98 WILD FOWL SHOOTING. 



have done was, made them hunt snipe in such walking 

 as this. Honestly, I believe I have dislocated my spine, 

 pulled apart some of the ligaments of my body, and 

 sprained my right ankle. Thunder ! but I am tired." 



I most certainly could not deny this assertion, and 

 the heavy manner in which he dragged his weary legs 

 along proved it. Poor fellow ! I can imagine I see 

 him now. 



" Hark ! What's that noise," said he, " I have 

 heard it for the last half-hour." 



Directing his attention to a small speck in the air 

 overhead, I replied : 



" The noise you hear is made by a jack-snipe. On 

 warm, bright days, singly, sometimes two or three will 

 arise to a great height, so high, indeed, that they be- 

 come at times indistinct. When at an extreme height 

 they describe a circle- from fifty to eighty yards in 

 diameter; then suddenly descend with the greatest 

 japidity for thirty or forty yards, then ascend again. 

 The noise made is in their descent, caused, probably, by 

 their wings cutting the air, making that strange, quiver- 

 ing, tremulous sound you have heard so often to-day. 

 Some hunters ascribe it to their becoming uneasy, and 

 as an indication of their intending leaving for some 

 other feeding ground. Others sa.j it's their way of 

 courting, and the frank acknowledgment on the part of 

 the male that he wishes to choose a mate. But the 

 more practical hunters say they do it because they know 

 they are the only bird that can do it with grace aiid 

 rapidity — " 



" Ned," said I, " let's get out of this." 



We were in a place where the bogs were from one 

 to three feet apart. 



