LETTERS 



"DRUMIONG" OF THE SNIPE. 



To the Editors of British Bieds, 



Sirs, — In his interesting comments on this subject Captain Lyne» 

 suggests (Vol. VI., p. 356) that Snipe do not "drum" "except at 

 (or near) a district in which the species is known to breed." My 

 experience here (South Holdemess) would seem to uphold this as 

 a general rule, while it denies the fact in a particular instance. In 

 this district Snipe do not, so far as I am aware, breed, and though 

 they are plentiful from August to mid-April, I have in the last ten 

 years only twice heard them " drum," once at a normal (April 6th,. 

 1909) and once at an abnormal (November 18th, 1912) season, on both 

 occasions after sunset. I would suggest that the difference between 

 the occasional out-of-season " drumming " of the Snipe and the 

 regular winter-song of some other birds is one of degree only, and that 

 one might find regular gradations connecting the two. As an instance 

 I would quote the Lapwing, whose breeding-cry and tumbling flight 

 are not infrequently to be heard and seen on a fine day in October 

 or November. I notice no one records having heard the real (i e. vocal) 

 breeding-song of the Snipe out of season. 



Keyingham, May 19th, 1913. M. Winzar Compton. 



To the Editors of British Birds. 



Sirs, — Whether or not Captain Ljmes is correct in his supposition 

 that the out-of-season " drumming" of the Snipe is connected with an 

 abnormal sexual activity of individual birds, I will not attempt to 

 discuss. In the Yorkshire Derwent Valley great numbers of Snipe 

 nest every year, and during the winter the flooded land often swarms 

 with both Common and Jack Snipe. On many occasions during last 

 winter in the months of October, November, December, January and 

 February, I listened to the " drumming " of Snipe. I now regret that 

 I did not make notes upon the weather-conditions prevailing at the 

 various dates. It has been dtiring the quiet of the closing day when 

 ensconced in a " flight screen " waiting for ducks and other wild fowl 

 that I have noticed the Snipe most particularly. Snipe come over 

 singly and in wisps just before the main flight of heavy fowl com- 

 mences, and arriving over their usual feeding-grounds (their summer 

 nesting-places) they fly upwards and start their spring-time antics in 



