally "the Dutch or German snipe (Duitsch, 

 Deutscher), probably employed to distinguish the red- 

 breasted snipe from the common 'English' snipe." 



In spring and, to a less extent, in fall, the snipe often 

 practice a curious performance, called by some sports- 

 men booming and by others drumming. The birds, 

 of which there are likely to be a considerable number, 

 rise high in the air, circle more or less about overhead, 

 often uttering a twittering song, and then may sudden- 

 ly drop from a great height toward the ground, caus- 

 ing a humming or drumming sound, which is believed 

 to result from the air passing rapidly between the quill 

 feathers. An interesting account of this action and, in- 

 deed, of several habits of the snipe, was written by 

 Mr. Austen to Forest and Stream, years ago, and 

 commented on by Dr. Nicols, of Cookstown, both these 

 gentlemen residing in Canada. We quote Dr. Nicols' 

 remarks : 



'In your issue of April 23, Mr. H. Austen, of Hali- 

 fax, N. S., claims that the snipe does its booming (I 

 take it he means drumming) with his voice, and not, as 

 supposed, with his wings, and that this noise is only 

 made at dusk or long after dark. If Mr. Austen will 

 go out to any good snipe ground when these birds are 

 in, especially in the early part of May, in the spring, 

 or September or October, in the fall of the year, on a 

 dull, overcast day, he will find numbers of snipe in the 

 air circling and soaring about and drumming to their 

 heart's content, when he will be satisfied or I am 



