268 FIELD SHOOTING. 



covered by the centre of the flying charge, or 

 thereabout, were cut down dead. 



In pigeon-shooting 1 soon made this principle a 

 matter of nice calculation. Many may think that 

 at only twenty-one yards from the trap there is 

 no need for the practical application of this prin- 

 ciple; but 1 know there is. At easy, slow flying 

 birds, going right or left from the trap, I hold 

 three or four inches ahead of the bird. It is well 

 known by those who attend the great pigeon- 

 shooting tournaments and matches that 1 generally 

 kill all such birds, while some other men, who are 

 very good shots, often miss them. The reason, is 

 plain to my mind : they shoot a little behind the 

 bird. At a fast-flying crossing bird I hold from 

 eight to ten inches ahead ; at a quartering bird 

 from three to four inches. At a bird which goes 

 straight away close to the ground I hold right on, 

 well covered, because he is rapidly advancing. At 

 one going straight away and rising I shoot high, 

 because he is rising, and if you hold right on to 

 him you are apt to under-shoot ; and though you 

 may wound him, he will be likely to get out of 

 bounds. At an incoming bird I shoot right at 

 the head, and 1 rarely fail to kill. Incoming birds 

 are often missed from under-shooting. The hard- 



