y^ A Book of the Snipe. 



nitros, what used to be a positive danger 

 has been reduced to a very occasional dis- 

 comfort ; but having once experienced the 

 smart of a particle of unconsumed powder 

 in his eye, the sportsman may find that his 

 shooting for the rest of the day will be as 

 injuriously affected by the mere dread of its 

 recurrence as it would be if he were certain 

 that every shot were going to give him a 

 dusting. No man can shoot well unless he 

 can entirely detach his mind from every con- 

 sideration but the bird rising before him, and 

 the involuntary flinching that follows one or 

 two " blow-backs " may put you off your form 

 for an indefinite period. At any rate, how- 

 ever little you may be afflicted with this de- 

 scription of nerves, it is a real handicap which 

 you will do well to avoid by walking down- 

 wind when and where possible. 



Apart from these considerations, it is un- 

 doubtedly a great saving of physical labour 

 if you can run before the wind instead of 

 beating against it, and in snipe -shooting 

 every ounce of strength uselessly expended 



