FIRING INTO COVIES. 97 



FIEIXG INTO COVIES. 



^pp GEEAT many sportsmen when firing into a covey 

 ^py of Partridges on the wing fail to hit. They bang 

 " away in a hurry into the whirring crowd expecting 

 to kill about a dozen, more or less, and become aston- 

 ished when they see the whole covey fly away untouched, 

 notwithstanding both barrels have been fired into it. The 

 reason they fail to hit is easily accounted for, they fire too 

 much in a hurry, and too soon, and without any aim, and 

 of course they fail to hit. The shot does not have time and 

 distance enough to scatter properly, and they cover so small 

 a space in their flight, and without being particularly direc- 

 ted, the chances are three to one they will pass through the 

 whirring crowd without hitting any. As a rule never fire 

 into a covey of Partridges on the wing unless you have aim 

 on one particular bird of the covey; on it draw the tri"-- 

 ger. Without selecting one particular bird in the covey to 

 fire at the chances are three to one against killing any 

 out of a covey of twelve or fiteen birds, unless they should 

 happen to rise up in a mass, which is but seldom. When 

 you flush up a covey of Partridges, keep yourself cool and 

 calm, pitch the gun quickly to your shoulder, and single 

 out one particular bird of the covey, on it draw the trigger, 

 then on another, and be sure not to draw the trigger upon 

 either of them unless your aim is perfect, then fire. When 

 a covey of Partridges rises in front of you be quick in mak- 

 ing your first shot, kill the first bird that rises, or one of 

 the first, you will then have time to choose the second shot. 

 When you have selected the first bird as the object of your 

 aim you should keep your eye upon it though twenty others 

 should rise up in front, and cross you. Do not let your 

 attention be drawn from the bird you have selected until 

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