144 SHOOTING I 



Fatigued they near you pitch, and late or soon, 

 If you can shoot at all, they meet their doom. 

 Under a holly bush they love to make 

 Their day retreat, pass none without a shake, 

 And not unoften you'll rewarded be, 

 By flushing one. All Shots, I think, agree, 

 A couple of these birds cause more delight, 

 When amongst game on table spread at night, 

 Than oft the whole day's sport has giv'n beside, 

 And e'er creates 'mongst Sportsmen, greater pride. 

 They're seldom more than fourteen ounces weight, 

 When in condition you might call first-rate. 



Snipes of three kinds we have, the largest sort 

 Nine ounces weighs, these very seldom sport 

 Their figures here, tho' to the Sister Isle 

 They sometimes migrate, and there stay the while 

 The others do with us ; the Woodcock's train 

 They follow here, same time return again. 

 The Common Snipe four ounces is in weight : 

 The little Jack's, it's not worth while to state ; 



