138 FEATHERED GAME 



and do not then twist so much, often offering 

 for a moment an almost stationary mark, 

 which, if you are a "snap shot," makes your 

 opportunity. May you improve it ever! My 

 own system is to snap at them as quickly as 

 possible and make ready at once to miss an- 

 other. For myself, I prefer to work across 

 and against the breeze, thus giving the dog 

 more advantage. The dog's part is ever more 

 than half the pleasure for me — ^perhaps be- 

 cause it is so much better done. 



You can see many signs of their occupancy 

 as you trudge through the mire — the borings 

 in the black, oozy mud, the "whitewash" where 

 they have fed — and in the stubble where the 

 farmer has cut "salt hay" for bedding for his 

 cattle you start them singly and in pairs, keep- 

 ing dog, gun and yourself well occupied in 

 downing the swift-flying "longbills" which 

 have arrived during the night. No other of the 

 "bay snipe," as the game waders are termed, 

 furnish so good sport for dog and gun as does 

 Wilson's Snipe. Probably the Grassbird ranks 

 next in game qualities, as the others are not to 

 be hunted with a dog but are shot over "stools" 

 or by stealthy approach. If you have hunted 



