142 
MODE OF DRUMMING. 
during the breeding season the Snipe becomes an altered being. 
Towards evening it leaves its marshy couch, and rises to a great 
height in the air, where it continues to wheel in circuitous flight for a 
considerable time, mostly confining itself within the limits of a krge 
circle, and uttering almost continually a loud, sharp, unmusical and 
monosyllabic cry, which may be roughly imitated by the words, 
Chic ! chic ! chick-a I chick- a ! chic ! chic ! &c. At varying inter- 
vals it sweeps downwards, making a swoop not unlike that of a Hawk, 
and producing the sound called drumming during the stoop. 
How the bird drums has long been a matter of doubt, some natu- 
ralists attributing it to the organs of voice, others to the wings, and 
others to the tail. To set this question at rest was therefore an in- 
teresting pursuit, and to that purpose several successive evenings 
were devoted. 
As soon as the Snipes began to drum, we set out for the marshy grounds 
over which they flew, and by dint of cautious management succeeded 
in ensconsing ourselves in a dense thicket of thorn and blackberry 
where we were perfectly concealed, but whence we had a thorough 
command of the sky. Before we had been long in ambush the desired 
sound struck on our ears, proceeding from a Snipe that was circling 
high above us. "We watched the bird for a long time, but he never 
came near enough to give a good view. Several others afforded us 
as much disappointment, but at last all our trouble was fully repaid. 
A fine Snipe arose at no great distance, and just as if he had known 
our object, and intended to give us his best aid, began to cry and 
drum just over our heads, and at so small a height, that as he 
wheeled in airy circles, his long beak and bright eyes were clearly 
seen by the unaided vision, while the double field-glasses with which 
we were supplied, gave us an excellent view of the bird as if it were 
within two yards. 
It was quite clear that the drumming sound was not produced by 
the voice, as the bird repeatedly uttered the cry chic ! chic ! chick-a ! 
simultaneously with the drumming. Without offering any opinion, 
we repeatedly watched the bird, and then compared our observations. 
They were unanimous, and to the effect that the sound was produced 
by the quill feathers of the wings. The bird never drummed except 
when on the swoop, and whenever it performed this manoeu^Te these . 
quill feathers were always expanded to their utmost width, so that 
the light could be seen between them, and quivered with a rapid 
tremulous motion that quite blurred their outlines. Our observations 
were repeated during several successive evenings, and always "with 
the same result. 
The Common Snipe is known to breed in most, if not 
all, the counties along the southern line of the English 
coast ; but being naturally a breeder in a high northern 
latitude, its nest is more frequently found in Scotland and 
