SEAFOWL SHOOTING SKETCHES. 81 



seen, a small-bore breech-loading- rifle having- taken its place. 

 Everyone will have noticed the abhorrence which rooks manifest 

 towards a gun, which, while doubtless to be ascribed to their 

 sharp sight and instinct, has caused the saying- that they can 

 smell powder. 



I have used the crossbow the last three seasons for killing rooks, 

 and also last May (1908) shot with the air cane gun. But I prefer 

 the crossbow. 



THE COMMON SNIPE. 



A favourite bird with most sportsmen and epicures. It has a 

 very rapid, and, for a short distance, most zigzag flight. Few 

 people have seen a snipe on the ground. Its colour is so similar 

 to the withered herbage amongst which it sits that it requires a 

 very sharp eye to distinguish the bird. It generally frequents 

 moist land, where it can probe into the soft earth, where it finds 

 the succulent worms which impart such a delicate flavour to its 

 flesh. It is eaten with the trail inside, so that the consumer 

 enjoys to the full the " diet of worms." 



As regards getting snipe, they are both captured and shot. 

 The former is done either by horse-hair nooses or by a draw-net. 

 Shooting them is rather a difficult feat, and no bird gives more 

 satisfaction when it is cut down in mid career. When the weather 

 is frosty and the ground covered with snow, the snipe frequents 

 the running streams. 



There is a good picture in Craven's " Recreations," before 

 quoted, of " The Wounded Snipe," by A. Cooper. The bird lies 

 on its breast with wings stretched out on the snow at the edge of 

 a dark pool. 



THE JACK SNIPE. 



Not so plentiful as the common snipe, except in a few places. 

 This bird is much smaller, and the bill shorter than the latter. 

 It is rather handsomer, too, in its plumage, and is considered even 

 rather better eating. It lies very close, and is fond of old pits 

 and drains. Generally, only one or two are found in a place, but as 

 soon as killed another may be looked for on the following day. 

 It is reputed even more difficult to kill than the full snipe, but 

 provided the sportsman has very small shot, say No. ID'S, he will 

 find it easier to knock down than its larger confrere, especially 

 if he takes a snap shot as soon as it rises the best plan for all 

 snipe. 



STARLING. 



Another common bird, and one that would be esteemed beautiful 

 if it were not common. When young, it is of a uniform dull brown 

 colour, then changes to deep metallic green with white spotted 



