204 
SCOLOPACIDyE. 
With regard to the well-known ‘'drumming” or “bleating” of 
the Snipe, my belief that it is produced by the male alone is now 
changed. On reading Mr Harting’s statement (“ Birds of Mid- 
dlesex,” p. 190), that on his disturbing a pair from a nest both 
birds hew round him “ in circles, making this peculiar noise for 
nearly half an hour,” I resolved to try the very unsportsman- 
like experiment of shooting some of the birds in the breeding 
season. Accordingly, availing myself of opportunities in which 
only one bird at a time was drumming in the air, the cruel 
result was the death, hrst, of three males, then of a female, when 
of course the series of murders ceased, the point being settled. 
The many years’ intimate acquaintance with the bird and its 
habits which I have enjoyed, confirms me in the now generally 
received opinion that the drumming is produced by the vibration 
of the wings alone; indeed, it may be imitated by cutting sharply 
downwards through the air with the outer edge of a stout quill, 
and could the act be continued for a few seconds, the result 
would be thoroughly convincing. The once universal idea that 
a sitting bird would produce the same sound, for the purpose of 
misleading intruders near the nest, is now exploded. The 
drumming of the Snipe seems to be heard with even increased 
frequency in wet or misty weather. 
[]\Iany years of isolation from the old work must plead my 
apology with the well-informed reader, if the point be — as 
is very possible — now regarded as settled beyond all need 
for remark; but perhaj)S it will not be unduly intrusive 
if I subjoin an extract from my own notes on this subject, some- 
what more in detail, written in Shetland in 1854: — “I have 
carefully watched the Snipe upon the wing, to observe their 
flight while making the peculiar ‘drumming’ noise. The drum- 
ming is always preceded by a sharp call several times quickly 
repeated, on the cessation of which the bird instantly makes a 
diagonal swoop in its flight, the wings vibrating with rapidity 
during the continuance of the sound. At my brother’s sug- 
gestion, I have imitated the sound with tolerable accuracy by 
sweeping round at arm’s length a large quill-feather, as of a 
