jflasfc. 



IF you expostulate with an old wildfowl gunner 

 on the danger of his piece, he may retaliate on that 

 of your spring powder flask ; while he (with a cow's 

 horn, stopped at one end with a piece of oakum, and 

 at the other with a bit of ood) can fill his backey- 

 pipe, and load with more safety than you gemmen ! 

 'Tis very true ! many serious accidents have happened 

 from sportsmen not having had the precaution to 

 detach their charge before they put it into the barrel, 

 which may have a fatal spark remaining ! A spring 

 powder horn should have a cap to it, from which you 

 can load, and by means of which you keep all dead 

 leaves, and other dirt, that may fall in the pocket, 

 from crumbling into the top of it. 



Having pushed back the spring, to fill the top or 

 charger, let it gradually close again on the thumb, 

 instead of allowing it to fly back and snap. I men- 

 tion this in consequence of an accident, which hap- 

 pened to one, who, in doing the latter, had his hand 

 dreadfully mangled by the explosion of a flask, which 

 it is supposed was occasioned by the adhesion of a 

 piece of flint, 



