migrant! from the north of Europe, the date at which they mny appear is so uncertain, and their
departure for the must part so sudden, that it usually happens, unless one is on the spot nt the time of
their arrival, that the chance is lost, floods or a rise in the tides will in some parts draw Inuneuso
numbers, while in most localities the fens and marshes are alive with longbills for twenty-four or thirty
hours previous to the scfting-in of severe frost or snow. In Hat districts, where little nmning water is to he
found or few spring* exist, scarcely a Snipe will be seen during the continuation of the frost, though the
storms of westerly wind and rain that usually accompany the breaking-lip of the ice will be safe to bring
back several stragglers to their old haunts. 'Without sume previous knowledge of the localities as well
ns of the resident natives, it is, however, improbable that the wandering sportsman will meet with any
great success. The accommodation to be procured at several of the wayside inns in the more remote parts
of the eastern counties, as well as In many other districts, is exceedingly scanty. There are, of course,
cxeepliuns, ami passable though humble quarters may now and then lie secured at even a lowly beer-shop;
the dirt and discomfort, however, experienced on more than one Snipe-shooting expedition are still strongly
impressed on my memory. Tramps, drovers, or itinerant pony-ilealers appear to be the only class of
wayfarers whose custom is anticipated. A single instance will suffice to show the reception accorded to
visitors nt some of these establishments. Having received word late one night in the end of February 1*71,
from a tnarshniun at Beat Huston, that several Saipes had arrived on the common, I started before
daybreak and after a twelve miles' drive found myself, as soon as it was fairly light, in the midst of a
country that seemed to have been fashioned by ualure simply anil solely for the convenience and comfort
of the Snipe tribe. Full birds and Jacks were in sufficient numbers to satisfy even the must exacting of
shooters, and a heavy bag might have been obtained had not n small bunch of fowl claimed my attention
for nt least a couple of hours during the beat part of the day. After circling round a lew times the
strangers settled down in a broad water-dyke, and a long and circuitous tramp had to lie undertaken
before 1 was able to Identify the unknown ns a couple of pair of Gaduall. After several hours' sport, as
squalls or wiud and rain were fulluwiug one another In rapid succession and rendering the birds
excessively wild, a move was made toward the inn to which the conveyance had previously been despatched.
A glance at the exterior of the dilapidated building was by no means assuring, while an inspection of the
interior proved still less inviting. In answer to a demand fur refreshment we were informed that beer
alone could he supplied on the premises. In consequence of a warning as to the uuhospiuihle nature of
the country towards which we were bound, our conveyance luckily contained a supply of eatables and
drinkables, and the inquiry had simply been made in order to do something for the good of the house.
Plates and tumblers had, however, been omitted or forgotten, and the loan of these articles was politely
solicited. Three or four half-pint glasses, foul and dirty as lifted from the tap-room, where a party of sots
were boosing, having been placed in the parlour, the grimy attendant declared it was utterly impossible
to provide us with plates. At length, after considerable delay and not till borrowing from a neighbouring
cottage had been resorted to, the landlady was induced to ferret out a sufficient amount of crockery.
Luckily the driver had discovered a pump in the yard, as the plates when produced and placed on
the table bore strong evidence that the last meal at which they were employed had consisted of
herrings. An unlimited supply of water soon put plate* and glasses into working urder, and being well
able to wait on ourselves no further difficulties were encountered.
Every sportsman retains his own ideas as to which breed of dog is most serviceable for Snipe-shootiug.
Two animals, as perfect ns any I ever met with, were a lemou-and-wlute setter and a liver-coloured pointer,
both bitches. In their looks there was little to commend them: hut their work in the fens and marshes
was undeniable. Neither was the occupant id' a well-kept or fashionable kennel, nor had the lash of keeper**
whip ever descended on their uubrusbed coats. The setter found what shelter she cuuld in the corner of
n feuman's cowshed, while the sly old pointer had seldom any difficulty iu securing quarters when the day's
work was over in front of fhe tap-room fire of a cosy country inn.
Judging from many of the sporting pictures published some years back, a wild and noisy spaniel
that ranged unchecked was the sort of animal that accompanied the gunner to the feus and inar-hes.
If any faith is to be placed in these urlistic efforts. Snipe and fowl must, in those good old times, have
beeu far more confiding than at the present day, otherwise the shooters' bags must, have been light indeed.
Many years ago I possessed n red Sussex spaniel, a quadruped much after the fashion of some
represented in the old plates; being somewhat rash as well as jealous, bis perfnnuances on the Snipe-bogs
may be passed over, hut one of Ins exploits is worth recording. After a fair day's sport on the fens of
one of the eastern counties, 1 was returning homewards between eight and nine on a fine November evening;
a low basket-cart was my conveyance, with a fast-trotting pony iu the shafts, and the milestones flew past
in rapid succession. The spaniel, having dried bis coat after his day's work in the marshes by a snooze
in front of the tap-room fire while a dinner of ham and eggs had been discussed, was, as usual, stretched
out on my feet. Iu consequence of the garroting scare, now at its height, and also of several attacks on
the highway perpetrated by footpads iu the neighbourhood, a loaded revolver had been pla I within
reach between the cushions of the seat and the right-hand side of the trap. Though a Tew passing clouds
occasionally obscured the moon, the night was fairly light, and the few travellers 1 met or passed could
easily In- distinguished nt the distance or forty or fifty yards. The road was for the most part fiat and
good, and after leaving a louc-standing turnpike ran for two or three miles across a piece of open land.
When about halfway across this dreary stretch, two figures came in view, apparently following the same
course as myself. As they persisted iu keeping the centre of the road, I was forced to case for a
moment when they suddenly separated and. allowing the pony just sufficient room to iwss, rushed one to
each side of the trap with a loud request for a lift. The chestnut mare never nccdi-d the whip, and my
right hand being at liberty, the pistol was grasped before the fellows laid hold of the trap. Startled by
the noise the mare dashed eif at a gallop, and the man to my left was immediately shaken oil', while his
companion losing his balance pitched headlong towards the bottom of the conveyance. The mutate
of my six-shooter was touching his left side as be sprawled across my knees, but no cause bad as yet
occurred to justify its use. What might have happened it is impossible to say, hail not the old dog, with
a savage growl, sprung up and seizing the man by the arm caused him, with an oath and a yell of rain, to
throw himself backwards and roll heavily to the ground. lloth of my assailants having been thus
summarily disposed of without the slightest exertion on iny own part, I proceeded quietly homewards,
and imagining the whole alfair to have been a drunken spree for which the perpetrators had suffered
sufficiently, no further thought was given to the matter. On the following morning, however, on entering
the stable-yard or the inn where I bad put up, the ostler, who held in his hand a large butcher's knife
sharpened on both edges, inquired where 1 had picked up -ueh an elegant piece of cutlery. On demanding
an explanation, the man stated he had found the knife lying with the rugs at the boftom of the trap.
There was now no doubt ns to the character of my two friends, one of whom must have dropped the
knife when pinned by the dog, as I subsequently learmxl that having been balked in their first attempt,
they bad later on the same night attacked a poor old farmer, whom they relieved of a silver watch and
the sum or seven shillings.
After a long continuation of frost Snipe, if not driven entirely from the country, occasionally
succumb to the effects of cold and hunger. During an ordinary winter, however, the birds will usually
U- found in the finest condition on the approach of cold weather. My notes contain the weights of
hundreds of couples of Snipe, with the dates on w Inch they were killed ; to give the whole list would answer
no purpose, though a few extracts will indicate the extreme weights attained. The heaviest couple 1