DRIVEN SNIPE 201 



Snipe are not considered worth shooting in Ireland 

 until after a frosty night or two in November, when 

 they are in perfect condition, nor can any better bird 

 come to table if properly cooked ; woodcock are also 

 better in November, and after they have had a few 

 days' rest after their long flight against the strong 

 gales they have often to encounter, though at times 

 the latter are so heavy that they never reach Ireland 

 at all in any numbers. 



As may be inferred, snipe afford infinitely better 

 sport with a few days' rest and good feeding after their 

 arrival. At times 1 have shot at driven snipe when 

 they have been too wild to get near enough to shoot 

 in the ordinary way, which is frequently the case in 

 still, frosty weather, and capital sport it is, too. They 

 scarcely ever fly low in such weather, and afford 

 excellent 'rocketing' practice. In dark windy weather, 

 however, it is better to walk them up in the ordinary 

 way, as they then invariably fly low. 



I have noticed that naturalists never give the inter- 

 esting accounts of the habits of snipe and woodcock, as 

 they might do, and as these birds deserve. Such 

 brief notices as from time to time appear respecting 

 them are due to sportsmen, and yet there is so much 

 which is interesting regarding them. 



Our Irish boo^-rang-ers know more about them than 

 anyone else, whether naturalists or sportsmen, and they 

 can tell (and are invariably correct in their informa- 

 tion) the latter the very day on which the birds will 

 arrive. They note the arrival of the winter visitants, 

 such as redwings, etc., which latter birds generally 

 appear about the beginning of October, and the snipe 

 generally arrive within a few hours after the former 



