usual well-known "scape," "scape," utters a low 

 chuckle (that to my ears is best represented by the 

 words " chevuck," " chevick "), and suddenly darts up 

 into the air, often to a very great height, and flies in wide 

 circles, now and then stooping like a Falcon towards 

 the ground and producing a prolonged sound that 

 much resembles the bleat of a goat. Naturalists have 

 for years exercised their pens in controversy as to the 

 means by which this very peculiar sound is produced ; 

 my opportunities for observation have not been very 

 many, and I am not disposed to enter the lists as 

 a disputant on this question, but I feel quite convinced 

 that the sound in question is not vocal. Whatever may 

 be its origin it has procured for the Snipe the local 

 name of " Heather-bleater," "Air-goat," and other 

 names of similar signification. I have weighed a great 

 number of Snipes, killed in various parts of England, 

 Scotland, and Ireland, between the beginning of Sep- 

 tember and the end of February, and generally find 

 them to average heavier in December than in any other 

 month ; the heaviest that I have weighed pulled down 

 6 oz. fair weight ; but I consider any weight above 

 5 oz. as exceptional, and should fix the average weight 

 at from 4 oz. to 4^. Snipes, however, put on and 

 lose weight in a very short time, and in a bag of ten or 

 twelve couples the chances are that some birds may be 

 found of little more than 3 oz., and of all intermediate 

 weights up to 4| oz. It is a common saying that 

 a Snipe is not worth shooting till he has had a frost 

 through him, and there is much truth in this, for so 

 long as the weather is mild and open these birds 



