THE SNIPE 



279 



fore them, and many of them flew over or past me, 

 presenting good shots, while none of my birds went to 

 them. I made a double shot just before we met, and 

 had difficulty in finding the birds, but they offered the 

 services of their dog, and he soon found and retrieved 

 them, first pointing dead in fine style. They wondered 

 that I should kill so many birds when they found it 

 difficult to get a shot. 



In an old note-book I find the record of a snipe 

 which arose very wild before me three times when I 

 attempted to approach him against the wind, but upon 

 making a dttour and moving upon him down wind, he 

 allowed me to approach very close, and then flew 

 toward me, passing so near that I had to wait for him 

 to get off a suitable distance in order not to miss him 

 or tear him to pieces. 



The snipe are easily killed when hit, and seldom fly 

 on after receiving their death-wound, as the partridges 

 often do. They are usually found scattered about on 

 the feeding ground or in small flocks or wisps, as- they 

 are termed, containing perhaps a half dozen or more 

 birds. 



The rule of silence is of the utmost importance 

 when snipe shooting. There are birds often on the 

 ground which do not get up at the report of the gun, 

 but upon a remark to a companion about the shot or 

 an order to the dog, they may take wing and escape 

 before an empty gun. Slip fresh shells into the gun 

 at once and be always on guard and ready for a sec- 

 ond and even a third or more shots. I have repeatedly 

 killed a number of birds before picking up the first or 

 moving from my position. 



Bogardus mentions killing on one occasion three 



