BHOOTINO. 



PART I. 



CHAPTEBI. 



THE GUN. 



Much has been written on the origin of fire-arms by antiquarians 

 and others, but it is not requisite we should go to any extent into 

 speculations of this sort. It is, however, interesting to a sports- 

 man, and a kind of knowledge befitting his amusement, to have 

 some general idea of the progressive steps of improvement which 

 mark the history of this important instrument from time to time, 

 do^vn to the present day. 



A species of hand-gun seems to have been the rudimental sliape 

 of our present fowling and military guns. It is said to have been 

 invented by one BiLlius, a nobleman of Milan. It was simply an 

 iron tube affixed to a dub or stick. There was a hollow made in 

 the breech for the priming powder, but without any cover. Tliis 

 was improved upon in the reign of Henry VI. by the adoption of a 

 priming pan. The stocked-gun was the next step in the improve- 

 ment of the instrument. The barrel was placed in a wooden stock or 

 frame, but of nearly a straight figure. But this was soon found defec- 

 tive, and a curved stock Avas invented, whichenabled the shooter 

 to take a more ready and certain aim of his object. The mdtch-lock 

 and tvheel-lock guns followed in the order of change. The first was 

 used with a lighted match, brought into contact with the priming 

 by means of a spring-trigger. Tlie wheel-lock was made in the 

 days of our Elizabeth, but, though aiding warlike pui-poses, it added 

 little to the sporting facilities of the day. This ^un was fired by 

 means of friction, through the iustrumentahty ot a wheel which 

 passed rapidly over the edge of a piece of flint. This proved but a 

 very heavy and clumsy affair. The next great step in a riglit direc- 

 tion was the flint-lock. This was long retained in use, and under- 

 went various modifications doAvn to modern tiines. The more 

 recent improvement is the percussion-lock, of which we shall have 

 something more to say by and by. 



The shooter and the angler are differently situated in reference 

 to a knoA\iedge of their respective instruments of amusement. A 

 fowling-piece is a thing involving danger ; it is dangerous to the 

 sportsman liimseK, and dangerous to others. A fishing-rod is a 

 harmless object, of whatever materials it may be made. It is. 

 therefore, requisite that the shooter should possess some general 



