316 RAIL-SHOOTING. 



ordinary process. Tlie shot may be made into car- 

 tridges of paper with a wad at the upper end, and 

 thus a few additional of the precious seconds saved. 

 Both barrels are discharged before either is reloaded, 

 and the birds are retrieved immediately. 



The sportsman stands erect, without any support 

 to modify the unsteadiness consequent upon the 

 irregular motion of the boat, and requires practice, 

 not merely to enable him to take aim, but even to 

 retain his footing. Where the water is low and the 

 reeds strong, this difficulty is augmented, as the boat 

 entirely loses its Avay after every push, and advances 

 by jerks that utterly confound a novice. Experi- 

 ence, however, being acquired in loading ra[)idly 

 and in retaining his balance, the sportsman's labors 

 are easy; but the punter requires many different 

 qualities, and upon his excellence mainly depends 

 the final result. 



He must possess judgment to select the best 

 ground, strength to urge on the boat unflaggingly, 

 and an inordinate development of the bump of locality 

 to mark the dead birds. The bird once killed and 

 the sportsman part ended, then the punter displays 

 his ability ; and if thoroughly versed in his craft 

 will push the boat through tall reeds, and matted 

 weeds, and fallen oat-stalks, and diifted grass, with 

 wonderful accuracy to the very spot, and peering 

 down amid the roots, will distinguish the brown 

 feathers almost covered with water and hidden by 

 the vegetable growth. 



In order to retrieve quickly, a wide-meshed scap- 



