THE ART OP SHOOTING ON THE WING. 257 



that most good shots instinctively shut the left 

 eye at the instant of firing. 



The youth must load again after his shot, and 

 then go up to the target to see how many shot 

 he put into it, change the paper, and try again. 

 The main points are to get good, quick aim, 

 and then fire on the instant, with the gun firmly 

 held and well braced against the shoulder. But 

 the gun is not to be fired in a hurried, hap-ha- 

 zard sort of way without a sight being obtained 

 at all. When the object is once sighted, the 

 shooter is to fire, and not delay the discharge 

 under the notion that he can do better. The first 

 sight is the best. With practice and the con- 

 sumption of a little powder and shot the youth 

 will soon become familiar with the shooting of 

 his gun, and learn to bring it up, take aim, and 

 fire without any pause between those operations. 

 He will then find that he can hit the target 

 every time with the centre of the charge; and as 

 this is the way to kill, he is now to begin at 

 birds. Boys have a hankering after shooting at 

 sitting birds. This is not to be indulged in. The 

 target is better practice than sitting birds, because 

 if the youthful shooter goes after the latter he 

 will ramble about half a day without getting as 



