NOTES AND QUERIES. 231 
I will not add much of my own notes to the above, except to say 
this: I would hesitate to discard the “‘ feather theory,” even if I did 
witness the Snipe rising and hear it drumming simultaneously, and 
for one reason, ¢.g. that it has been proved by experiment, with the 
tail detached from the body, as by Drs. Meves and Bahr; and for an- 
other reason—or, so far, belief—that the same inhalation of air and 
inflation by the bird till the lungs are filled, and the air-cells which 
communicate with the lungs are fully distended, causes these curious 
vibratory sounds by the action of escaping of the air, whether from 
the throat and bill or from the nostrils, or upon its contact with the 
outer air, and its influence wpon the peculiarly formed outer tadl- 
feathers, as has been illustrated by Dr. Bahr. But I have no desire 
at my time of life to get beyond my depth, so will leave the actual 
proof to ‘‘ more learned and scientific men,” along with Mr. P. Ander- 
son. And perhaps I may be pardoned if I suggest that that proof 
may be within the grasp, before long, of an experienced anatomist 
and a thoughtful physiologist, who, should he see this passage, will 
remember witnessing Dr. Bahr’s exposition of the “tail theory,” 
and also consider other facts and observations related above.*—J. A. 
Harvis-Brown (Dunipace, Larbert, Stirlingshire, N.B.). * 
Flight of the Common Snipe.— With regard to Mr. F. J. Stubbs’s 
communication concerning the Snipe’s extraordinary trick of gliding 
upside down through the air (ante, p. 196), I may say that my brother 
and I have on several occasions seen Snipe behaving in a similar way. 
The locality was in the Wey Valley, a little above Godalming, in 
Surrey, and the time was April, in more than one year. Our birds 
did not behave in the identical manner described by Mr. Stubbs. 
What we saw was this: when performing the trick the bird flew in 
switchbacks, just as it does when drumming, but with this difference 
—on the down stroke of each switchback (where drumming would of 
course normally take place) it threw itself right over on to its back, 
just as described by Mr. Stubbs. In this position it reached the 
bottom of its curve, righted itself, and flew up once more, repeating 
the process a number of times. If I can lay hands on my notes, I 
may be able to supply some more details regarding the position of 
* A still further interest may evolve, should these facts be placed beyond 
doubt, which is closely connected with the ancient past of the species, but it 
would be premature—on my part, at least—to say more now. Let us walk 
warily lest there be a stumble and fall! I think ‘‘ The Heavenly Snipe ”’ 
might prove a more expressive name for the Gallinago gallinago gallinago 
(L.). In this, at present, I incline to follow Fenzell, Yarrell, and Saunders, 
