98 A Book of the Snipe. 



safely. Even the most experienced may 

 expect many a tumble from over- or under- 

 stepping the mark, and it may be well to 

 remark here, that the best method to carry 

 a gun over ground of this sort is in the left 

 hand balanced in the middle at the *' trail," 

 so that if a fall occurs it may be instantly 

 dropped, with little chance of injury to itself 

 or anything else. It is surprising how quickly 

 after a little practice a gun can be thrown up 

 to the shoulder from this position. 



Finally, we have those terrible, unmiti- 

 gatedly rotten marshes, such as the red bogs 

 of Ireland, that refuse to bear even a tiny 

 terrier on their treacherous surface. They 

 are most commonly situated about the sources 

 of streams, though here and there they will be 

 found of smaller extent at a good distance 

 from any water except the hidden springs 

 which no doubt form them. The young- 

 shooter is advised not to tackle these 

 dangerous traps unless either he or his 

 attendant is well acquainted with their geo- 

 graphy. There are usually one or two well- 



