Correspondence.



281



Last June, in broad daylight, at mid-day, and for nearly a week, I have

seen a Nightjar soaring round the meadow in circles and each time that it

swooped downwards that curious note seemed to rise out of the ground first on

one side and then on the other at my feet. Having read that the Nightjar, when

perched lengthwise on a bough, had the power of throwing his voice in various

directions with each turn of his head, I was searching in the hedge and on the

ground and it was some time before I discovered it circling in rapid flight

above me.


Is it usual to be on the wing at mid-day ? And was it soaring over its

mate on the nest, or is this daylight flight, its joyful welcome on first arrival to

its summer haunts ? Knowing so little of the habits of the Nightjar I should

feel grateful for any information.


A Water Ousel or Dipper has for a few years built its nest against the

dripping rock and under a waterfall within full view of my house.


This year the nest was robbed, whereupon the bird promptly built

another within a few feet of the original spot.


These notes are the personal obrervation of my sister, Mrs. Mather.


E. Dorothy Leeke.



THE SEED SNIPE.


SIR,—I was very interested to read the account of a pair of Common Seed

Snipe (Thinocorus rumicivorus ) that our editor has been fortunate enough to

procure. I knew these birds well when camping out in the Andes above Mendoza

from the altitude of 10,000 to 13,000 feet.


We used to meet with one other but much rarer Seed Snipe, D’Orbigny’s

{Thinocorus orbignyianus ) which was only to be found in the most utterly

desolate valleys, at 12,000 up to 14,000 feet, always like the common variety,

feeding in some damp spot. When on the ground amongst the broken rocks

they are extraordinarily difficult to see.


When flushed both birds utter a sharp cry several times in succession.

They look rather like moths with their quiet jerkey flight.


For some time I could not make out a noise that would often continue all

night round the camp : a sound somewhat like a frog’s croak without the rough

notes. At last I found it to be the common Seed Snipe, but was never sure if it

called while flying to and fro, which is what it sounded like. The sound is at

any time very difficult to locate, at first appearing far away and at the next

moment at one’s feet.


I should think that they would do well in a dry aviary with a damp sandy

spot in it. I never found them except in a swampy place. Even when they had

young a day or two old they were always in some such spot.


In the winter when the mountains were snow and frost-bound I found

the common variety in flocks round the town of Mendoza in the plains.


Philip Gosse.



