SHOOTING 125 



hit too far back, they will often drag themselves away 

 towards a burrow and escape. For this reason we 

 would not fire at a rabbit beyond eighty yards ; for at 

 a greater distance than this a dog would not have 

 time to run up and secure it before it reached a hole. 

 Some experts advocate the retention of a ferret on a 

 line in case of need, so that should a wounded rabbit 

 go to ground, the ferret may be used to drag it out. 

 It is well to bear in mind when shooting rabbits in 

 this way, that the dead ones should be allowed to lie 

 where they fall until it is time to go home ; for if you 

 leave your ambush periodically to pick them up the 

 chances of sport will be materially lessened. 



As we have described some ' odd shots ' at rabbits 

 with a shot-gun, we may mention one with a rifle that 

 is worthy of record. It was reported in The Field 

 of September 9, 1893. Mr. W. C. Pickering, of 

 Rhewl House, Mostyn, Flintshire, shooting with one 

 of the handy little rifles above referred to, fired at 

 three rabbits in line and killed them all ; and, strange 

 to say, on a subsequent occasion, so he said, he re- 

 peated the performance. 



