GENERAL REMARKS 9 



eye on the bird to be shot at, becomes absolutely blind to every 

 other object around him ; and the author believes there are but 

 few of us who cannot recall to mind some risky shots fired in 

 youthful days. 



Personally we are thankful to say that, with one exception, 

 we never put lead into anything not meant to receive it ; but 

 for all that, we are often haunted by the recollection of firing a 

 dangerous shot, when quite a boy, which to all appearances 

 ought to have severely peppered a very kind uncle. Never- 

 theless, few gentlemen who shoot hard every season reach old 

 age and retire from their sport without having " pelleted " some- 

 one ; it is not that they have ever failed to exercise the utmost 

 care ; it is solely to the wild flights and freaks of ricochet and 

 glancing shot that their misfortunes are to be attributed, for 

 well-authenticated and numerous are the records of these acci- 

 dents — seldom serious in their consequences, but horribly 

 vexing to those who have had the bad luck to cause them. 



The only time we did hit that which was not intended 

 was after an experience of twenty years, when we had the 

 sad misfortune to wound a very good setter of the late Mr. 

 Spencer Lucy's at Corrour. 



Poor Belle ! it was one of the few faults she ever made, and 

 nearly cost her dear. She crept on after a covey of running 

 grouse, and following them round a hillock unsighted the 

 shooter, her head coming into the line of fire fully thirty 

 yards from the spot where she had last been seen, just as the 

 trigger was pulled : the bird fell dead, and she was badly hit, 

 but eventually recovered to set many more grouse ; but though 

 she did not turn in the least gun-shy, her nose was never after- 

 wards so good. 



Recently we experienced another instance of far more 

 inexcusable rashness than could be imputed to our grouse- 

 driving friend. A gentleman invited us to shoot, whom we 

 had only met the day before, whilst mutually visiting at a 

 country house. In all other respects a most charming com- 

 c 



