BAY-SNIPE SHOOTING. 199 



The stools should be so placed that they can be 

 readily seen from the line of flight, not too high 

 above the water, and the farthest not more than 

 thirty-five yards from the shooter. If too near a 

 bank, they will be confounded with the grass, and be 

 invisible even to the keen eye of the snipe. They 

 should be scattered sufficiently to allow each one to 

 be distinct, and must be headed in different direc- 

 tions, so that some may present their broadsides to 

 every quarter of the heavens. They should tail 

 down wind, in a measure, from the stand, as the birds, 

 no matter Avhat direction they come from, head up 

 wind in order to alight, and will make a circle to do 

 so. In this way they reach the lower end of the 

 imitation flock first, and are led safely close to the 

 sportsman, giving him an admirable opportunity to 

 make his selection from their ranks. 



As the tide varies according to the wind and moon, 

 and will often cover with several feet of water places 

 usually dry, it is well to have two sets of sticks — one 

 set for deep water much longer than those for ordi- 

 nary use ; otherwise, it will occasionally be found im- 

 possible to set out the stools at all, or they will stand 

 so high above the ground as to resemble bean-poles 

 more than birds. 



It is customary to have in the flock, which should 

 not be less than forty, imitations of the different 

 species— some being brown to represent marlin, 

 others grey, with white breasts and a white and 

 black streak over the tail to stand for willet, and so 

 on ; but a more important point is to have them large. 



