56 PRANK SCHLEY's PARTRIDGE AND PHEASANT SHOOTING. 



OVER HEAD SHOTS. 



^YER head shots are among the most difficult of all 

 shots by which Partridges are killed on the wingj 

 and most sportsmen who are good shots in every 

 other particular, and can kill Partridges flying in all 

 other directions, when they come to fire upon Partridges 

 flying over head, invariably miss them. The fault lies in 

 shooting directly over head, or too quickly when the bird is 

 advancing, and not quick enough when the bird has passed 

 over head. By handling yourself and gun quickly and swift- 

 ly, there is plenty of time to catch aim on the bird when 

 the bird is advancing towards you, and before it gets over 

 your head, and this is your best chance to fire upon it, to 

 kill it, and this is the time to bring it down. But if the 

 bird is close on you, and flying very rapidly, and coming 

 with the wind with great velocity advancing directly over 

 your head, and would not admit of your catching aim on 

 it, withhold your fire, and let the bird pass over your head, 

 then turn quickly and take a fair shot at it going off. But 

 when a Partridge is advancing, and will admit of your 

 taking aim at it before it gets over your head, lose no time 

 nor oppoi'tunity, but draw the trigger and fire, and if you 

 miss it you will have a chance to bring it down with the 

 second barrel, after it has passed over head, by turning 

 and taking a fair shot at it flying off. Some sportsmen 

 seldom shoot at Partridges advancing towards them, they 

 are under the impression that if the shot hits a bii'd when 

 it is approaching, the shot wall glide off of the feathers 

 without peneti'ating through the skin. This is altogether 

 a mistaken idea. I have killed hundreds of Partridges 

 flying, coming directly towards me, and when the gun 

 would crack the shot would knock the life riiJ:ht out of 



