SNIPE SHOOTING. 199 



CHAPTER V. 



SNIPE SHOOTING. 



I HAVE so frequently referred to snipe shoot- 

 ing throughout this little book, that it is scarce 

 necessary for me to speak of it here. A few 

 practical hints may not be, however, out of 

 place. Use No. 9 shot for snipe, except in 

 windy weather, when No. 7 will be found pre- 

 ferable. Practice snap firing at the birds, the 

 flight is far more diffused and uncertain at 

 thirty yards than at ten, and you ought to be 

 able to bring down your bird on an average 

 between fifteen and twenty-five yards. Snipe 

 are seldom found, singly, be ready with your 

 second barrel. On soft, foggy days, they lie 

 very close, and require to be carefully sought for. 

 I myself, have always used an old sensible potter- 

 ing pointer for snipe shooting. In windy weather 

 the birds are wild, and difficult to approach. 

 In very wet weather, when the marshes are 

 soaked, and in parts glazed as it were with 

 water, the snipe are exceedingly wary, and 

 when one is flushed the " bleat " will send up 



