SNIPE. 53 



(juisites for a Snipe-shooter are, — a good pair of water boots, 

 a staunch pointer, which hunts close and steadily, carries 

 quick, and lies down while the gun is reloaded, and finally, 

 a perfectly clean gun, No. 8 shot, and dry powder. Thus 

 equipped, the dexterity and good aim of the sportsman may 

 get a dozen or twenty Snipes in one spot, provided he travels 

 slowly over the ground, and keeps cool and collected. 



In Snipe-shooting, the weather is also to be taken into 

 consideration, which we will here notice for the information 

 of such of our readers as cannot entirely give up their time 

 to choose any day in particular. When the day is windy, the 

 Snipes are very wild, and get up before any one can reach 

 their station ; under these circumstances the sportsman must 

 walk his game up with the wind, particularly as the bird 

 rises by preference against it, because in this case the Snipe, 

 getting up, will either have to encounter that obstruction, 

 and be thus retarded in its flight, or will fly sideways, re- 

 maining within the first distance of the sportsman for a suf- 

 ficient time to srive another chance. 



Rainy weather is the worst time of all to go in pursuit of 

 Snipes, in consequence of the very unpleasant fact that the 

 sportsman receives the watery element not only from below 

 in greater quantity, but from above, and the birds besides do 

 not lie so close. Clear, mild, and still weather is the most 

 proper and pleasant ; when the sportsman travels step by step 

 over the uneven ground, picking his way leisurely, and being 

 at all times prepared to level his gun without having to con- 

 sider other difficulties ; he can then watch his dog closely, 

 and follow him uninterruptedly, either straight forward or to 

 the right or left, so that when a point is made, or the Snipe 

 gets up close to him, he is as near as is necessary to kill it. 

 In order to gain this latter point, the sportsman must be 

 quick at aiming, and very collected ; but practice alone can 



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