1 46 A Book of the Snipe. 



A very important question to the dog-owner 

 is the amount of work he may expect from 

 his kennel — i.e., how many days a- week each 

 doe should be taken out. This is a difficult 

 question to answer definitely, owing to the 

 varying strength and temperaments of in- 

 dividual animals ; but I think it will be 

 found that if the sportsman really means 

 business — that is, shoots steadily day after 

 day when the snipe are about, and from 

 morn to eve, — two days a-week for pointers 

 or setters, and perhaps three for his re- 

 trievers, whatever they may be, will be 

 found enough. It is rarely possible in snipe- 

 shooting to relieve the team by fresh dogs 

 at midday, as is often done on a grouse- 

 moor ; and even if possible, it is doubtful if 

 it would be advantageous, as it would only 

 mean four wet and more or less tired dogs 

 instead of two at the close of the day. So 

 that a team for a thoroughly well-equipped 

 snipe-shooting expedition would not be over- 

 dogged with three pointers or setters and a 

 couple of retrievers. With great care in 



