SERGEANT WALSH. 55 



In spite of its fine appearance and exceedingly 

 game look, it is far from a desirable addition to the 

 table unless served as soup ; this it makes admirably, 

 particularly with the help of a little Worcester sauce. 



This description of game was so abundant this 

 afternoon that soon I had half-a-dozen brace, so 

 resolved to reserve my cartridges for something 

 scarcer and probably more toothsome. 



On arriving close to the margin of the water, I 

 flushed a great number of snipe, but, my shot being 

 much too large for such small fry, I let them go ; 

 otherwise I do not think I should have been so self- 

 denying, for I believe snipe shooting, when the birds 

 are plentiful, to be the acme of sport with the shot 

 gun. In Africa, as in other parts of the world that 

 I have visited, the snipe is doubtlessly migratory, 

 and the species here is identical with that of Europe. 

 Sergeant Walsh, once of the 2nd Queen's Regiment 

 (whom I have known for many years, he having 

 served under me in China), is by far the best 

 naturalist I know of in South Africa, and he con- 

 firmed me in this belief from the inspection of several 

 specimens which I shot at Linikani, near Zeerust, 

 Marico, Transvaal. Out of sight, out of mind, is here 



