1^8 ON THE WING. 



SHOOTING-DRESS. 



MANY readers will perhaps think it foolish to 

 mention such small matters as will come under 

 this topic ; but I can assure the young sportsman that 

 all these little items materially increase or diminish 

 the comfort of the hunter while in the field. Any old 

 hunter will tell you that, by reason of some defect in 

 his dress, such as a pair of ill-fitting boots, he has 

 sometimes lost the pleasure of what would otherwise 

 have been an excellent day's shooting. While I do 

 not intend to define all the minutice. of dress and equip- 

 ments, — knowing that most hunters who live in the 

 country put on their old clothes, as they should do, 

 — still I hope the suggestions I have to make will not 

 be without value, particularly to young sportsmen. 



The shooting-jacket or coat should be about the 

 size of a sailor's monkey-jacket, with one row of but- 

 tons in front, and not lapped, so that on a warm day 

 it can be opened in front. It should be made of 

 light-weight flannel, and as near the predominating 

 color of the woods as possible. Let there be a large 

 pocket on each side, and a small pocket on the right, 

 half-way down, for the caps, which should be kept 

 loose. There should also be a pocket for a handker- 

 chief in the usual place, high up on the left. Pockets 

 are handy, but I don't recommend too many of them, 



