396 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT. 



by care, may sometimes be averted. Your barrel should 

 be made of the best tough twisted stubs, clean it well every 

 time it is used, and keep your gun perfectly dry. Never 

 load with damp paper, as in ramming down it is liable to 

 form a mass so hard, that you may be led to believe it lies 

 firm upon the charge, when it has not reached it : the con- 

 fined air, in that case, on being rarefied by the explosion, 

 might burst the barrel. By visiting one of the government 

 proof-houses, and seeing heaps of barrels frightfully riven 

 in all directions, will convey to the young sportsman such 

 a practical lesson of danger from the bursting of a gun that 

 he can never forget. In shooting, if yovi can avoid it, grasp 

 no part of the barrel beyond the stock with your left hand. 

 It is a safeVustom to have your barrels proved at intervals, 

 if they are much used. 



SHOOTING AT STUDLEY CASTLE, 



WARWICKSHIRE. 



In the middle of November, 1836, Sir F. Goodricke, 

 and a party of friends, met at the seat of the Hon. Baronet, 

 Studley Castle, for the purpose of diverting themselves by 

 a few day's shooting. The party consisted of the Hon. 

 Baronet, Mr. Massey Stanley, Mr. Pakington, Mr. Lyne 

 Stephens, and Mr. George Payne. 



On the Tuesday they killed 486 head of game ; and on 

 Wednesday 503 head, consisting of 492 pheasants, 376 

 hares, 120 rabbits, and a cock. Total 989 head. The 

 party shot but four hours a day. 



