SNIPE 251 



their journeyings and choice of feeding-grounds, and 

 extremely unstable with regard to the length of their 

 stay in any particular haunt, that " here to-day, gone 

 to-morrow," is a phrase often rising to the lips of the 

 snipe-shooting fraternity. 



Many and exceedingly varied are the instructions 

 that have been issued to the inexperienced snipe-shooter. 

 Few sporting topics are more fruitful of argument as 

 an after-dinner discussion than is that of snipe-shooting. 

 Truth is, the conditions governing the whole procedure 

 are so exceedingly complex and varied that no hard- 

 and-fast set of rules can be made to apply to all cases 

 with equal suitability. 



An axiom widely accepted among shooting men of 

 experience is to the effect that the most successful way 

 to take snipe is to walk down wind on to them. This 

 plan, certainly, is much to be commended, as it helps 

 the shooter to get over that peculiarly disconcerting 

 rolling or twisting movement displayed by snipe on 

 rising. Snipe, as do other birds, invariably rise with their 

 breasts towards the wind ; thus, though the snappiest 

 of snap-shots may fail to secure a snipe in the act of 

 springing, a comparatively easy side-shot may be ob- 

 tained a second or two later as the bird turns to change 

 the direction of its flight away from the sportsman. 

 But this method is not without its drawbacks, the chief 

 objection urged against it being that the sound of the 

 sportsman's movement is carried by the wind in the 

 direction of the snipe, which thus become aware of his 

 proximity sooner than they would had he proceeded 

 up wind on to them. Still, however efficacious, this 

 plan of down-wind walking is seldom likely to be 

 pursued religiously the whole day through, for on 



