the borders of a pool, and often double, as the water-fowl will make a hundred turns to deceive him. The moorhen is otherwise very easily shot. It gets up under your feet: allow it to fly; take good aim at its body, and do not fire till you are sure of success. When it remains immovable, it may be taken, from its black plumage and the white mark on its head, for an heraldic bird fallen from the crest of an ancient cavalier.

THE SNIPE.

As much as the snipe resembles the woodcock in its plumage, in an equal degree do its habits and actions differ. Snipes are found in marshes, in low and wet grounds, whereas the woodcock seeks the mountain or the wood. As a general rule, wherever you find snipes, never look for woodcocks, and vice versa. The snipe arrives in France during the autumn, and disappears during the cold weather, returns during the spring, and then directs its flight again to the North, where it breeds. Some may produce their young in France, but these are exceptions.

It is a very agreeable sport that of snipeshooting, but neither the shooter nor his dog must fear the water. Supply yourself with water-proof boots; walk and look out; you will find amusement. This shooting requires as much experience as address. The snipe flies with great rapidity, but this is the least

inconvenience. It commences by starting straight for several yards, makes two or three plunges, and then flies straight again. If you wait till these two or three plunges have been made before firing, it is far away, without it has risen under your feet. If you fire during these doubles, you will generally miss it. If you are prepared, it is better to fire at once, and you have then the chance of the second barrel should you fail with the first after the three doubles; but to shoot thus you must be very quick-few are very successful; nevertheless I have seen many who, from constant practice in snipe-shooting, can kill them as easily as partridges.

The snipe can be shot at from morning till night. Those once put up will be found again. You may fire always, and often miss: in no shooting is so much powder wasted. It may be as well to charge your two barrels with different-sized shot, the right with No. 1; the left with No. 6, or even No. 5. The small shot may be used in double charge, or at least a charge and a half; as you will fire it at a short distance it will bind better. It

will be as well to diminish the charge of the larger shot by a quarter or a third, as it is required to carry further, and if you fire with correct aim there will still be sufficient.

The snipe allows itself to be easily found by the dog, and it is the only kind of game which can be hunted with a bad wind. It is even better to have the wind in the rear, and for this reason,-the snipe has the habit of facing the wind, and of flying straight before it. If you find him with a contrary wind, it starts before you; if not, it whirls in the direction of the wind, and then such whirls, added to the plunges which it never omits, greatly complicate the question. Snipes are more readily shot during cloudy than bright weather. The jack -snipe lies close in thick tufts of grass, and gets up almost always under the feet of the shooter. But the larger snipe has all the allurements of the water-rail: it runs, is put up with difficulty, and does not fly till far from the dog: it then fancies itself out of danger, but the gun often damages such ideas. Bourgainville found snipes in the Malonnes Isles,

and ascertained they possessed habits different from those which we deem them to have in Europe. As there is nothing to disturb them in such latitudes, they make their nests in the open country, and are easily killed; they have no fear, and omit the doubles when rising. Advice to those who are disconcerted by these movements: they have only to make the voyage and they may kill snipes as easily as quails, which may probably be sufficient compensation. Snipes are everywhere to be found, as woodcocks. Their eating is delicate and delicious, and as regards their culinary preparation, we refer you to our receipt for the woodcock.

Sporting gastronomes, and they are in a large majority-we desire, but scarcely know how, to give them the receipt of the salmis des" Bernardins." It may be applied to all sorts of game. These good fathers do not disdain any science. In those days the cloister produced men who knew a thing or two.

Take four snipes, roast them, but not too much cut them up according to the rules