MR. FOSTER 189 



quickly, and before it turns over for its first spurt 

 down-wind. A good snipe-shot will generally succeed 

 in stopping his first bird with his right barrel as it 

 thus turns in its flight, but a beginner will find that 

 there is but a second of time allowed him in which to 

 get his first barrel in. I myself began shooting snipe 

 before I was fifteen years old, and for many years 

 practised on Irish snipe only, and was at that time 

 acquainted with the very best snipe-shots that, during 

 an experience extending over forty-five years, I have 

 ever met. 



A Mr. Foster, of the Post-office in Dublin, was the 

 very best of them all ; and I can hardly do better than 

 give my readers the benefit of the advice and instruc- 

 tion which he from time to time imparted to me, and 

 which I have, over and over again, proved to be that 

 best calculated to ensure making a good average on this 

 most difficult of all birds to bring to book. Often when 

 our party consisted of four guns, save when the birds 

 rose in a 'wisp,' I noticed Mr. Foster was invariably 

 the last of us to fire, and even after we had all emptied 

 our barrels I have known him wait longer still, and 

 shouting out, ' Go on, you blackguards !' he would 

 drop his right and left as surely as he put his gun to 

 his shoulder, and unless it were blowing half a Qfale of 

 wind I but rarely ever saw him miss a snipe. His 

 rule was one which I have ever since adopted, viz., to 

 wait on snipe until they settle in their flight, which 

 they invariably do after a few energetic twists to get 

 out of danger. 



In order to enable them to evade their natural 

 enemies, snipe are provided with extra strength in the 

 joints of their wings, and the latter are at the same 



