MA11SH BIRDS. 81 



as a fringe to the arable, and was between that and the 

 coverts ; and by judiciously breaking up, trenching, ditching, 

 and planting willows, and on the highest places hollies, T 

 could, in the flight time, generally about the middle of 

 October (according to the season), keep my sedge and rushes 

 in the top pond nearly root dry, and the water sufficiently 

 low to afford food for the snipe, and by flushing the bottoms 

 afforded future feed for them. The consequence was that, 

 instead of a snipe or two 'now and agin,' I could all through 

 the season show some, and frequently have seen killed by 

 one gun down this beat, shooting over a small setter broken 

 specially to work for snipe, a bag of eight or ten couples or 

 more in an hour's easy walking in a white frost. The hollies 

 would provide a cock or two, for if quiet they will not leave 

 the feed far in a frost ; and many a rare specimen this place 

 has afforded some of the most rare that have been obtained 

 in this country for in a few years I had a splendid reach, 

 with about a dozen ponds of various kinds, some open, some 

 Avell sheltered, and rough snipe ground between ; for it is as 

 easy to show snipe, cock, teal, widgeon, duck, and many of 

 the divers on a shooting, as 'partridge, always partridge.' 

 Many a sour, wet corner of a field, useless to grow anything 

 but osiers, if broken up, trenched, and planted, would afford 

 a snipe or two where one was not known before only as a 

 rara avis. Find the feed, and my experience tells me they 

 will go nearly anywhere. I could relate numerous instances 

 of this. The great thing is to supply suitable and likely 

 spots, and have them prepared when the first flight comes, 

 and you can then stop those that would otherwise pass by 

 you ; and, feed once found, you may always insure birds. 

 How is it a particular holly bush will provide you a cock as 

 sure as the season comes round, but that the ' situation 

 suits ? ' Can any one tell me why ducks and widgeon select 

 different ponds, and keep to them, unless it is that situation 

 has the main to do with it ? 



"W. J., 



" Noblcthorp, Yorkshire." " Gamekeeper." 



G 



