320 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



prepared for snipes, in whatever quarter of the globe his steps may 

 take him. A port d'arme must be obtained before shooting- them in 

 France, the cost of which is fifteen francs. In no other country is a 

 certificate required for killing these birds. 



A difference of opinion prevails among those who have written 

 upon this subject, as to the proper manner of taking a snipe-walk. 

 Some writers affirm that it is best to walk down-wind ; others, that 

 the sportsman should walk up-wind. Of the two opinions, I agree 

 with the former, as the easier and most successful method of killing 

 snipes, because these birds invariably fly up-wind : consequently, 

 they pass to the right or left of the sportsman, within easy range ; 

 whereas, if he walks up-wind, the snipe flies off straight ahead, with 

 such rapidity that it is out of range before the gun can be brought 

 to the shoulder. 



There is another point in regard to snipe shooting in which there 

 is also great difference of opinion, which is, as to the services of a 

 pointer or setter; some advocating that the snipe shooter is best 

 without either, others that the services of one or the other are highly 

 desirable. In the latter opinion I entirely concur. But the dog 

 must be fast and stanch : a setter is as good as a pointer for this 

 sport ; but a slow dog is worse than none at all.* 



The effluvium of snipes is very powerful on the olfactory organs of 

 the dog ; which, if he be stanch to his point, the faster he ranges, 

 the better. It is very easy to train a dog for snipe shooting : he 

 should be taught to hunt at right-angles to the wind. 



The great snipe (" Scolopax major) is very irregular in its visits 

 to this country. It is the easiest to kill of any of the species, not 

 simply on account of its larger size, but because it lies closer, is more 

 sluggish in its habits than the common snipe, flies steadier, and 

 seldom goes far on being flushed. 



It may be instantly distinguished from the common snipe, on 

 rising from the ground, by its red-looking tail, which it spreads out 

 like a fan ; the under part of its body showing very white. 



These birds are so indolent in their nature, that they often lie as 

 close as a jack-snipe, or until nearly trodden upon; indeed, they very 

 much resemble jack-snipes in their habits. 



* " They know practically little of what they are writing about, who assert, in 

 these days, that a slow dog is to be preferred in this species of sport." Kinder* s 

 Sporting Anecdotes ; by H. M. Klapp : A.D. 1853. 



