44 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



twenty-two inches in length. The stock, however, was 

 always inconvenient, particularly when loading while the 

 horse was going at speed. Small-bored arms are to be 

 avoided. The trappers and professional hunters use 

 them ; but the reason is, that they require much less 

 ammunition than those of larger calibre ; and at the 

 same time, in killing fur-bearing animals, the pelt does 

 not become so much torn. A small bullet, when pro- 

 perly placed, will do its work instantaneously; but 

 deviation of a few inches is so frequent in this, which 

 may be called snap-shooting, that the more severe shock 

 and larger wound of the big projectile are eminently 

 more effective. 



