ON THE MODES OF USING THE GUN AND THE DOG. 43 



barrel has been re-cliarged, the piece should be slightly shakeu, so 

 that it may be ascertained whether the shot in the right-hand barrel 

 has been removed ; if there be a rattling or vibrating sound against 

 the sides of the gun, then the charge must be more firmly rammed 

 down.^ Ihe slightest shake of the barrel will detect the loosened shot 

 xu ! ^1^ IS requisite that on the subject of loading there should be 

 the luilest and most varied information, we shall add to what has 

 ahready been said, the opinion of Mr. Greener. The proper charo-e 

 ot a gun, he says, is as foUows :— With regard to powder, suppose 

 you begm with two drachms, and vary the charge one-eighth of a 

 drachm each shot up to three and a half di-achms, or as may be re- 

 qiured, according to the length and bore of the gun, and for precision 

 takmg three shots for each charge, at a sufficient number of sheets 

 Ot psroer- whichever you find strongest, with the least quantity of 

 powder, that is the best charge, as very Hkely the two additions of 

 powder wiU shoot equally strong, and yet not stronger because 

 more of it remams imburnt. Therefore the least Quantity that 

 shoots ^ equally strong is the proper charge, which 'having once 

 ascertamed, never change for any other person's plan. In respect 

 to tiie proportion of shot, aU guns, according to their bore and 

 length, will shoot a certam weight and a certam size of shot best. 

 A great deal of shot in a small bore lies too far up the barrel and 

 creates an unnecessary friction, and the shot by the compression at 

 the moment of expulsion becomes all shapes— a circumstance which 

 considerably affects and modifies its flight. If too great a weight 

 the powder has not power to drive it with the speed and force 

 required to be efficacious, because the weight is too great in pro- 

 portion. Those who reason from mathematical calculation will 

 object to this doctrme. They sslj, the greater the weight the 

 greater the effect. No doubt it is so, if thrown with a propor- 

 tionate force ; but that cannot be obtained with a small gun. We 

 must adapt the weight of projectile force to the power we are in 

 possession of, and from experhnents, accurately made and recorded, 

 we find that a fourteen gauge, two feet eight barrel, should never 

 be loaded with above an ounce and a half of shot (No. 6 will suit 

 best), and the utmost powder she will burn. A fifteen gauge will 

 not require more than one ounce and a quarter, and no doubt No. 7 

 would be thrown by her quite as strong as No. 6 by the fourteen- 

 gauge gun, and do as much execution at forty yards with less 

 recoil ; and, settmg aside aD other reasons, we should prefer a 

 Mteen-gauge gun, if both be of a length, as we should find as much 

 execution at the same distance as with the other. 



The art of shooting flyhig is one of great skill and dexterity. 

 Ihere are, therefore, all manner of grades of excellence in the sport ; 

 some will feel a degree of self-complacency if they hit one bo-d in 

 \ ^ others will only miss one out of an equal number. A 

 good deal of the proficiency in shooting birds on the wing may be 

 referred to bodily temperament; some persons are so nervously 

 constituted, and so hurried in their movements, that they never 



