Wilson's snipe. 189 



but of many mishaps and hardships encountered during the 

 campaign on the filthy marshes, the most of which, though 

 grievous at the time, in reality added zest to the sport, and will 

 ever remain imbedded on the memory of the true Sportsman 

 as playful souvenirs by which to recall the scenes of much past 

 enjoyment. 



DIFFERENT PLANS FOR SHOOTING SNIPES. 



" Next for the Snipe you must prepare — 

 He darts like lightning through the air, 

 With devious wing — a moment wait, 

 You'll see the rover travel straight." 



There are many ways in vogue for overcoming the exag- 

 gerated difficulties attending the shooting of Snipes; in fact, 

 every Sportsman has some particular rule of his own to guide 

 him, and recommends it in the strongest terms to every tyro 

 panting to reach that desirable goal, " a good snipe shot." 

 However, laying all means and modes aside, every one is well 

 satisfied if he reaches home at the close of a long day's tramp 

 with a few couple of these wary Birds. When, however, 

 Snipes are very abundant on our marshes, and the weather 

 favorable for shooting, it is no unusual thing for an experienced 

 shot to retire from the field with fifteen or even twenty couples 

 of them. 



All the various systems for shooting Snipes may be reduced 

 to the two following plans : " snap shooting" and " deliberate 

 shooting," both diametrically opposed to each other in practice 

 and theory, but the same in their results, as either will be found 

 to answer equally well in the present case. The snap shot 

 kills the Bird as soon as sprung, and before he enters upon the 

 zigzag course ; the deliberate shot poises his weapon, and coolly 

 waits till these singular gyrations are at an end, and then pulls 

 the trigger upon his victim with a certainty of bringing him to 

 the ground. The irregular flight of the Snipe is discontinued, 

 if the Bird be allowed to pursue its course for a short distance, 

 and its motion becomes uniform and steady, long before it is 

 out of reach of the gun, as it is very easily killed, requiring but 

 a shot or two to bring it down. 



