THE GTJir. 11 



that from twenty-five to tMrty yards is about the average distance 

 at which nine out of ten of every bird is killed. Many are wounded, 

 nay even kiUed dead, at forty, fifty, and even sixty ; but it is clear 

 that these are but soHtary cases, and are chiefly the effects of mere 

 chance or- random shots, hittiag some vital member of the body. 



The Force or Recoil of a Gun. — All _ guns have a greater or less 

 ■recoil, proceeding from the mechanical principle, that all force 

 begets force. Inequalities of the bore of guns, contractions at 

 theii' breeches, the too great quantities of powder or shot used, 

 dampness and confined an-, &c., &c., are the commonly preA'ailing 

 causes of guns recoiling unpleasantly. Even the material and pe- 

 culiar construction of the instrument lend their aid to produce the 

 same effect. 



Bursting of Gtm Barrels.— Wq sometimes hear of the bursting 

 of barrels which have come from the. manufactories of the first 

 houses of respectability iii the kingdom. These accidents often 

 depend upon causes that are Httle knoAvn or lie hid from observa- 

 tion. They are often, however, lamentable in their consequences, 

 and demand the constant attention of the sportsman to be upon 

 his guard against the occurrence. The selfsame causes wliich pro- 

 duce great recoHs in a gun, may produce its ex]jlosion. The re- 

 coil and the burstmg diifer only in degree and intensity. Over- 

 loading a piece, immersing its muzzle under water and firing it off, 

 leaving a ram-rod in a piece and firing it off with it, and a hundred 

 other things may produce this effect. There is no recipe to be 

 given that wiU supersede attention and care^ to the various mat- 

 ters which are fuUy stated to the sportsman in most works on the 

 subject. If he neglect these, he must take the consequences. 



The next important part of a gun is the Lock. This is_ a nice 

 and rather intricate piece of mechanism, but one of which the 

 shooter should have a general — nay, we might properly urge, a_ mi- 

 nute knowledge. The manufacture of this part of the fowling- 

 piece has been carried to great perfection in England, especially 

 witliin the last thirty years. 



The first spring-locks for guns date their origin from about the 

 middle of the sixteenth century, and were first made at Nurem- 

 burg, in Germany. The inventor_ and general manufacturer of 

 them is said to have realized an independent fortune by them. 

 He made many alterations and improvements on his first model ; and 

 his son, who earned on the business for nearly a half centmy_ after his 

 death, mtroduced still more decided and important alterations. 



The Flint-lock is still partially in use, especially among old sports- 

 men ; and it has been brought to a very high state of finish and 

 perfection. Locks of this sort, when made by first-rate gunsmiths, 

 display a vast superiority over those of fifty years back. With 

 respect to this lock generally, it has been observed that if the main- 

 sprmg be too strong in proportion to that of the hammer, the cock 

 is often broken for want of resistance ; and if the hammer, or 

 feather-spriag, be too stiff, or should shut down with too much 



