98 SHOOTING, 



hit of all birds ; whereas, in others, it is said to_ be anything 

 but difficult to bring down a snipe._ In_ our opinion, however, 

 there are two methods of hitting him with moderate certainty;, 

 the one is hj snap-shootiiig, which is a habit gained by^ some, but 

 not to be critically described by any, fexcept we regard it as a con-i 

 sentaneous action of eye and hand at the same moment. The other 

 certain mode of snipe-shooting is to put the gun into the hand of 

 the cool and dehberate marksman, who, nothing flurried, waits his 

 opportunity, and the moment the bird settles into its course, arrests 

 that course by a shot." Another authority says : — " The shooter 

 will bring down a snipe with much less difficulty at from fifteen to 

 twenty paces than at any other distance. The aim is thus taken 

 just before the bird begins to make its cross flights, but before iti 

 has attained its full speed. The irregularity of its flight is of little; 

 consequence during the first and second twisting before the bird is 

 safely on the wiug, since its flight is then comparatively tardy, 

 But let the snipe fly ten yards from whence it sprang — let it be.i 

 for instance, twenty-five paces distant from the gun — it is then ail 

 the top of its speed, and m the very midst of its sidelong, ellipticalj 

 gyrations, and more than a match for the majority of shooters."* ; 



With respect to the use of dogs in snipe shooting, there is j| 

 considerable diversity of opinion among sportsmen, some dis; 

 pensing with dogs altogether ; while others maintain that they are, 

 not only necessary, but that some particular dogs are more to b(j 

 depended on in the fmding of these bii'ds than others. Tor oui'selvest 

 we have tried both plans, and have killed nearly equal quautitiej' 

 by both ; therefore we are somewhat in the position of the ass ir 

 the fable, which was placed between the two bundles of hay, anc' 

 did not knov/ whichto choose. Seriously speaking, however, we; 

 do think that the weight of evidence and authority are in favour o 

 dogs, but the /cind of dog may be safely left to the sportsman's owi^ 

 fancy, or the precise circumstances in which he may be placed. Ij 

 has been said that even in Ireland snipe shooters not only hav(i 

 dogs, but beaters and markers in addition. 



Mr. Thornhill relates a story of a Mr. Molloy, a Quartermaste: 

 of the 64th Regiment. While he was quartered at Genevi 

 Barracks, Ireland, _ he became passionately enamoured of snipe 

 shooting. After his duty was done, or if he could obtain specia 

 leave for a day, he regularly equipped himself for sporting ; anc 

 he had always the good luck to spring his jack-snipe, at which h( 

 fired. He followed up immediately, and the bird dropped so closi 

 to him often, that he was firmly persuaded he had killed it. He usee 

 to run with breathless eagerness to lay hold of his prize ; when 

 lo ! it would again rise and fly a little farther. On one day hi 

 fired eighteen times at it, and each time he thought he had killed 

 it. It served him for a ^yhole season. At length, he was one da; 

 crossing the bog in which it lay, when it rose up, and he ex 

 claimed, " There's my old friend!" and threw a stick at it, ami 



* Oakleigli Shooting Code. 



