CHAPTER XIV. 



THE ART OP SHOOTING ON THE WING. 



THE practical art of shooting birds on the wing, 

 valuable accomplishment as it is, delightful in 

 itself, and highly conducive to health and strength 

 by leading to vigorous exercise in the fields, is 

 readily acquired. Any one who is well enough to 

 walk abroad and carry a gun may attain fair pro- 

 ficiency in it; for those whose nervous tempera- 

 ment prevents this are few indeed, and need not 

 be taken into account. Some men, indeed, have 

 a natural gift, by means of which,, with the great 

 practice such gift and its corresponding inclination 

 are sure to induce, they become dead shots, the 

 masters of the art of shooting. Still, there are 

 very few who may not become good shots if they 

 follow proper methods and practice much in pur- 

 suance of wise instructions. To begin at an early 

 age is a good thing. Many boys can shoot as 

 well as men, allowing for the smaller practice and 

 shorter experience they have had. The parents 

 of some youths are disinclined to let them have 



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