Sporting Notes in the Far East. I 1 7 



not cleaned out, you are likely to get the opportunities of killing 

 many snipe, besides there being always a good chance of putting 

 up a duck, who has chosen for a feeding ground, the many odorif- 

 erous, and luscious patches of mud, with which the bottom of these 

 creeks are studded. 



Here is a small suggestion, in connection with this particular 

 kind of snipe shooting, that I think will prove useful. 



If in following up a creek, a snipe is flushed, and also unex- 

 plainably missed ; he (the snipe) will be sure to be disinclined to 

 leave his larder, and when he alights further up, mark him carefully 

 down. Now the natural tendency of the disappointed gunner, is 

 to hurry up again along the edge of the creek ; don't do this ! or 

 the snipe will be certain to get up wild ; but leave the creek 

 altogether, and when next you touch the bank, appear as near above 

 him as possible, and you are then safe for a nice shot. 



As in the other case, to kill one of these rapid flyers, at a long 

 rise, skimming the water, straight away, below, and from you, is 

 most difficult. 



There is also good ground for snipe, on the left bank of the 

 river ; but I think it is the very hardest walking, that could possibly 

 be experienced : the best places are the reeds around the village 

 close by the mouth. 



Stalking duck behind the sea-wall is quite possible, and although 

 we all know the excitement of the first peep to select your birds, 



