Concord Mass.
1896
April 22
(No 4)
[April 22, 1896]

Drumming of the Snipe by day

  Previous to this morning I have not heard a Snipe drum
in the day-time for twenty five years or more, but between
8.30 and 9 a.m. one was heard at it on the Great
Meadows within hearing of Bensen's landing but probably 
half-a-mile off. At least the sound was not brought
perceptably [perceptibly] nearer when I took my canoe and paddled
out into the meadow as far as the point where
the old cart path comes in. I was sorely tempted 
to land and follow up the bird but I had too
much work to attend to. How much later this Snipe
kept up his serenade I do not know. It was
raining heavily and the sky was filled with low
driving clouds & scud at the time.
  Very different were the conditions when at about 7 o'clock
this evening I landed at the "Tent" and walked out
into the great expansion of dim, grayish meadow.
Twilight had fallen and the wind had sunk to a
gentle breeze. There was not a cloud in the sky. The
half moon gave a subdued light and there was a strong
afterglow in the west but it was fading fast.
  The whole meadow seemed alive with Snipe but they are
deceptive birds & there may not have been more than a dozen
in all. There were at least two drumming. They kept it
up without any cessation during the half hour or so that
I stood listening to them and, I have no doubt, the
greater part of the night. I could hear other birds
scaiping as they flew about from place to place and once
I heard the kuc-kuc-kuc-kuc-kuc call given just
as I remember it years ago when I have seen the bird
in the act of making it. The Leopard Frogs and Hylas were
making a great racket but the weird winnowing of the Snipe
did not seem in the least obscured by it.