40 SHOOTING. 



sions of tlie quail, of three and a.half to the woodcock and young 

 partridges. Older birds would spread their limits to four inches : 

 the grouse to four and a half- and the pheasant, if a hen, to five; and 

 a full grown cock would hardly escape any shot that struck within 

 the limits of the square of five and a-half. Of coui'se the tips of 

 the wings of the birds here mentioned might meet a shot which ex- 

 tended beyond the limits appropriated to it, "We only give some 

 clue to a knowledge of what may be expected from the garnish of 

 a gun as displayed on the trial. _ We have not yet observed that 

 when much accuracy is required in the trials, particularly if made 

 by an unsteady hand, a " rest" will be a great assistance in gaining 

 a just indication of the shooting of the piece. It is not unlikely 

 that some may call this wire-drawing ; we are, however, certain 

 they will not belong to the body of reflecting or experienced sports- 

 men ; they will know better how to appreciate rule, method, and 

 illustration.* 



LOAJ)ING THE GTJN. 



No small portion of success in shooting depends upon the method 

 of loading a gun._ There is quite an art in this. Some sportsmen 

 attribute the chief success they obtain over many of theii- com- 

 panionsin the field or the moors to the knack they possess of duly 

 proportioning their charge to the fowling-piece they have. All 

 general rules on the subject must be laid down with several quali- 

 fications and reservations. It is recommended to squib off the gun 

 at the commencement of each day, that it may dry and warm the 

 barrel, and absorb any moisture that may be collected in it. 

 Having drawn up the cock, and removed the broken cap, or wiped 

 the edge of the mnt if that is used, both to remove foulness and to 

 observe that it is not broken, hold the gun upright, and in that 

 position pour in the powder, striking the butt-end of the piece 

 against the ground, to carry down such grains of powder as may 

 be lodged against the sides of the barrel, and also to settle the 

 mass. Next pass the powder-Avad doAvn until it reaches the 

 powder, on Avhich it ought to be pressed as lightly as possible. 

 This done, pour down the shot also, _ and give a shake or two to 

 settle them evenly and soHdly in their bed. Place over them a 

 wadding of sufficient substance and elasticity to maintain the shot 

 steadily in their position, for wliich pui-pose give a pressure to the 

 wad, but do not ram it hard. It is common, however, to give the 

 first charge a little more pressure than the subsequent ones. We 

 are now supposing ourselves giving directions for charging a per- 

 cussion-gun. It may be proper, therefore, when the powder is 

 wadded, to observe whether it makes its way into the nipple by 

 the pressure of the confined air, made in passing down the wad. 

 It does not always follow, that if the powder is not seen in the 



* Blane's Encyclopedia of Rural Sports. 



