SUGGESTIONS TO SPORTSMEN. | 277 
lities are, that a yellow-leg snipe shot at more than 
thirty-five yards off, would once in five times carry 
away the few pellets that may strike him; and at 
forty yards escape entirely untouched, If the reader 
will select the best target his gun can make with an 
ounce of No. 8 shot at forty yards, and see how 
many spaces there are entirely vacant large enough 
to contain a snipe, he will be convinced that the 
above statement is correct; and at fifty yards, the 
chances are three to one against the marksman. Sir 
Francis Francis, who is a good authority in Eng- 
land, says, that to kill one bird in two shots is good 
shooting ; and there the grounds are almost always 
open, while the reverse is the case with us. 
Do not be discouraged, therefore, if the sun gets 
in your eyes, your foot slips, the bird dodges, a few 
floating feathers are the only result of your effort, 
or you make a clean miss; others do the same. 
Neither lose your temper nor curse your Inck, as by 
so doing you may excite your nerves and injure 
your shooting, and cannot improve it. Be cool, 
never shoot without an attempt at aim, if it is only 
where the bird disappeared; take your disappoint- 
ments pleasantly, strive to do your best, and you 
will improve. 
Many ducks fly at least ninety miles an hour ; 
that is, twenty-six hundred yards a minute, or forty- 
four yards a second; if, therefore, a duck starts at 
your feet with that velocity, and you require a 
second to cover him, he will be out of range; or 
if he is flying across, and you dwell one forty-fourth 
