i 4 8 SPOXTS AND ANECDOTES. 



from the springs used to fly, there being little slops 

 or puddles of water between almost every tree. I 

 need not say that as soon as they got up there was no 

 time to be lost, for they were out of sight in a moment. 

 I remember that the first day I went to this ground 

 there were quantities of snipe, and I killed nine 

 couple. I went next day feeling sure that they would 

 again all be there, but, alas! instead of snipe there were 

 quantities of springes, or snares set, feathers all over 

 the place, and evident marks that showed that the 

 snarers had had a real good haul. Doubtless, having 

 heard a good deal of shooting they knew what was 

 up, and were springing all night long. For the 

 Roman peasants are good hands at taking all sorts 

 of game, as may be seen by the market-place. 



I was not a little surprised at finding, when I 

 emptied my pockets when I got home, that alt my 

 silver money, my silver pencil-case, and my silver 

 hunting watch, were turned as black as if they had 

 been laid by and not cleaned for fifty years, and my 

 clothes and everything about me smelt of sulphur, 

 just as a dog does when he has been dressed 

 for the mange. 



The peasants catch a vast quantity of woodcock 

 also, during the time of their passage, in a very curious 



