WING SHOOTING. 37 



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Each measure of velocity given in these tables is the 

 mean velocity obtained from several experiments, varying in 

 number from three to six. The headings, velocities at 30, 

 40 and 50 yards, have reference to the speed with which 

 they passed over these points. 



The following quotation is from the close of Professor 

 Mayer's paper. The entire is of much interest and directly 

 to the point, but too long for insertion : 



"The third fact which these experiments show is that 

 the proper charge of shot in a 12-gauge gun for upland 

 shooting is i l /% oz. and not i^ oz., as has of late years been 

 the practice to use; for the tables show that with i l /$ oz. of 

 shot and 3^ drs. of powder an average velocity is obtained 

 which requires 4 drs. of 'powder to give i% of shot a 

 velocity equal to that given by 3^ drs. to i l /& oz. Now, 

 4 drs. of .powder, if not fired from a gun weighing at least 

 9 Ifos., and from a good, strong, muscular shoulder, is disa- 

 greeable. The effect on the body, and especially on the 

 brain, is neither conducive to pleasant nor to good shoot- 

 ing. The number of pellets in a charge of i* oz. of No. 8 

 shot is 499. In a charge of i l /% oz. of the same shot there 

 are 449, therefore only 50 pellets more in a charge of i^ 

 oz. than in a charge of \y% oz. ; and surely the want of the 50 

 will not cause a good shot to miss his bird with 449 pellets, 

 nor will the addition of the 50 give a bad shot any more 

 chance of bringing his bird to bag with his 499 pellets. 



" I wish now to show to the association, and especially to 

 those members of it who are sportsmen, other applications 

 of these experiments to the art of shooting on the wing. 



"There are two styles of shooting on the wing one is 

 called 'snap-shooting,' where the shooter, on selecting the 

 bird which he wishes to bag, quickly brings the gun to his 

 shoulder and at the instant it is in place, fires. If the bird 

 is a cross shot, he determines at the moment of fire the dis- 



