Habits and Habitat of Snipe, 1 7 7 



has designed to move about in mighty gather- 

 ings at great speed. Who has ever seen an 

 unwounded mallard suddenly leave his place 

 in the team, and drop selfishly into a sheltered 

 nook he has espied below ? 



But it is to this absence of sociability that 

 the snipe-shooter owes a great part of his 

 sport. Many a couple of snipe may be 

 picked up if a previous acquaintance with 

 locality has taught us the odd corners 

 favoured by single birds. They nearly 

 always lie well in such spots, and if missed 

 will return in a very short time. I have 

 fired at birds thus, and before I have moved 

 from the spot have known them swoop head- 

 foremost down again within a yard or two 

 of their original position. More often than 

 not, however, they do not actually alight if 

 you are still in possession, but will check 

 their fliorht when within an inch of the Qfround. 

 and with a rapid head - and - tail movement 

 shoot upwards again as if propelled by a 

 spring. However, they give you a second 

 shot, and you can ask no more. If such a 



