SNIPE SHOOTING. 295 



a trial of these western haunts, but we are thoroughly 

 impressed that the excellence of these grounds is far 

 from as widely known as it deserves, and that many 

 persons possessed both with means and inclination are 

 unaware that within thirty-six hours' journey of New 

 York they can have such snipe shooting as is to be 

 enjoyed in no other portion of the globe. 



As to all the haunts of snipe, the visitors must go 

 well prepared with a good supply of water-proof boots, 

 for the walking is always damp, sometimes wet ; also 

 a good stock of flannel clothing will be found indis- 

 pensable, for at this season the weather is frequently 

 so variable, that although noon may be oppressively 

 warm, sunset and the hour of the tramp home espe- 

 cially if your feet are wet may be found sufficiently cold 

 to chill the warmest blood. As the ground frequently 

 is very destitute of cover, the birds will not lie for a 

 dog to set them ; nor does this matter, the snipe being 

 so abundant ; but a good retriever, who will keep well 

 to heel, and is under perfect control, will be useful. 

 Moreover, few days will pass without several duck 

 which you have killed or disabled falling in the 

 adjoining sloughs, which, without a retriever or a 

 wading esc'apade, would inevitably be lost. 



In our opinion, there is no kind of field sport in 

 which the breech-loader so plainly shows its superiority 



