190 lewis' AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



The following anecdote, just met with in the columns of the 

 racy Spirit, is not bad, and we think the plan adopted by 

 our sporting friend a good one— perhaps, worthy of attention : — 



" It is known to all Snipe-shooters, that when the Bird rises 

 he makes a kind of screaming noise, something resembling the 

 sound of the word escape. A noted shot of our acquaintance 

 invariably 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 singular 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 escape ; and perhaps 

 their indistinct vision in the glare of the day also renders their 

 course, as it were, undetermined and uncertain. 



" Whene'er you beat for Snipes, implore 

 Old ^^olus 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, there- 

 fore, 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 any other time ; but are more difficult 

 to shoot, perhaps, when on the wing, as they fly much further 

 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 " further 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 con- 

 sequence of this singular habit, their flight ought to be propor- 

 tionably shorter, slower, and more labored, owing to the power- 

 ful resistance offered by a stiff breeze; but such, however, is not 

 the case, as every Snipe- shooter knows. 



If, however. Snipes have been much hunted after, and are 



