38 WILD-FOWL SHOOTING. 



quiet till they have done twisting in their flight, as 

 they may perhaps give you an opportunity of firing 

 while describing the semicircle; but if you present in 

 haste, you cannot bring the gun up to a proper aim. 

 If they rise at a moderate distance, down with them 

 before they begin their evolutions; when they cross, fire 

 well forward. Snipes lie best in windy weather, and 

 when flushed present a good mark by hanging against 

 the wind. Endeavour to get to windward of them, 

 and to catch a cross shot; thus you will not be so 

 much embarrassed by their zigzag flight. Snipes are 

 to be found in bottoms not frozen. First, go silently 

 down wind, and beat up the wilder ones; then send ais 

 old pointer up wind, to find those which lie close. 



WILD-FOWL SHOOTING. 



THE birds most commonly sought are the duck and 

 mallard, dun-birds, easterling, widgeon, and teal, with 

 the coot, which (though held in no estimation, from its 

 being so very plentiful) is, however, when stuffed and 

 dressed like ducks, very little, if at all, inferior to them. 

 Wild-fowl shooting is sometimes practised by night, 

 during the utmost severity of the winter. Shots, even 

 in the day-time, may be obtained by concealment and 

 careful watching; but, in general, flight-time, or soon 

 after twilight, is the season for this sport, which may 

 be pursued from that time as long as the shooter can 



