298 TRAP-SHOOTING. 
away from the stand, the chances are against the 
shooter, whereas if one approaches, the difficulty of 
killing is not much greater than with single birds. 
In England a better rule in shooting single birds 
generally prevails, by which the rise is extended to 
twenty-five or thirty yards, but the shooter is al- 
lowed to use both barrels; thus occasionally making 
some brilliant shots at long distances, and proving 
the qualities, not merely of the sportsman, but of 
his weapon. Firing a single barrel at a pigeon 
within thirty yards, is dull sport; better marksman- 
ship is required to stop him at from thirty-five to 
forty with the first barrel, even with the additional 
chance with the second at from forty to fifty. 
No scattering gun, fillmg the air with its cloud 
of mustard-seed, will answer for this work; the 
closest and strongest-shooting gun will have to be 
held so true that the centre of the charge will hit 
the object, to obtain the least chance with the second 
barrel, or to insure certainty even with the first. 
Fewer birds that are fairly hit will go out of bounds, 
as the second barrel may complete the work of the 
first; and the best marksman will generally exhibit 
himself by the management of this barrel, to use 
which at all will require extreme rapidity and accu- 
racy. 
This fact has been recognised occasionally at con- 
ventions, or where the contests were for honor and 
not money, by increasing the distance at which ties 
are shot off. In a large match there are always 
several ties, which are shot off at five birds, and 
