WILD-FOWL SHOOTING. 215 
the earth, being unable to follow their course, and 
do not perceive the sportsman so readily. But as a 
natural consequence, the sportsman’s ammunition 
becomes damp and his clothes wet, while the old- 
fogy owner of the muzzle-loader will unjustly anathe- 
matize Eley’s water-proof caps when his gun misses 
fire, instead of blaming his own stupidity. The in- 
sides of barrels will foul and the outsides rust; the 
loading-stick will become dirty and the sportsman’s 
hands and face grimy; and then the happy possessor 
of the breech-loader, when he handles his clean car- 
tridges, although one occasionally may stick, will 
thank his good fortune and bless Lefaucheaux. 
A strong wind forces the birds out of their safe 
course, up and down the open “leads,” upon the 
various points where the fowler, selecting the most 
favorable by watching the flight, takes his stand; 
and, when they are heading against it, reduces their 
speed from the lightning rate of ninety miles an 
hour to reasonable deliberation ; but when they are 
travelling with it, renders the art of killing them 
one of no easy acquisition. 
In shooting wild-fowl, or in fact any rapid flying 
birds, it is necessary to aim ahead of them — not 
that the gun is actually fired ahead of them, but to 
allow for the time, hardly perceptible to man, but 
noticeable in the changed position of the birds, ne- 
cessary to discharge the piece; and the distance 
allowed must depend not only on the rapidity of 
their flight, but on the customary quickness of the 
marksman. The great fault of sportsmen is, that 
