140 COMMON SNIPE. 



is generally considered a difficult shot, but this arises, in a great measure, from the 

 sportsman firing at it during its zigzag flight, when the chances of hitting it are extremely 

 small. The proper time to fire is either immediately the bird is off the ground, and 

 before it has commenced its eccentric movements, or else just after it has concluded, and 

 is commencing its proper and steady flight. 



In beating for Snipe, the sportsman should always endeavour to spring them down 

 wind, for the bird of course at first flies off down the wind, but immediately commences 

 flying against it, which it accomplishes, as before stated, by a series of 'tacks;' and by 

 the time these are over, and its flight is steady, it will seldom be out of your reach, but 

 will generally present a fair side shot for your gun. During wet or windy weather, the 

 Snipe will not lie well, but is usually very Avild. To enjoy Snipe-shooting to advantage, 

 the weather must be still and calm; on such days the birds lie closely, and will rise 

 well within shot. To aid in finding the Snipe, a good pointer or setter is desirable. 

 When a Snipe is shot, the gun should be re-loaded before picking the bird up, for it 

 very frequently happens that in walking up to the dead Snipe, another is put up, which, 

 if you are unprepared, escapes. 



The Snipe is generally considered a solitary bird in its habits, and it is urged in proof 

 of this, that Avhere they abound, and are put up in large flocks, they instantly scatter, 

 and do not fly off in a body. This is true, as to the fact, as we have several times 

 witnessed in Ireland; but we should be inclined to look upon their scattering, under such 

 circumstances, as a preservative instinct, rather than as a proof that they are unsociable 

 birds. "We hazard this conjecture from having, on many occasions, in the south-west of 

 Dorsetshire, seen small flocks of Snipe, numbering from twenty to thirty or forty birds 

 in each, flying in a body when not frightened, and continuing together as long as they 

 kept in view. This was generally late in autumn, or early in winter. 



The following remarks on the habits of this bird, by the late Mr. Thompson, are so 

 much to the purpose, that we venture to give them entire: — "I have myself had some 

 experience in Snipe-shooting, and can truly say, that of all our birds, Snipes seem to be 

 the most sensible to the skyey influences ; or possibly what appears to us their sensibility, 

 may be prompted by their instinctive knowledge of that of the minute creatures on which 

 they prey; — the successful pursuit of these may require the frequent change of ground. 

 Bogs, under similar circumstances of weather, at least to our senses, will exhibit their 

 thirty or forty brace of Snipes one day, and not more than three or four brace the next. 

 The birds would seem to be almost ever on the move from one locality to another. At 

 the dusk of every evening, too, they leave their more retired daily haunts, chiefly to feed in 

 localities where they would be disturbed during the day. At such times any little moist 

 place invites them; — two low, excavated portions within the grounds of the Koyal Aca- 

 demical Institution, in the town of Belfast, were at one time, (and may be still,) nightly 



