310 RECREATIONS OF A NATURALIST 



Over 300 a day were killed on three occasions, 

 making 972 in the three days. Over 200 a day 

 were killed on twenty-six days, making in all 6378, 

 and 100 and upwards were bagged on 285 days, 

 giving a total of 40,367 snipe. During the twenty 

 seasons' snipe-shooting, from 1867 to 1887, the 

 following extraordinary result was obtained : — 



It only remains to add a few of Mr Pringle's re- 

 marks on the guns used, powder and shot. 



" For a few seasons I shot with g-uns of Lane, 

 Purdey, and Grant ; afterwards altogether with 

 Purdey's hammer cylinder ; then (when they came 

 in) with hammerless choked — the perfection of guns 

 in my opinion — they shot so hard, wore so well, and 

 handled so beautifully as to leave nothing to be 

 desired, weighing 6 lb. 10 oz. As to shot, No. 9 

 chilled shot was used, sometimes No. 8 for the left 

 barrel ; I stuck to black powder for a long time, for 

 I always had a feeling that it shot stronger. 

 Eventually, however, I used Schultz, though to the 

 end I occasionally used black for the second barrel. 



