18 IMPLEMENTS FOR COLLECTING, AND THEIR USE. 



extraordinary diligence and perseverance. Certain principles 

 of shooting may perhaps be reduced to words. Aim deliber- 

 ately directly at an immovable object at fair range. Hold 

 over a motionless object when far off, as the trajectory of the 

 shot curves downward. Hold a little to one side of a station- 

 ary object when very near, preferring rather to take the chances 

 of missing it with the peripheral pellets, than of hopelessly 

 mutilating it with the main body of the charge. Fire at the 

 first fair aim, without trying to improve what is good enough 

 already. Never "pull" the trigger, but press it. Bear the 

 shock of discharge without flinching. In shooting on the 

 wing, fire the instant the butt of the gun taps your shoulder ; 

 you will miss at first, but by and by the birds will begin 

 to drop, and you will have laid the foundation of good 

 shooting, the knack of "covering" a bird unconsciously. 

 The habit of " poking" after a bird on the wing is an almost 

 incurable vice, and may keep you a poor shot all your life. 

 (The collector's frequent necessity of poking after little birds 

 in the bush is just what so often hinders him from acquiring 

 brilliant execution.) Aim ahead of a flying bird the calcu- 

 lation to be made varies, according to the distance of the 

 object, its velocity, its course and the wind, from a few 

 inches to several feet ; practice will finally render it intuitive. 



