308 MISSED SHOTS. 



an experienced stalker, strongly advises his readers to 

 satisfy themselves as to what the causes of missed 

 shots are: 



" Measure the distance (he says) and see if you took your 

 range right; think out what the mistake was, and how you 

 could have avoided the disaster. Every shot thought out 

 intelligently is an experience; for this reason I never take 

 a shot, hit or miss, without measuring the distance afterwards. 

 I hold that nothing helps to form your judgment so much." * 



This is undoubtedly wise advice, which should be 

 followed whenever circumstances admit of it. The 

 general is also very emphatic in explaining the decep- 

 tive character of apparent distances upon lofty moun- 

 tains; and alluding to his Indian experiences states 

 that "In the clear atmosphere of the Kashmir every- 

 thing looks nearer than it is, and if you measure 

 your shot you will soon find you were 60 or 100 

 yards out in your calculation ; " the tendency of in- 

 experienced persons being to greatly underestimate 

 ranges under such circumstances. 



The successful stalking of wild game upon the higher 

 slopes of a great mountain range has always appeared 

 to us to be one of the best tests of a man's real worth 

 as a sportsman. It requires him to be sound both of 

 wind and limb, to have a thorough acquaintance with 

 the natural habits etc. of the different kinds of game, 

 and at the same time to be ever watchful and cir- 

 cumspect in his own movements, as well as prompt 

 in coming to a correct judgment as to the best method 

 of out-manoeuvring these wary, sharp-nosed and keen- 

 sighted creatures. He must be ready to put up with 



* Deer-Stalking in the Scottish Highlands, by Lieut.-General 

 Crealock, 1892, p. 185. 



