ETIQUETTE OF THE BLIND. 511 



to avoid wasting shots, and to get the most satisfaction 

 out of the shooting, certain rules governing the con- 

 duct of each man must be observed. These unwritten 

 laws will be taught most men by their own good feel- 

 ing and proper instincts ; but, on the other hand, it often 

 happens that a very young man in the blind, carried 

 away by excitement and enthusiasm, may do things 

 which in cooler blood he would not think of doing, and 

 which may prove very annoying to his companion. 



The laws governing such shooting are well under- 

 stood by all men of experience, but since each one of us 

 must have made a beginning in shooting, it will per- 

 haps be easier for the inexperienced if some of these 

 laws are here noted. 



These unwritten rules are based on the principle that 

 where two men shoot together they are not rivals, each 

 striving to outdo the other, but are partners, working 

 for the common good, which in this case means the suc- 

 cess of the day. It is therefore important that no 

 shots should be wasted and that each one should do all 

 in his power to bring to bag the birds which come with- 

 in shot. Besides this, of course, there are the general 

 laws of good manners, which govern in such a case 

 just as they should in other relations of life. 



It is therefore to be understood that the two men 

 should never interfere with each other; they should 

 never fire at the same bird at the same time, and if sev- 

 eral come together, the gunners should understand 

 without words which bird belongs to each. 



If a single duck comes up that man should shoot at 



