THE ZOOLOGIST. 
THIRD SERIES. 
Vou. V.] APRIL, 1881. [No. 52. 
ON THE “HUMMING” OF THE SNIPE. 
By tHe Epiror. 
[Tue articles on this subject, by Dr. Altum and others, which have 
appeared in recent numbers of the ‘Ornithologisches Centralblatt,’ seem 
to have re-opened the discussion of a question which is of much interest to 
naturalists. As the time of year is approaching when the “ humming” of 
the Snipe may be heard by all who have opportunities of observing this 
bird in its breeding haunts, it will perhaps be agreeable to the readers of 
‘The Zoologist’ to have a translation of the articles referred to, or at least 
of such portions of them as are material. This accordingly will be here 
attempted, and may be prefaced, not inappropriately, by an article on the 
subject which was contributed by the Editor of this Journal some years ago 
to the Natural History columns of ‘The Field’ (27th April, 1872), and 
which, it is believed, fairly states the case, and the points in dispute. ] 
Amonest the many rural sounds which greet the ear of the 
vagrant naturalist in spring, none is more remarkable than that 
produced by the Common Snipe in pairing time. This peculiar 
sound, which is never heard except from a bird on the wing, has 
been variously termed “humming,” “drumming,” “neighing,” 
and “ bleating,” according to the fancy of the auditor, and nothing 
has puzzled naturalists more, perhaps, than to discover how this 
noise is produced. 
Amongst German ornithologists especially this has been a 
favourite theme for discussion, and various have been the opinions 
expressed by eminent observers on the subject. Some, like 
Bechstein, have maintained that the sound is emitted through 
R 
