320 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 
“laid” in places by the frost, and many couples may 
then be flushed from the “hoves” or mown pathways 
bordering the reed-beds ; as well as on the surrounding 
marshes, which by that time, as feeding grounds, are in 
much better condition. It is often difficult, however, 
to account for the sudden arrival or departure of these 
birds, here to day and gone to-morrow, and every sports- 
man knows by experience how rarely a good day’s 
sport is obtained amongst many blanks in the snipe 
shooting lottery. How consolatory after a hard day’s 
walking, with scarcely a shot to keep up excitement, to 
hear from the marshman the old, old, story, “Lor! Sir, 
if you'd only been here yesterday, why that there marsh 
was pretty well all snipe.’ Nor have you even the 
satisfaction of doubting his word, when you find that 
most eligible locality bearing “ mute” evidence to their 
recent abundance. And thus, at times, even at the 
present day, very large bags may be made when a good 
shot happens to hit upon the right day. 
Snipes, however, without leaving us altogether, 
appear to be constantly shifting their ground under 
““skyey influences,” a sudden flood in the low lying 
marshes often driving them in “wisps” into the turnip- 
fields, or occasioning them to congregate in unusual 
numbers on such marshes as may chance to le higher 
and drier than the rest. On the 23rd of November, 
1853, a fair sprinkling of snipes having been reported 
in that fine district, I was asked to shoot with a friend 
at Ranworth, but although we walked all the best 
ground, the waters had so risen on the previous night 
that scarcely a bird was to be seen, and up to one 
o’clock we had had only two wild shots. As a last 
resource it was suggested that we should try some 
marshes on a higher level at Horning, even though much 
time would be lost in going so far. As it turned out 
we were amply repaid for our trouble. No sooner had we 
