56



Correspondence.



on the uplands, and from which the Snipe is sometimes called the “heather

hleater,” the prefix of heather being added from the Snipe often breeding

amongst heather.


The bird sweeps round in circles in the sky when suddenly it seems to fall

obliquely downwards, and in so doing produces the drumming or bleating sound.

If we watch a Snipe closely we shall notice that every time it swoops downward

the feathers of the tail are widely spread and the wings seems to tremble or

quiver, and I have long held the opinion that the shrieking sound called drum¬

ming or bleating is produced by the passage of the air through the still outspread

feathers of the tail, modulated by the humming made by the quivering feathers

of the wings. F. BOYES, Beverley.



EDITORIAL.



May I express my thanks to all those who have helped me

in my Editorial work by contributing to the Magazine, etc., with a

hope that they will continue to do so.


If other Members who can write any papers or notes will

follow their example, my work will be further enlightened ; being, as

it were, a china nest-egg, never to be hatched, but only to promote

the laying of other egg's.


If I can have in hand sufficient copy ’ for at any rate a

month ahead of that which is published, I shall be grateful.


An editor cannot expect to please everyone, so that I may

consider myself fortunate in having met with almost unvarying

courtesy from the Members of the Society.


Being a mere amateur at the work, and having often to

snatch half-hours here and there in which to write and answer

letters, etc., in addition to sometimes attempting to illustrate the

Magazine, I feel that Members will very kindly continue to bear

with any shortcomings.



Hubert D. Astley, Editor.



