158 LETTERS TO YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 



have to be unlearnt. It is worth the expense. All shooting 

 is going to be expensive. A pair of first-class guns may 

 cost £200 just now. You may probably pick up a second- 

 hand pair for about half that figure. There must be many 

 such in the market, bearing the melancholy label, " Property 

 of an Officer, deceased," or belonging to cripples, physical 

 or financial. Before purchasing have the gun or guns ' ' vetted' ' 

 by their maker, and also ascertain whether they can be altered 

 to fit you well. Avoid " full-chokes," single-triggers, etc. 

 If you have been handling a rifle during the war, try to forget 

 all about it. Even an expert sniper will probably be a bad 

 shot with the gun, if its use has not been learnt before or 

 concurrently with that of the other weapon. 



When you have made yourself fairly proficient at clay 

 pigeons, going away, crossing from either side, and overhead, 

 you will learn a great deal by " taking on " the real live 

 bird, and opportunities for doing so should present them- 

 selves without difficulty. Get leave from a farmer, a class 

 which preserves a Gallionic attitude towards these pests 

 which ravage his crops ; a class secure in its guarantees, 

 doles and various forms of compensation. It seems a thou- 

 sand pities that the wood pigeon is a non-political N bird ; 

 once he were scheduled as " game " many a hand would 

 be against him. Meanwhile, however, he will afford you 

 an excellent test, not merely in accuracy of aim, but especially 

 in quickness, decision, alertness, self -concealment, immo- 

 bility, whether you tackle him coming in to the turnips, 

 or " lie up " near his roosting places. Do not go to the same 

 spot too often ; be in your place early. Picking up pigeons 

 is, in itself, good practice for marking ; they are not easily 

 lost, owing to the trail of light feathers shed in the fall. When 

 not feeding on roots they are good eating. Sometimes, 

 however, these birds suffer from an epidemic of some complaint 

 akin to diphtheria in the throat and upper crop, disgustingly 

 evident. In this case prudence suggests their being burnt. A 

 wooden decoy, mounted on a light, stiff pole, which can be 

 secured to a tree, is useful on occasions, seated, of course, 

 beak to windward. For use on the ground dead pigeons can 

 be so arranged as to decoy the living, but a tame bird confined 

 by a brace and tether is far better. He should be reared from 



