THE GUN, SHOT, ETC. 55 



first these birds come over in September or October they are 

 very tame, from the effects of their long flight, and they will 

 then " lie like stones ;" but in a November frost they are as 

 wild as hawks, and get up with a scream which unsteadies 

 the nerves of the tyro to such an extent as to save many a 

 life. Snipe almost invariably fly against the wind, and in 

 order to avoid their going straight away, it is best to beat 

 for them " down wind." This, it is true, makes it some- 

 what more difficult for the dog to find them ; but by making 

 him cross the ground carefully he will be able to catch 

 their scent nearly as well as on the other plan, and the more 

 so as the scent of the snipe does not travel very far. In 

 mild weather snipe are not to be met with in any numbers 

 on the marshes, but frequent higher ground ; while, on the 

 contrary, in frost, they can only obtain their food in situa- 

 tions protected from the frost, and especially in salt marshes, 

 which do not freeze so easily as those out of reach of the sea. 

 The sportsman will, therefore, select his beat accordingly. 

 A retriever is always needful, and he must be broken to 

 water. 



THE GUN, SHOT, ETC. 



Any ordinary gun is suited to this sport, as snipe, though 

 they take a harder blow than many people imagine, are not 

 so difficult to kill as grouse or partridges. The shot most 

 useful is No. 7, or even No. 8, but late in the season, No. 6 

 may be put into the second barrel with advantage. 



