Snipe. 47 



which it is an advantage to aim. It is ten to 

 one that a snap-shot will miss him, so tiny is 

 he, and so vague in his tiutterings. Whereas 

 if you draw a steady bead on him, a thing 

 anathema in all other branches of shooting, and 

 follow him up and down with the muzzle of 

 your gun, you will down every bird you meet 

 in a day's walk, as I have done many a time in 

 places where Jacks are numbered by dozens. 

 The Jack-Snipe takes wing silently. Only 

 once have I heard any sound from a rising- 

 bird, a clear pipe of a single note uttered but 

 once. 



The close season for snipe begins on March 

 I and ends on August i, they being for this 

 purpose classed with wildfowl and not with 

 game. Nevertheless the sportsman is required 

 to take out a game licence before he may 

 shoot them, snipe, like woodcock, being fair 

 game for a riddle — When is a game-bird not 

 a game-bird ? Answer, When it's a snipe ! 



