THE FIELD. SNIPE-SHOOTING. 263 



These absolute rules are not, as it would at first seem, 

 mere maxims of courtesy and good-breeding. They are 

 necessary to prevent confusion ; to prevent, what will other- 

 wise constantly occur, both men from firing both barrels 

 at the same birds, and consequently getting but two birds, 

 however well they may be shooting, instead of four, for 

 four shots. I have seen this very thing happen fifty times 

 with two jealous men blazing away, all eagerness to outdo 

 each other, at the first birds that take wing ; and also have 

 seen half a dozen more birds spring one by one, and go 

 away unharmed, with all the barrels unloaded, after one of 

 these ineffectual feux dejoie; and I believe that the odds 

 are as five to one in favor of a couple of shooters' making 

 a bag, who adhere strictly to the rules, against a couple 

 who shoot hap-hazard, without regard to any decencies of 

 deportment, at every thing which rises. 



If each man shoot over his own dog, as is for the most 

 part the case in America, and one have all the luck of the 

 day, for luck will at times run in favor of one gun and 

 his dog get all the points, it is but courteous to call up 

 the other and offer him the shot. 



In covert shooting, especially when birds are scarce, it 

 is always proper to signify to the second party that there 

 is a point, by calling him up in a low tone, exclaiming 

 also " Toho ! " which answers the double purpose of cau- 

 tioning the dog to be steady, and of warning the other 

 gun. 



When a bird rises, always, before firing, cry, " Mark, 

 right ! " or " Mark, left ! " as it may be. By observing 

 the two latter points, many birds will be brought to bag 



