30 The Partridge Family 



THE SHOOTING OF THE QUAIL 



While " to teach the young idea how to shoot " 

 is not the exact purpose of this chapter, perhaps 

 a few remarks concerning the outfit and certain 

 " wrinkles " anent field-shooting may not be out 

 of place. So long as individual tastes differ there 

 will be variations of opinion concerning that most 

 important thing, — the gun. Many men prefer an 

 exceedingly light arm, claiming, and this cor- 

 rectly enough, that a light, small gauge calls for 

 the greater skill, and, like the fragile, feather- 

 weight trout rod, is the only thing fit for the 

 hand of a master. That is all very well, but it 

 may be carried too far. During the early part 

 of the season, when birds are young and unedu- 

 cated, when there is cover everywhere and a bird 

 seldom flushes more than a yard or so from one's 

 boot, almost any small gun will answer. At this 

 time, too, the weather is apt to be warm, under 

 which condition the reduction in weight of arm 

 and ammunition is a decided advantage. The 

 decrease in the killing range is then a matter of 

 small consequence, for the great majority of shots, 

 except second barrels, will be at thirty yards and 

 under. This may appear very close, but a few 

 actual measurements will verify the statement. 

 In point of fact, the average kills of a fairly quick 

 shot will be at a range of about twenty to twenty- 



