200 The Snipe escapes. [cHaP. XI. 
have received, I took him up for that purpose. But, alas! 
there is many a slip between the cup and the lip. 
“Away flew the bird just as I was about to lay him on 
my knee; he actually slipped out from among my very 
fingers. I fired both barrels as soon as I could get hold 
of my gun, sitting though I was. But on the bird went, 
whistling as he flew, despite the dangling of his shattered 
limb, but whether in derision at my stupidity, or exulting 
in his own miraculous and fortunate escape, I can not tell. 
Reaching the burn mouth of Boyndie, he again alighted 
among the tumbling waves there. It was now gloaming, 
and what between one thing or other, I was rather like an 
aspen-leaf than any thing else. Follow, however, I did; I 
searched the place, and was just on the eve of giving up 
the pursuit as hopeless— having, as I thought, beat the 
ground over and over again to no purpose—when up rose 
the bird from among my very feet. Both barrels were 
again emptied, but with little apparent effect. The last 
one made him scream somewhat harshly, and falter a little 
in his flight, but that was all. On he sped. Darkness now 
put an end to any further operations for that day. Next 
day, however, and for many days after, I was out; but, al- 
though I searched the coast as far as the sands of White- 
hills on the one side, and the burn of Melrose on the other, 
I could find no traces of the bird. And thus I lost perhaps 
one of the greatest ornithological rarities that have ever vis- 
ited the district.” 
One of the most vivid descriptions which Edward insert- 
ed in the Banffshire Journal was a narrative of a day’s ad- 
ventures on Gamrie Head. The editor, in introducing it to 
his readers, said that it reads not unlike a chapter of Au- 
dubon or Wilson. The reader will judge for himself: 
“ Having promised to visit some friends in Gardenstown, 
to partake of their hospitality during the festive season of 
the new year, I left home with that object on the morning 
of the 31st of December, 1850. I passed through Mac- 
4 
