HOW TO SHOOT. 45 



from the ground, and attained their regular movement 

 (which takes place in a very short time), shoot for their 

 backs, and well up, for they usually rise higher and 

 higher for the first few rods ; otherwise, if the bird is 

 near, the shot will be apt to go under him. When on 

 the cross-fire for any game-bird, first put your gun on 

 to the bird from behind, and then move it forward in 

 the direction in which he is going, according to his 

 distance from you and the speed of his flight. Making 

 the usual advance on the game, — which, at the dis- 

 tance of from thirty-five to forty-five yards, varies from 

 a foot to a foot and a half, pull your trigger while the 

 gun is still moving, and the bird will be sure to drop. 

 A cross-fire is almost sure to kill, as the shot enters 

 the most vulnerable part of the bird, — under the 

 wing, where the feathers are thin and the vital organs 

 most exposed. Besides this, your chance is good for 

 breaking his wing, or getting a few pellets into his 

 neck and head ; in either of which cases he will 

 be easily brought to bag. When going from you, 

 it takes a smart-shooting gun to kill a quail or 

 partridge at eight rods' distance. However, always 

 shoot when you have half a chance, and you will thus 

 often make a shot that will do you more good than if 

 you had killed half a dozen birds near the gun. Here 

 is where new beginners, and some old sportsmen, fre- 

 quently make a great mistake ; unless they see a sure 

 chance to kill, they down gun, and let the bird pass. 

 This habit is enough to prevent almost any one from 

 becoming a crack shot. It causes doubt and uncer- 

 tainty, and prevents one from ever trying a bird unless 



