44! SHOOTING. 



attain tlie degree of coolness and self-possession requisite for a 

 good and steady marksman, Fear and anxiety shake their system 

 too violently, and many fire off their pieces without obtaining any 

 decided aim whatever. The real foundation of the art of shooting 

 flying proceeds from that powerful and singular sympathy between 

 the eye and the hand; what the one sees, the other cloes._ We 

 learn the art almost intuitively of measuring distances, and direct- 

 ing objects to a definite mark ; and so readny is this effected, that 

 very often the best shots are _totally_ unconscious of the internal 

 process Avhich is continually going on in their understandings when 

 in pursuit of their game. Some sportsmen shut one eye, some 

 keep both open. There is no rule_ on this matter ; it is entii'ely 

 resolvable into habit and early training in shooting flying. The 

 great drawback to all failm-es is a want of coolness ; still many 

 writers say that this may be enjoyed in too great an access, and 

 that many birds are lost from the fingers being too slow in their 

 movements after the game is on the -udng. 



It is good to go through the entire manual training of shooting 

 to obtain a mastery over it. It is, therefore, recommended that 

 yoimg beginners should proceed in something like the foUo^ving 

 order : — Let the handling and shouldering of the gun be expertly 

 acquired in its unloaded state, takmg care to look at the height, 

 length of arm, and inclination of shoidder of the pupil. This 

 handling of the fowling-piece should be practised for an hour or 

 two for some days,_ until complete familiarity with all the required 

 movements is obtained. _He slioidd be expert in raising or depress- 

 ing his gun to every kind of level, and taking an aim at various 

 objects. To hold the gun firm to the shoulder is a primary matter 

 of moment, for anytlung like looseness and unsteadiness in this 



f articular is entirely incompatible with the art of shooting flying, 

 t is likewise recommended to place the left hand close, or nearly 

 close, to the trigger, as this secures, in a great m.easure, any injury 

 from the bursting of the piece. This precautionary rule is, how- 

 ever, neglected by a vast number of able and expert shooters, who i 

 have perfect confidence in their guns ; and they hkcAvise maintain 

 that by placing the hand a little forward it prevents the piece from 

 being point-heavy, which produces an unpleasant feeling in the 

 sportsman. 



When the necessary initiatory rules have been sufliciently ob- 

 served, the shooting pupil shoidd be taken into the fields and 

 practised at shooting living objects. Some recommend firing at 

 swalloAvs and martins, but this is not a judicious practice. Their 

 moyements_ through the air are altogether different from those 

 which distinguish game of all kinds. Sparrows having been 

 entrapped, and pieces of paper put round their neck, and then let 

 off, make very good marks. It is considered advisable to induce 

 the pupil to learn the art of keeping both his eyes open ; but some- 

 times we have seen, that this is an extremely difficult matter to 

 attain, as young lads are often from infancy accustomed to take 



