THE GUN, AND HOW TO CHOOSE IT. 77 



more serviceable 14 gauge for spring and fall snipe-shoot- 

 ing, and for autumn shooting in general. To persons who 

 can afford one only, such a piece would be nearly useless, 

 as it would be two to one against him, the year through, 

 compared with his companion carrying a gun such as I 

 recommend. 



In any event, it is a mere piece of luxury and cox- 

 combry, scarce worthy of a sportsman, to affect a particu- 

 lar gun for every season ; and, what is more, it is not 

 unlikely to detract seriously from his shooting ; even if it 

 be built of exactly the same weight, bend and length of 

 stock, and trigger-pull ; since no two or more guns ever 

 come up, much less shoot, exactly alike ; nor does the 

 same man ever execute equally with two guns. 



Like the proverbial man of one book, the man of 

 one gun is to be bewared. He is likely to prove an ugly 

 customer. 



In one case, I should recommend the adoption of a 

 different gun to the above, or the use of two of different 

 sizes. That is, where the shooter has little or no upland 

 shooting ; by which term I mean snipe, woodcock, quail, 

 grouse, prairie-fowl and hare, using it in opposition not to 

 lowland, but to bay shooting, and depends for his sport on 

 the shores, lagoons, creeks, and beaches, or even inland 

 rivers and lakes ; when I would advise, in lieu of the gun 

 I have so often described, one of ten Ibs. with two barrels 

 of thirty-six inches, and 8 or 9 gauge. Such a gun is the 

 most effective that can be had for single fowl or for small 

 flocks, and for shore-birds, such as curlews, marlins, wil- 

 let, plovers and the like. Where a sportsman is so lucky 



