QUAIL-SHOOTING. 95 



with snow, as at this season of the year they become very 

 wild, and are difficult of approach. The first flight is a 

 long one, and it is invariably to the woods, but by mark- 

 ing the line of flight, although the bevy may disappear 

 from view, a persevering sportsman, accompanied by a 

 cautious dog, may generally find the birds by hunting for 

 two or three hundi'cd yai'ds, more or less, beyond where 

 seen last. 



The second flioht will be lono- althouoh not as lono' as 

 the first, when they will scatter,and lie much better, afl^-ord- 

 ing a number of shots. Here you liave the birds driven 

 into the woods for protection and shelter, and as you ap- 

 proach the frightened bevy, the}^ by ones, twos, and threes 

 fairly jump into the air, and dart oft'witb great velocit}^ ; 

 and in order to bag the birds, the shooting must be de- 

 liberate and steady, and the gun must be well held on, as 

 they require hard hitting ; and in order to make double 

 shots, it requires extremely good shooting. 



With snipe, woodcock, and sometimes ruffed grouse, 

 the oftener they are flushed the less will be the chances of 

 bagging them, but with quail, late in the season, the con- 

 trary is the rule as they seem to tire after a couple of 

 long flights, and often rise close to your feet ; in fact, be- 

 ginning as very wild birds at first, they often end by be- 



