SNIPE SHOOTING. 153 



the cock forward, and be a signal for your pre- 

 paration. 



No more on cock shooting, as directions enough 

 about it have been given by other authors. 



SNIPE SHOOTING. 



THE pursuit of snipes is declined by many, who 

 plead their inability to kill them ; than which, no- 

 thing may be easier acquired, by a pretty good shot. 

 Snipe shooting is like fly fishing : you should not fix 

 a day for it, but when you have warm windy weather, 

 saddle your horse and gallop to the stream, with all 

 possible despatch. Should there have been much rain, 

 allow the wind to dry the rushes a little before you 

 begin to beat the best ground, or the snipes may not 

 lie well. Although these birds frequent wet places, 

 yet the very spot on which they sit requires to be dry 

 to their breasts, in order to make them sit close ; or, 

 in other words, lie well. 



If they spring from nearly under your feet, remain 

 perfectly unconcerned, till they have done twisting, 

 and then bring up your gun and fire ; but, if you 

 present it in haste, they so tease and flurry, that you 

 become nervous, and, from a sort of panic, cannot 

 bring the gun up to a proper aim. If, on the other 

 hand, they rise at a moderate distance, down with 

 them before they begin their evolutions. When they 

 cross, be sure to fire well forward, and (if you pos- 

 sibly can) select, as I before said, a windy day for this 



