246 ON THE WING. 



shot are the standard medium charge for any gun 

 which weighs from 6 \ to 7 J lbs., what shall be said 

 of those who constantly shoot but \\ drachms 

 of powder with the same quantity of shot, or \\ 

 ounces of shot and 2 drachms of powder, or 3 

 drachms of powder with 1 ounce of shot? I know 

 of sportsmen with whom each of these charges is a 

 standard rule. They shoot indeed fairly with them ; 

 but in my opinion their guns if properly loaded would 

 do much better. 



Much remains to be learned before our knowledge 

 of breech and muzzle loading shot guns can be con- 

 sidered complete. Attention is now strongly directed 

 to this subject, and improvements in these weapons 

 may reasonably be anticipated. Generally speaking, 

 those in this country who have hitherto used the 

 gun most have not been men of mechanical apti- 

 tude or of scientific acquirements. It therefore be- 

 comes those who love and understand the weapon 

 best to be the pioneers in adopting or encouraging 

 whatever improvements may be made in it. Let every 

 one remember, too, that many of the greatest improve- 

 ments in machinery have been suggested or devised 

 by persons not directly engaged in the business for 

 which the improvement was made. 



Another point for the consideration of sportsmen, 

 old or young, is the manner of carrying the gun. 

 This is a point of no little consequence. The rules for 

 carrying in the field have been laid down in the 

 chapter "How to carry"; but I would here remark 

 more particularly upon the manner of carrying in the 



