112 WILD-FOWL AND SEA-FOWL OF GREAT BRITAIN 



The Snipe are voracious feeders in their way, so 

 they soon get in first-rate order again. They visit 

 the tide in numbers. Some nights we have gone 

 down when it was dark, but clear — no moon — and 

 have seen them shoot over the creek, "scape, skep- 

 skep-scaping " their loudest when they caught sight 

 of us waiting for them on the saltings. Some 

 stopped behind for us to look at ; for the spaniel 

 was with us to find them when they dropped. But 

 more went on not touched. It is a little difficult to 

 judge distances rightly at night. 



The birds vary in size and colouring. One 

 before me has the dark and light markings very 

 rich and bright ; some again when picked up have 

 a velvety bloom on the plumage. It is a very 

 game-looking bird, and a great favourite with 

 shooters. Some will account for nine birds out 

 of a dozen put up ; others, very good shots at 

 other fowl, will miss shot after shot ; for they 

 either shoot a little too soon or a little over. One 

 I once knew that had missed several very fine 

 ehances was told with grim marsh-land humour to 

 " get well in front of the lot and shoot with his eyes 

 shut." Not long after this he was missed, and on 

 looking round a solitary figure was seen making his 

 way back to the hamlet, with a look of dejection 

 in his very coat-tails. Vast numbers of Snipe are 

 netted to supply the markets ; they fetch a better 

 price, and they look more enticing to the purchaser. 

 They are only a couple of bites when cooked, and 

 it is certainly preferable not to have one bite half 



