How to walk for and shoot Snipe, 85 



on one of these islands separated from the 

 bank by a channel of fair width. But here, 

 if the breeze blows up or down stream, the 

 gun must certainly walk down-wind, other- 

 wise the snipe will be almost impossible to 

 hit as they dash away straight between the 

 banks of the stream, dodging round bends 

 and any bushes that may be on the margin. 

 It is absolutely necessary to force them away 

 from the brook to one side or the other, 

 and a down-wind advance is the only way 

 to do it. Of course if the wind blows across 

 the stream, you will do best to stick to the 

 windward bank, not only because of the easier 

 shots obtainable, but because the majority of 

 birds will usually be lying under its shelter. 



In connection with shooting along brooks, 

 it is commonly supposed that it is better to 

 work the banks by retiring from and ad- 

 vancing towards them alternately, than to 

 progress steadily along the margin, presum- 

 ably with the idea that the snipe will not 

 so readily perceive the approach of the in- 

 vader. As far as my experience goes, such 



