one's weight will invariably lend to the thin covering above the swamp giving way. If held last at each
footstep in the soft clinging soil, such as is commonly found on a marsh where cattle and horses have
fed during summer, almost every shot will be lost unless the bird llies straight or veers towards the
left, a sharp twist to the right usually resulting in a clean miss, unless the sportsman is capable of
firing with equal precision from either shoulder. Many a doleful talc might the conscientious gunner (IR
so inclined) unfold concerning his first exploits on such ground, the attempt to swing one's self round
towards the right not unfroqiiently being followed by a sprawl in the marsh, with one of the long boots
left firmly fixed in the mud.
I have met with few localities where Snipe-shooting with a fair chanco of success could be followed
with such ease and comfort as in the fens of llnttishain. Qui, and Swall'haui, situated some eight or nine
miles from Cambridge. Doubtless many changes have taken place in the nature of this flat and
dreary country, my acquaint ami- with the district having terminated on leaving the University. On
certain portions of the ground termed poor-lands the natives exercised the righl of cutting turf for firing.
The way in which this operation was carried out differed somewhat from the manner in which the
Highlander easts bis peats: the turf was dug out from numbers of small oblong cuttings and afterwards
dried and stacked by the side of the gap from which it was taken ; towards autumn the moisture drained
into the cutting (leaving the feu dry and firm for walking) and a pool of black peaty water was formed.
Here Sui|ie were to be round as soon as flights arrived in the district, the birds for the most part lying
well. The stacks of peat scattered over the fen proved also a most convenient means of concealment
when stalking the small hunches of Mallard or Teal frequently dropping about the pools or dykes on the
approach of winter. Though Ibis had liecn, according to the yarns of the old feumen, a great locality
for Snipe in days gone by, the bags were now exceedingly light, seven couple being the heaviest I ever
secured. A brace or two of Partridges, now and then a hare, a couple of Mallard or Teal, together with
the three or four couple of Snipe usually obtained allbrded, however, ¡11 my humble estimation, a fair dav's
sport ; the chance of falling in with, and occasionally bagging, a Quail was also a never-failing attraction
to the spot. To Wicken Fen, near Fly, formerly a well-known resort for Sni[>e as well as many rarities,
I made several excursions during summer, autumn, and winter: though the ground had lately undergone much
alteration, there still remained a considerable stretch of marshland with waving bogs and large reed-beds,
somewhat resembling the country surrounding the Norfolk broads. A strong juiuping-pole armed with a
round clog of wood near the foot, to guard against sticking too firmly in the mud, was always a necessity
in these fens, in order to cross the broad water-dykes intersecting the ground iu every direction.
To an undergraduate with a stroug predilection for the gun, the proximity of the various feus and rough
marshlands was a temptation scarcely to be resisted. The pursuit of the lungbills, however, for several
consecutive days in the week during term-time, and consequent absence from lectures, 1 oupled with a "scratch"
for more than one examination, raised at length the long-cherished wrath of the authorities. It became ubvious
at length, in order to avoid unpleasantness, that a change of scene was necessary, and my departure from the
classic shades of Alma Mater was regarded with equal satisfaction by all parties concerned. " Heforc ten years
have passed you will repent the time wasted while up at the University." These were the parting words of mv
College tutor, uttered in his most solemn and impressive tones. In one sense, though certainly not in the one
intended by the worthy man, Ins words have been fulfilled. More than twice ten years have passed rapidly
away, and my sole regret at the present moment is, that the whole and not three fourths of my time bad
not been spent in the fens. After quitting the University I speedily discovered that the study of agriculture
in Fast Lothian was far more to my taste than reading fur a degree. As "a mud" * in the south of
SNIPE.
Scotland I again met with excellent chances of making farther observations on the present and numerous
other species of Waders and Sen-fowl. A few pairs of Snipe nested on Gullane Unks. resorting to the lowgreen
cover growing thickly on the marshy portion of the ground. Numbers were occasionally flushed
nhout the open burns uud pools among the sand-lianks, the small stream of water that moaned from the
curling-[»iiul and trickled slowly down towards the Firth proving an especial attraction in severe weather:
on this part of the links an excellent chance of a heavy bag was lost owing to a delicieucy of ammunition,
the Snipes, as usual, having been fallen in with when least expected. As the birds exhibited an
unaccustomed disregard of danger, though by no means pressed by I on g-eo 111 in ued frost, a short account
extracted from my notes may not he mil of place.
Having awaited the break of day iu the wooden house erected at the curling-pond one frosty morning
early ¡11 December lstst, I cautiously looked over the low wall that divides the sandy links from the
cultivated land as soon as then- was sufficient light to make observations ou the dark swampy ground
below. Ducks had been the object of my search, uud lliuugb the air was thick with slowly falling enow
a rapid glance revealed the fuel that none were present. After waiting a few minutes, however, several
dark spots became invisible, apparently moving slowly- over the moss now partially white with snow.
Though doubtful iu the fiist instance, 1 was convinced at last that birds were in view, a small group of
at hast half a dozen having gathered where but one bad been discerned a few minutes curlier, l-'irge
numbers of Golden Plover had been beard at night-time the previous night, calling loudly round the
duck-pits*, without offering a chance, and these I concluded, after passing the night ou the sands and
muds of the bay, had now lielakeu themselves inland. Without a sound to disturb the unsuspecting Hock,
the gun was raised, though for a time I hesitated, so mutionless were the objects. A wing slowly raised
at last attracted attention, and the trigger was instantly touched, the second barrel being discharged
almost at random, owing to the smoke and baneeanaod by the slate of the atmosphere. The wcll-kuuwn
call of the Snipe uttered on all sides left no longer any doubt as to the species, between one and two
hundred birds having risen at the shot along the course of the stream. After picking up three or four
couple from the moss and following a few small wisps lower down the links, my ammunition began
to be exhausted. Under such circumstances, it was by no means consoling to watch the birds, after
wheeling round, alighting about every piece of water where the mud was unfrozen, exhibiting the greatest
disinclination to rise ou wing from even the very snullest amount of coier. No preparation iu the way
of cartridges having been made for securing a heavy bag, and being distant also between live and six
miles from home, I was forced to quit the spot with fourteen couple of Snipe and a Mallard. The following
morning the weather was more open and birds were far Iran numerous; though the whole of the links
as far as Ahcrlady Uurn were thoroughly searched, only ten or a dozen couple were flushed.
Snipes, when plentiful, rise at times so thickly and fly in such close company that I have repcalcdly
sceu three or four birds brought down by a single shot. While shooting on the ronds round Itcigbaui
Sounds in November 1871, a wisp of live birds rose wild at the distance of at least one hundred yards.
After wheeling high in the air for a few minutes the whole party swept dowu to the level of the marsh, and
expecting iii.u their line of flight would bring them within range, I raised my gnu just in lime to stop
the leader as they came iu view through the reeds over the marsh wall; on proceeding to the spot,
one bird alone retained sullicieiit strength to flutter ¡1 short dislunce, the REMAINDER of the wisp lying
lifeless or helpless on the liunk.
The sludes and sloppy rush-marshes in parts of Pcveiiscy Level formerly uttraetnl large flights of
Snipe; of late veins, however, their number* have greatly decreased. Ou two occasions I happened to
lie ou the spot shortly after the arrival of the birds, and the immense numbers seen ou wing will not
nenenanfJBi