202 THE INFLUENCE OP 



fully observe the changes in the system of living 

 amongst fowl produced by the different varia- 

 tions of climate and weather. In wild-fowl 

 sport, it is of the greatest consequence to be 

 thoroughly acquainted with the effect of at- 

 mospheric alterations. Take snipe, for in- 

 stance. As a rule, they are to be found in the 

 wet moors and marshes. They frequent the 

 springs of the bogs and fens, or the short reeds 

 on the banks of a shoaling lake. During a 

 hard frost, however, they shift their quarters to 

 the ditches with running streams, and to the 

 green oases in the heather wastes which denote 

 a stirring fount under the surface by which the 

 spots are softened for the long bill of the bird. 

 Woodcock, when the frost holds, leave the 

 woods and coverts for the most out of the way 

 and improbable places. I shot three brace from 

 the hedgerows within one mile of a large town, 

 and the same day had beaten a close preserve 

 for them without putting up a single bird. It 

 has always seemed to me that frost not only 

 made wild fowl shift their residences or feeding 

 grounds, but also rendered them stupid and 

 bewildered. Snipe fly easiest in freezing 



