80 KATURAL HISTDET SKETCHES. 



ble, twelve or thirteen gauge, heavy enough to carry two 

 ounces of shot if wanted. The shooter out here requires 

 a stronger and heavier gun than at home, and a 

 season's wear and tear, with the charges we often put in 

 for kangaroo or ducks, will give the best gun a pretty 

 good shaking. I am quite sure that I fired more shots 

 in one year out here than I should have done in four 

 seasons at home. 



In flight-shooting it is a good plan to crack off a cap 

 before loading, to clear the nipple, for you can't always 

 see well. Never keep your caps loose in the pocket, 

 always use a small tin box. The bottom of a bushman's 

 pocket is generally full of fine broken tobacco, and many a 

 miss-fire have I had through putting on a cap in a hurry, 

 without seeing first if it was clear. Another hint and I 

 have done. Always have your powder-flask slung round 

 you in duck-shooting, and don't trust to the pocket. I 

 have lost many a powder-flask by neglecting this caution, 

 in struggling through thick tea-tree scrub. 



Of course, punt-shooting is the most profitable kind of 

 duck-shooting ; but it is not every one who can use a 

 punt and big gun ; and in this country they will cost some 

 money. Besides, there are not many places now within 

 reach of Melbourne where a punt-gun will pay. There 

 are now as many pop-shooters as ducks about Melbourne 

 Swamp, and the birds are so much disturbed in all 

 places, that they don't pitch anywhere in such mobs as 

 formerly. Above Gelong, and on some lagoons near 

 Ballarat, I believe two or three punts are worked, and 



