86 GUN, KOD, AND SADDLE. 



especially if the weather be wet and blustering, 

 they are inclined to be wild; but much depends 

 upon the amount of cover, and consequently shelter, 

 afforded by the locality, but when the genial sun of 

 spring shines with invigorating warmth, they will 

 frequently lie so close that many will flush almost at 

 your feet. When wild, their flights are long and 

 rapid ; when not so, they droop their wings, and 

 frequently alight before a hundred yards have been 

 traversed. However, this does .not apply to the 

 whole day, for toward sunset, possibly from having 

 by that time digested their last night's meal, for 

 they feed principally by night, they invariably 

 become wild, and more difficult of access. To be 

 successful in making a heavy bag of snipe, there 

 is a rule which may be beneficial to the tyro to 

 remember, viz., always to hunt down wind, or as 

 much so as possible, provided always dogs are not 

 used. The stronger the breeze, the more necessity 

 for doing so ; the reason being, that invariably snipe 

 fly against the wind, and being flushed by your 

 advancing on them from windward, the birds will 

 wheel round to the right or left, and present an easy 

 cross-shot, in their determination to pursue the 

 desired direction. 



