SNIPE-SHOOTING. 119 



sode illustrative of the sagacity and fearlessness 

 of this little falcon, as it is the result of my own 

 observation, although in a part of the British 

 Islands very remote from that in wliich I now 

 write. 



Some years ago, when snipe-shooting on a 

 range of strictly preserved bogs in the west of 

 Ireland, the merlin was, I may say, my daily com- 

 panion. I find, by reference to memoranda of 

 that date, that I commenced operations in the 

 beginning of November, generally taking the field 

 about eleven o'clock in the morning, and bagging 

 on an average fi:om ten to twenty couple of snipes 

 during the day, besides a few hares, woodcocks 

 and wild ducks. I well remember the first time 

 the merlin made his appearance with the obvious 

 intention of sharing my sport. I had just entered 

 one of those wet moors — surrounded by partially 

 cultivated land — which in favourable weather are 

 much more productive of sport than the extensive 

 " red bogs,'' when a couple of snipe rose near the 

 margin. Bang, bang, went both my barrels, 

 and while one bird fell dead, the other, slightly 

 but perceptibly wounded, ascended to a consider- 

 able height, and from the direction of its flight 

 was evidently preparing to drop in a marsh which 

 I had just left. Wliile my eyes were fixed upon 

 its movements, I perceived a merlin advancing 



