146 PIGEON SHOOTING. 



range of the shot. Gun-locks for these matches 

 should have fine, quick action, and very powerful 

 springs. The most killing shot will be found No. 4. 



So much for the tame shooting of pigeons ; now 

 for the fashion of the wild sport. As with the whole 

 species of wild birds, this sport is not a pursuit, but 

 an ambush. You must wait for wild fowl, and not 

 follow them. 



The tme season for woodpigeon shooting is mid- 

 wmter, when the snow lies on the ground. Then 

 they resort to the tuniip-fields, and may be turned to 

 good account. Should it be frost, and you cannot 

 approach them, even under cover of a hedge, in con- 

 sequence of the noise made by the ice breaking as 

 you walk, you will do well to lie in wait for their 

 return from feeding — of course, to leeward of their 

 flight. The favourite food of the woodpigeon in 

 cover, is beech-mast ; it will, therefore, be most 

 frequently met with where beech trees abomid. 

 Having taken your station in the vicinity of them, 

 be in no huriy to fire till 3^our bird has settled on 

 his perch, and taken his preliminaiy survey. Be 

 but patient till he has done this, and he may be shot 

 at as easily as a barn-door fowl ; but if you move the 

 least before he has settled, he will be off like a 

 rocket. 



In September, Captain Lacy says, whilst the 

 leaves are yet green, the cushat, or woodpigeon, is 

 very fond of perching in hedge-rows, particularly of 

 oak and ash ; but when the leaves fall, they corifine 



