292 TRAP-SHOOTING. 
during which there is absolutely no legitimate sport 
with the gun whatever; the woodcock are not yet 
grown, the snipe have passed to their northern 
homes, and the sportsman fills the vacancy with the 
emulation of surpassing his associates at trap-shoot- 
ing. The attempt is exciting, and the art peculiar, 
requiring great self-command and utter disregard of 
the jeers, praises, or contemptuous laughter of a 
thousand spectators. 
Tame pigeons are not so well adapted to the pur- 
pose as their wild brethren, having a quiet way of 
ignoring the object for which they are produced, 
and walking towards the stand, or picking up scraps 
of food the moment they are released, that is try- 
ing to the expectant shooter. Then they are strong 
of wing and well feathered, so that the shot must be 
driven hard to penetrate to a vital spot; and they 
fly as often towards the crowd assembled behind the 
score as in the contrary direction. Their flight is 
uneven, and frequently, after rising a few feet, they 
will suddenly alight, or pitch down part of the way. 
The best shots, therefore, prefer the wild birds, that 
go off with a rush the moment the trap is pulled— 
for, although they fly faster, they are more certain in 
their motions. Tame birds are collected in the 
neighborbood of towns and through the country, but 
rarely in large numbers; and being accustomed to 
the presence of man, require little special care. 
Wild birds are brought from long distances, fre- 
quently from the confines of Wisconsin, and in 
consequence of their timid, excitable nature, re- 
