398 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



care in the world, and the almost certainty of 

 good sport when the weather was suitable and 

 the birds were well in. As a rule the walk- 

 ing was good and sound. Where, however, the 

 crust which covers the surface of the bog is so 

 thin as to be treacherous and such are ever 

 the best feeding-grounds for snipe half of the 

 pleasure of the sport is spoiled, for who can 

 shoot well and steadily when in constant fear of 

 being entombed in mud ? 



Were I offered my choice between good snipe- 

 shooting and the very best shooting of any other 

 description, I should most unhesitatingly pro- 

 nounce in favour of the former. A snipe is such 

 a truly sporting bird ; it requires some skill to 

 shoot, is beautiful in its shape and plumage, and 

 is one of the very best, if not the best, of birds 

 for the table. 



It is during October and November that the 

 greater number of foreign snipe arrive in Britain. 

 Though many birds remain here to breed, during 

 their residence in this country they are constantly 

 shifting their quarters according as the weather 

 may affect their feeding-grounds. So long as 

 these remain soft they are content, but with frost 

 or easterly winds, they are off to other more 

 suitable localities. People often express sur- 

 prise at these sudden arrivals and departures, 

 but the reason is a very simple one. Wher- 

 ever the ground is most suitable for snipe 

 to feed, there they are generally to be found ; 



