THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 171 



one who has any pretension to knowledge 

 in these matters is aware that the setter 

 is indisputably the dog best suited for 

 this species of sport. 



The setter, if properly bred from the 

 crosses I have before pointed out, will 

 turn out naturally a water dog; and 

 where the swamp is intersected by small 

 rivers, gulleys, and wide ditches, an ani- 

 mal of this kind is indispensable. 



The snipe, ninety-nine times out of a 

 hundred, flies against the wind ; the 

 shooter w^ill therefore beat his ground 

 accordingly, to secure to himself the cer- 

 tainty of a cross shot — the grand deside- 

 ratum in snipe-shooting. 



If an eccentric bird should, contrary to 

 the custom of his tribe, take to wing 

 down wind, the chances of escape are 

 greatly in his favour ; for his flight will 

 be so rapid, his twistings and turnings so 

 bewildering, especially to the unpractised 

 I 2 



