ON THE MODES OP USING THE GUN AND THE DOG. 45 



aims at anything^ only with one eye— the right one. These early 

 habits are sometimes so powerful, that it is almost hopeless to 

 expect their relinquishment in after life. Quickness of motion 

 should he learned ; but the happy medium between snap shots and 

 dead sloio should be the main thing looked at and sedulously 

 studied. 



To_ cultivate a steady and decisive mode of walking and 

 standing is very advantageous for successful shooting. Anything 

 like trepidation and an indecisive gait_ are inimical to success- 

 ful sport. It is said that a firm placing of the limbs greatly 

 assists the arms in readily and gracefully elevating and presenting 

 the gun. The fowling-piece should be carried barrel upwards, and 

 sloped_ towards the left arm, the lock being clasped by the hand of 

 that side, the fingers embracing the stock, which allows the arm, 

 though supporting the gun, yet to do it with readiness and ease, 

 and to be placed with facility within the grasp of the hand previous 

 to the meditated elevation. The lesson to tlie pupil is " to carry 

 the gun with the cock inwards and down, and the side of the stock 

 embedded against the inside of your left arm, taking an easy 

 position, considerably below the chest." 



Another maxim is given from the same authority. " In the act 

 of cocking, let your forefinger quit the front of the trigger, and, 

 extending itself sloping forward through the guard, only feel the 

 side of it with a gentle pressure. Your body, by this action of 

 throwing out the butt, combined with the step-out of the left leg 

 in taking form, wUl be brought with its weight principally upon 

 that limb ; a position assumed as more immediately called tor, 

 when the flight is nearly in a line from you, or to the left, which 

 will comprise four out of five of aU. your shots." Again, when the 

 ■wQxd. Present! is either used audibly, or mentally, the follo\\dng direc- 

 tions are given. Let the barrel, at this moment inclined over the 

 left shoulder, be swept in a circle forwards with a smart motion, 

 the fore-finger of the right hand (sloping, as we have before placed 

 it through the guard, and clear of the front of the trigger) oeing, 

 as it were, the centre of motion upon which the gun turns during 

 the sweep ; by which action the butt should be raised nearly to its 

 fuU height, and then brin^ it back with something of a thump into 

 its place within the shoulder, whilst at the same time an increasing 

 pasp with the left hand, which till now has kept its hold rather 

 loosely, combiaes with that of the right hand upon the gripe of the 

 stock, to keep it firmly there. The direction of the barrel to the 

 mark, or what may be termed the line of level, to be taken, m the 

 first instance, a little below that which, as already drawn by the 

 eye to the object, we may distinguish by the name of the line of 

 sight. The latter should be firm and immoveable ; to which a 

 precise adjustment of the line of level must finally be made by an 

 easy flexure of the upper part of the body altogether, but_ without 

 any loosening or twisting of the butt from its firm hold Avithin the 

 shoulder ; and on the instant that you get these two lines m con- 



