Arizona republican., 1911-03-13
sNIPE SHOOTING.
Some of the Habits and Characteris
 tics of the Bird.

points in common; both are possessed of a long bill, which requires soft ground for it's quest of food; both are partly resident and partly migra- tory; both twist in their flight and both have some characteristic which has led to much discussion among naturalists.
 For many years the drumming note of the breeding snipe, sung of by poets and locally responsible for his name of heather beater," baffled the scien- tist, who could not decide as to how it was produced. Most birds are con- tent with the mouth as an organ of sound, but in the case of the snipe it is now tolerably certain that the noise referred to is caused by the agency of wing and tail feathers.
 Scientists and naturalists have been equally at a loss to discover any evidence that the jacksnipe, the small est species that we know of in these parts. ever breeds among us. It is certain as anything can be that he does not. and we have perfOrce to credit those tiny wings which seem almost too lazy to bear its owner out of danger. with a journey of some 500 miles over an inhOspitable sea.
 The jacksnipe is as different from the full snipe or common snipe as the thrush is from partridge; his flight in a high wind is like that of a butterfly, in calm weather he flies straight and is content to pitch even when shot at within 100 yards. As a sporting bird he has only the merit of variety, but as a culinary delicacy he is highly priZed.
 The great snipe is a creature of the autumn; except in that season he is never found among us, but many great snipe have fallen unidentified in the British Isles because all sports men do not know how to identify them To the initiated there is little to distinguish great snipe from the full snipe; the latter varies much in size, and such variation is not always much commented upon. It must be remembered that a large full snipe and small great snipe appear to e casual observer as the same bird, but if the tail feathers are counted it will be an qnfailing means of setting the matter right. The great snipe has fourteen tail feathers, but the full 
 mer flies more evenly and gives forth no warning note as he rises.
 Snipe driving is practiced on some estates. and grand sport it is, but the birds cannot be managed like part ridges, grouse or pheasants and snipe drive is usually short and sweet and soon over, with but little execU tion done. It is not possible to take the birds a long distance. and short drives generally result in the snipe coming over so much together that the guns have no time to deal with them.
 I should, however, be very 10th tO suggest that any form of snipe shoot ing is comparable to the tramping of bog and marsh by one or two guns. It is wet and dirty work, but it gives scope for much endurance and an intimate knowledge of ones quarry The best time to go is after still and moonlit night, when a fair breeze is blowing to deaden some what the noise made by the OncJminS of the guns. It is best to walk down wind whenever possible. so that the rising snipe in finding the wind may give a crossing shot, and it is ever desirable to proceed as quietly as pos sible.
 Much advice has been given as to when to shoot snipe. but it may be said that the successful snipe shot is invariably the man who is quick with his gun. who can make up his mind in an instant as to whether the bird is in range or not, and who shoots n to wait for his quarry to stop twisting The hesitating gunner IS lost on the marshes and nerves have to be under good command is a satisfactory bag of long bills is to be gathered in comparison with cartridges used Pail Mall Magazine.