SHAUN RUADHA. 



grounds during the night. Shaun could tell 

 you accurately enough the habits of snipe; 

 and though unable to bring them down with a 

 gun, will never fail to procure a number of 

 them to order. The rascal snares them with 

 ingeniously planted rods, on which the snipe 

 are made literally to hang themselves ; and you 

 may occasionally find a dozen of the engines 

 pitched close to an oozing spring situated 

 within the range of Mr. Shaun's usual wander- 

 ings. The fellow will only spend powder and 

 shot on wild duck or on the golden plover ; 

 among the latter he makes tremendous havoc 

 in strong gales, or at eventide, when he creeps 

 to the lonely side of the mountain on which 

 the birds assemble for the night. 



The moorland shooter in December must 

 not expect the comfortable proportions of 

 game which are almost assured to the fowler 

 who takes a grouse-stocked moor in August. 

 The prospect of a good bag is always near and 

 probable enough to give an interest to the 

 expedition for making it, while the chances of 

 complete failure impart a zest to every little 

 success achieved. When the dusk has warned 



