320 BIRDS OP NORFOLK. 



" laid " in places by the frost, and many couples may 

 then be flushed from the "hoves" or mown pathways 

 bordering the reed-beds ; as well as on the surrounding 

 marshes, which by that time, as feeding grounds, are in 

 much better condition. It is often difficult, however, 

 to account for the sudden arrival or departure of these 

 birds, here to day and gone to-morrow, and every sports- 

 man knows by experience how rarely a good day's 

 sport is obtained amongst many blanks in the snipe 

 shooting lottery. How consolatory after a hard day's 

 walking, with scarcely a shot to keep up excitement, to 

 hear from the marshman the old, old, story, " Lor ! Sir, 

 if you'd only been here yesterday, why that there marsh 

 was pretty well all snipe." Nor have you even the 

 satisfaction of doubting his word, when you find that 

 most eligible locality bearing " mute " evidence to their 

 recent abundance. And thus, at times, even at the 

 present day, very large bags may be made when a good 

 shot happens to hit upon the right day. 



Snipes, however, without leaving us altogether, 

 appear to be constantly shifting their ground under 

 " skyey influences," a sudden flood in the low lying 

 marshes often driving them in "wisps" into the turnip- 

 fields, or occasioning them to congregate in unusual 

 numbers on such marshes as may chance to lie higher 

 and drier than the rest. On the 23rd of November, 

 1853, a fair sprinkling of snipes having been reported 

 in that fine district, I was asked to shoot with a friend 

 at Eanworth, but although we walked all the best 

 ground, the waters had so risen on the previous night 

 that scarcely a bird was to be seen, and up to one 

 o'clock we had had only two wild shots. As a last 

 resource it was suggested that we should try some 

 marshes on a higher level at Horning, even though much 

 time would be lost in going so far. As it turned out 

 we were amply repaid for our trouble. No sooner had we 



