Some Haunts of the Snipe. 57 



near enough to alarm two or three snipe from 

 their resting-place amongst the surrounding 

 rushes, and to send a water-rail scuttling over 

 the treacherous surface with as little difficulty 

 as If it were the firmest of soil. 



On the margin of the lake the going is bad 

 indeed. Patches of rush and reed, separated 

 by wide channels and creeks, are the chief 

 characteristics of this essentially snipey tract 

 of — one cannot say of ground, for there is 

 m.ore water than solid earth. No use at- 

 tempting to walk dry-foot here — we must 

 wade or nothing ; and, believe me, it won't do 

 us any harm, provided we change directly we 

 get home, and don't lounge about in the mean- 

 time. And surely there is enough sport here 

 to keep even the most timorous and chilly of 

 mortals In a pleasant glow of excitement. 

 The snipe are plentiful as blackberries, though 

 I am afraid we should only be able to add 

 a very small percentage to our bag. Walk 

 as carefully as you will, you cannot help 

 making as much plashing as a walrus through 

 the shallow water, and it would be as much 



