GEOGRAPHICAL SURVEYS WEST OF 100TH MERIDIAN. 321 
Like most other species whose “ make-up ” enables them them to swim and wade 
with equal facility, our phalarope prefers the latter, aud when feeding quietly only 
avails itself of swimming when it encounters some deep channel that interferes with, 
progress. Or, again, when disturbed by too close scrutiny, they take to the water with 
an assurance that indicates it is no novelty to them. Thus they frequently became 
alarmed under my espionage and swam to the midst of the pond, and, having put be¬ 
tween us what they considered a safe distance, gathered quietly in a compact circle 
and awaited further developments with an air of wonder and innocent expectation 
that was very amusing, as well, too, as touching in its utter unsophistication. 
This species attains a nearly full development of the nuptial plumage within our 
limits, as was evidenced by the birds referred to here. 
The females, as in case of the other two species, are much the brightest of the sexes, 
and the most highly colored male hardly equals the dullest female. 
Upon dissection, evidence appeared of strong sexual excitement in both sexes, and 
I am inclined to believe that this phalarope will yet be found to breed along our 
northern frontier, possibly even in the mountains of Oregon. In fact, Dr. Cooper 
speaks of having seen a pair of either this species or the red phalarope iu the Cascade 
Mountains of Washington Territory in August, which he thought were probably breed¬ 
ing. The latter species has never fallen under my observation in the West, and it is 
chiefly maritime. 
SCOLOPACI D^E—Snipe. 
Gallinago Leach. 
G. wilsoni (Temni.). Wilson’s Snipe. 
Although the range of the Wilson’s snipe during the migrations covers the United 
States from ocean to ocean, its breeding limits are much more circumscribed, being 
chiefly along and beyond our northern borders. But in many of the mountainous sec¬ 
tions of the far West it finds a climate and conditions well adapted to its needs, aud 
here it passes the summer at a somewhat lower latitude than in the East. In Oregon, 
as also throughout all that portion of Eastern California and Western Nevada to the 
north of the line of the railroad, the Wilson’s snipe may be confidently looked for in 
summer in all the little mountain meadows and along such alpine streams as by virtue 
of their overflow are bordered by the soft, oozy spots which are so indispensable to its 
habits. As often as otherwise these tracts occur among pine timber at quite elevated 
altitudes. 
I first became aware of its presence in Nevada June 15. At this date, while making 
camp just at dusk near a small stream at the base of the mountains, I heard for the 
first time the peculiar sounds which are made by this snipe during the excitement of 
the love season, and I confess that at first I was not a little puzzled to explain their 
authorship. Afterwards I had several opportunities to observe the birds in the very 
act of producing them. The first impression received, shared in, too, by other members 
of the party as the sounds were borne to the ear from a distance, was that they w r ere 
the notes of one of the small owls, muffled and disguised by reason of the remoteness 
of the bird. As the snipe flew nearer, and particularly as it passed directly overhead, 
the nature of the sound became more apparent, it then being comparable, as closely as 
auything I could think of, to the whistling noise which is so marked a peculiarity in 
the flight of the common dove ( Zenaidura ). This was the comparison thar, was sug¬ 
gested to all the party at the time, although it fails to give a very precise idea of its 
peculiar character. Mr. Ridgway hearing the snipe from a distance likens it to the 
“ noise produced by water escaping from a nearly full jug,” it having “ a hollow, gurg¬ 
ling sound.” However observers may differ in interpreting its peculiarities, no one, 
I think, who hears under favorable circumstances the sound we have attempted to cle- 
scribe, is likely to agree with Nuttall in his supposition that the sound proceeds from 
the bird’s throat. It is unquestionably due to the wings alone. 
The modus operandi is somewhat as follows: Mounting high in air the bird flies rap¬ 
idly and excitedly back aud forth, and at intervals of every moment or two, aud while 
at full speed, the head is lowered, the wings bent and stiffened, and a downward 
plunge made at an abrupt angle, which terminates suddenly with a sharp ascent; aud 
it is at the moment that the downward is changed to the upward flight that the 
sound is produced. To make such an extremely abrupt change in the line of flight 
possible, the wings must be bent into an unusual shape, and by reason of their action 
upon the air comes the whistling sound. 
During the mating, aud in fact through most of the breeding period, and continu¬ 
ing even after the young are hatched, the birds begin these evolutions as soon as dusk 
comes on, aud contiuue them at irregular intervals until about nine o’clock. The notes 
are not heard again till about daybreak, and they cease before sun-up. But should 
the day be cloudy the snipe may be seen flying in the manner described till late in 
