186 NATUBAL HISTOBT SKETCHES. 



to run out in the bush, he will most likely have to put 

 up with the common treble P., at 5s. per Ib. There is 

 no saving in shooting with cheap powder, for, indepen- 

 dent of the foul "state in which it keeps your gun, and 

 the wounded birds that go away, a pound of Hall's best 

 No. 2 grain will go as far again as the weaker powder. 

 A man who shoots for his living cannot be too particular 

 in the choice of his ammunition, for in duck-shooting he 

 can easily lose more by wounded birds in the day than 

 will keep him in ammunition for a week, and no one but 

 he who has experienced them can judge of the duck- 

 shooter's feelings when his cap misses fire, after having 

 crept on his hands and knees up to a flock of black duck, 

 for perhaps half a mile, through a wet swamp. Pigou 

 and Wilks's No. 2 grain was my favourite powder when- 

 ever I could get it ; but all the good brands are pretty 

 much alike, if you are only certain that it is tire genuine 

 article, and the canister fresh. The best plan is to stick 

 to one gunmaker, and he will generally use you well. 



It cannot be denied that the game is rapidly dis- 

 appearing in all the settled districts, especially near town, 

 and if steps are not speedily taken to prevent the whole- 

 sale destruction of the birds in the breeding season which, 

 is now carried on, in a few years the shooter's occupation 

 in Victoria will be gone. Much as we may all object to 

 the principle and working of the British game-laws, it is 

 quite certain that, until the law interferes and makes it an 

 act illegal for all, there can be no preventing it. For, 

 however well one man may be disposed, and wish to 



