SPORTING SKETCHES. 261 



A DAY'S SNIPE SHOOTING. 1893. 



BY D. D. 



On the 16th day of September, the anniversary of many a good 

 day's snipe shooting, my friend and I started by an early train 

 from Montreal to Snipeville. The morning was cool and 

 pleasant and promised well. We felt like walking, our pipes 

 were in perfect order and the tobacco of the best quality. Our 

 canine companion, well knowing what " was up," seemed as 

 happy as his master at the prospect of a good day's sport. It 

 was not quite certain that the snipe had arrived ; but, then, had 

 we not often found them before at this date on our favorite 

 ground ? Arrived at the station, the dog scampers away as if 

 inclined to follow the departing train, but a whistle recalls him 

 to his place. Then a walk of about two miles and we are on our 

 "happy hunting grounds" once more, looking for signs of the 

 arrival of our game. We walk over several acres of marsh, 

 when, all at once, just as we were beginning to despair, 

 " Scaipe" sounding behind us calls for a quick shot and a miss at 

 that. Away goes the bird and in vain we cry " Mark," " Mark." 

 He is soon lost to sight altho' to memory so very dear. A few 

 more steps and then up go one, two, three, and then, four 

 more birds all at once, but out of range. The wind has 

 risen and is blowing half a gale. The birds are very wild 

 and fly as if they would never return. Two hours more over 

 such heavy ground, accompanied by rain and wind, shows no 

 birds killed. We try a " nip" and then rest a while for a smoke. 

 Then, oh joy, we hear the cry we love so well and just overhead. 

 Tne same birds have returned, down they go like arrows. At 

 once we are after them. They have run some distance from 

 where they " lit," but very soon we hear their cry of alarm ; up 

 they go, one after another, as wild as hawks, but we were 

 prepared for this. Four shots follow in quick succession, and 

 down go three birds much to the spaniel's joy as he rushes to 

 retrieve them. The rest of these birds are scattered over the 

 field, and after a little more walking w T e secure two more. Then 

 we try other fields, getting occasional long shots, but with only 

 fairly good success. All this time it has been raining. A fire 

 and some grub seem in order. Soon we are enjoying both, under 



