204 LEWIS'S AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



exclaims, before pulling the trigger, 'I'll be d d if you do!' 

 giving as a reason that it affords him time to take his aim coolly 

 and collectedly. The plan appears to succeed with him, for a 

 snipe rarely escapes from his merciless barrel." 



The curious twisting flight of the snipe, when suddenly come 

 upon, is not altogether natural to the bird, but is rather the result 

 of circumstances, and has very justly been attributed to fright and 

 the great anxiety of the bird to make off; and perhaps their indis- 

 tinct vision in the glare of the day also renders their course, as it 

 were, undetermined and contorted. 



"Whene'er you beat for snipes, implore 

 Old jEolus o'er marsh and moor 

 Boldly to breathe ; yet always mind 

 You turn your back upon the wind." 



Snipes almost invariably fly against the wind : it will therefore 

 be important for the shooter to have the wind at his back ; for by 

 this arrangement the bird presents a much better mark when 

 coming towards him, and he is also in the proper position to take 

 advantage of all the cross shots. These birds lie better in windy 

 weather than at any other time; but are more difficult to shoot, 

 perhaps, when on the wing, as they fly much farther and swifter 

 than if the day be warm and mild, when their flight is short and 

 easy. 



This latter assertion seems rather strange, too, that they should 

 fly "farther and swifter on a windy day than on a mild one ;" for, 

 considering that they always proceed directly against the wind, it 

 would be very natural for us to infer that, in consequence of this 

 singular habit, their flight ought to be proportionably shorter, 

 slower, and more labored, owing to the powerful resistance offered 

 by a stiff breeze ; such, however, is not the case, as every snipe- 

 shooter knows. 



If, however, snipes have been much hunted after, and are wild, 

 they make long flights even in the calmest and clearest weather ; 

 and are, as said before, very difficult to be got at, in consequence 

 of this very "calm and clearness of the atmosphere," as they pos- 



