THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 173 



at Abbeville in 1829 : — My lady-like set- 

 ter, " Mouche," was standing some snipe, 

 one of which was shot to her ; but as she 

 never moved from her original point, it 

 was an understood thing between us that 

 more birds were before her. As soon as 

 I had loaded I threw down my cap, as I 

 thought, near the spot where the first 

 bird fell, and returned to the dog, and 

 killed another bird to her. Upon going 

 back for the first bird and my cap, I 

 could not find the bird, and, after expend- 

 ing some time and trouble, gave up the 

 search. On picking it up, however, to my 

 astonishment I found the snipe under it ; 

 so accurately had the spot been marked. 



As far as my observation and expe- 

 rience enable me to form an opinion, I 

 should say that we must yield the palm 

 to our Gallic neighbours, both as to the 

 quality and quantity of their marshes and 



