326 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 
the part of the experienced shot no particular attempt 
to reach the bird from a weak quarter. He takes the 
shooting as it comes. 
On windy days, or when the weather is cold, the 
snipe may be very wild and rise at extreme ranges. 
Shooting then is quite as much a test of the gun as 
it is a test of the shooter’s skill. Few writers, how- 
ever, pay any heed to the distinction, and consider it 
all, be the rise far or near, as a matter of skill alone. 
At best, walking down wind on snipe is an uncertain 
advantage, for they can fly down or across wind with 
a swiftness and ease which dispose very quickly of 
any trifling advantage of a few yards taken up wind 
for the start. 
The habits of snipe, as oftenest described, are their 
habits when they are lean and wild, or wild from a 
change from warm to cold or from calm to windy 
weather. But to teach that such is their regular man- 
ner of flight would be on a par with teaching that 
quail live in the tree-tops because they sometimes take 
refuge there. 
Even when lean and wild, on a calm day the snipe 
does not strain the skill of a good shot. But on a 
windy day it is a different proposition. The wild, 
lean snipe can dart very swiftly across or down wind, 
and if to this be added rise at long range, the shooting 
becomes really difficult, though then, as mentioned be- 
fore, it is also a test of the gun. 
When wildest, the snipe is exceedingly restless and 
moves fitfully from place to place. It then takes alarm 
