The Zoologist — November, 1874. 4217 



watched the snipe upon the whig, to observe their flight, while making the 

 pecuhar ' drumming' noise. The drumming is always preceded by a sharp 

 call several times quickly repeated, on the cessation of which the bird 

 instantly makes a diagonal swoop in its flight, the wings vibrating with 

 rapidity during the continuance of the sound. At my brother's suggestion, 

 I have imitated the sound with tolerable accuracy by sweeping round at 

 arm's length a large quill-feather, as of a swan or eagle ; if held tightly in 

 the hand it will produce much the same noise by its tremulous motion as 

 the edge cuts the air. I am hence led to conjecture that the sound is 

 caused by the bird setting its -wings rigidly at the conclusion of its note, and 

 letting itself shoot ahead with its previous impetus. We many a time spent 

 an hour, on the side of Vallafjeld, motionless in the heather, studying the 

 ways of the snipe, with the aid of a telescope, and then tried our gi'eat 

 eagle's feathers, borrowed for the purpose, with the sound fresh in our ears. 

 The result was convincing.'" — P. 204. 



In some respects the fancy names, indicative of habits, which 

 have been assigned to families or groups of birds are not entirely 

 satisfactory, because the habit or peculiarity that suggested the 

 name frequently appertain with equal force to species not included ; 

 this is the case with the word Natatores, or swimmers; thus, 

 amongst the Grallatores, or waders, are many species which, as 

 I know from personal observation, exhibit the faculty of swimming 

 equally with those which exclusively enjoy the name indicative 

 of that accomplishment. Who that has ever watched the little 

 phalaropes, buoyant as corks, or the coots, or the waterhens, but 

 will be quite willing to admit this ? The purple sandpipers would 

 seem another example, and, if I mistake not, its natatorial powers 

 have already been recorded in the 'Zoologist:' be that as it may, 

 the following passage is ample evidence of their existence : — 



" The purple sandpiper is an excellent swimmer. In calm weather 

 I have seen three or four, belonging to a larger party, swimming actively 

 about the base of a rock upon which their companions were feeding. 

 I never saw one dive except when wounded and closely pursued. Some- 

 times, when I have disturbed one on a calm day, it has taken wing, and 

 has deliberately alighted upon the water several yards from the shore." — 

 P. 213. 



Another word or two on this species may be quoted with 

 propriety : — 



" As they generally take the seaward side of the rocks, they are not easy 

 to be seen from the shore while thus at rest. So little fear of man do they 



