112 A CATALOGUE OJ THE BIE.DS 



while this beating of the wings continues, the drumming or 

 neighing sound is distinctly heard, quite similar to that j)roduced 

 by the Snipe, but, so to speak, coarser ; corresponding, as it 

 were, to the slower motion, the form, and greater expanse of the 

 wings. 



Macgillivray describes very correctly these movements and 

 sounds of the Peewit. This author says, "during the whole of 

 the breeding season, even when not disturbed, they (the Peewits) 

 may be seen flying about, hovering, gliding, slanting, and curv- 

 ing along ; shooting through the air with a continuous noise of 

 the wings, or causing an undulating loud hum by flapping them 

 strongly, and at the same time emitting curious modifications of 

 their usual cry. This behaviour is no doubt analogous to the 

 aerial rambles of the Snipe at the same season." 



On carefully comparing these peculiar movements of the Pee- 

 wit, the forcible short strokes of its wings, and the accompanying 

 sound (in this case undoubtedly produced by the wings), with 

 the similar movements and vibratory sound made by the Snipe, 

 it is quite impossible to doubt the origin of the neighing of the 

 latter bird. 



Many cases might be cited in which the whirring of the wings 

 strongly resembles the neighing or bleating of the Snipe. The 

 rapid movements of the wings of the Grouse, on rising, make a 

 noise of this nature ; and the Pheasant, too, while paying his 

 addresses to the female in the spring, rises up two or three feet 

 in the air, and with short rapid strokes of his wings produces a 

 quick drumming noise. But enough has been said to explain 

 my views of the "neighing" of the Snipe. 



I have failed to produce this peculiar sound made by the 

 Snipe, though I endeavoured to do so by experiments, after the 

 plan adopted and recommended by M. Moves. And we have 

 seen that the tail-feathers, supposed by their pcciiliar form and 

 stnicture to be adapted to the production of this sound, are too 

 much diversified for the accomplishment of one and the same 

 end, namely, the production of sound, unless it be assumed that 

 such an instrument may have its powers increased by opposite 

 means, namely, cither by having the web broad, and of a firm 



