324 EMPLOYMENT OF THE DOG IN HUNTING, ETC. 



about the margin of unfrozen springs, along the borders of 

 streams, or in marshes near the shore. Bent grass is also a 

 favourite haunt at such times, as frost has seldom any effect 

 upon it. Should the severe weather continue, they take to the 

 plantations like woodcocks, to furze covers on southern slopes, 

 and to the rocks on the shore. 



" Snipe are very restless at night, but, unless disturbed, 

 seldom move in the daytime. During bright moonlight nights 

 they travel a great deal, and are fond of feeding on ihe sea-shore. 

 Walking along the coast at such times, I have put them up 

 in dozens, and even in daylight have shot them on a strand. 

 In beating a marsh near the sea I have always been least suc- 

 cessful when the tide was out, which I could only account for 

 by the supposition that the birds were then feeding upon the 

 strand. 



" In some districts in Ireland there are what are called black 

 and red bogs. The sportsman will sometimes find them in one 

 and sometimes in the other, never in both together. I cannot 

 account for this, as the weather does not appear to be the 

 cause ; at least, I could not observe any marked change. 



" Almost any dog can be trained to set snipe. Water sjDaniels 

 and ^Newfoundlands have been known to do it ; and I once shot 

 for part of a season over a little Dinmont terrier. But the dog 

 of all dogs for that sport — or indeed any sport — is the old Irish 

 setter, when he can be got pure. Handsome, courageous, hardy, 

 and delighting in water, he is (as an old gamekeeper remarked to 

 me once) ' a companion for any gentleman.' The dropper is also 



