SNIPE-SHOOTING. 55 



With a slow, pottering sort of dog, the plan of opera- 

 tions must be changed somewhat ; and when handicapped 

 with that sort of dog, it would be well to work down wind 

 for a time ; afterwards beat the same ground up wind, 

 and permit the dog to range against the wind ; but that 

 cannot be the way for a sportsman, who is armed with a 

 breech-loader, and accompanied by a speedy and wide- 

 ranging dog, to circumvent the innocent scolopax. One 

 is justified in conceding a point or two in favour of a slow 

 and sure dog, and to that method of working a snipe- 

 ground, as more birds may be brought to bag, " shot for 

 shot," but nothing like as many can be got, nor nearly so 

 many shots can be had as when habitually beating down 

 wind with a dog that possesses a great degree of pace, and 

 an ability " to go the distance." 



The different methods that I think best to follow 1 

 shall now give, but it is to be understood that the gun 

 must be moving with the wind. If the day should be 

 warm, the birds fat and lazy, they will lie hard, and af- 

 ford easy shots ; in this case, give them plenty of time 

 until they go twenty or twenty-five yards away, when 

 you should secure nearly every bird shot at. Again, if 

 the birds are not in good condition, it is not at all likely 

 that they will be hard \ in this instance, if there is any 



