TRAP-SHOOTING, 801 
an improvement in many particulars on the former 
rules, they are not perfect; it is probable that they 
will be further amended, so as, while increasing the 
difficulty of killing the bird, to place all sportsmen 
on an equal footing, and to remove as far as possible 
the influence of accident. 
And now, apologizing to the many sportsmen who 
are abler shots and have had far greater experience 
than himself, the author urges in extenuation of his 
presumption in publishing this book, that as they 
would not commit their experiences to paper, he felt 
justified in attempting it; and as the other sporting 
writers have utterly neglected this field of labor as 
beneath their notice, he could not be blamed for 
entering upon it and doing with it the best of which 
he was capable. And to those persons who follow 
in the track of the literary sporting men, and affect 
to despise the various kinds of water-fowl and bay- 
shooting, the author would say that he only wishes 
they may have such days with the geese and ducks, 
the marlins, yellow-legs, and dowitchers, the rail and 
the plover, as he has had, in the full confidence that 
they will be very soon converted. 
vevvereqvem? 
REFERENCES 
rie eetere 
F. |. SHORES. 
