SHOOTING. 



there is no " wiping of noses !" as they call it; no 

 " blazing a volley into the brown of 'em /" or, in other 

 words, no jealousy ; no unfair work ; and two sports- 

 men may thus shoot coolly together with good nerves 

 and in good friendship, instead of with jealousy and 

 greediness, which riot only destroys all pleasure, but 

 soon lessens their good shooting, if not their good 

 fellowship. I adopted these regulations for three 

 seasons, with one of the best shots that ever went 

 into a field, and our diversion, by this means, inva- 

 riably went on so pleasantly, that we shot with addi- 

 tional confidence when in each other's company. 



Taking the average of shooting companions, how- 

 ever (except to beat a double hedge-row, or divide 

 what could not be seen on both sides), I should pardon 

 any old sportsman for saying that he would rather 

 have their room than their company. 



From one, who professes himself an adept with a 

 double gun, it is expected, that he will kill a bird 

 with each barrel, almost every time the covey rises 

 within fair distance ; unless impeded by the smoke of 

 his first barrel or other obstacles, which he should 

 endeavour to avoid. The usual method is to take 

 down the gun, and present it afresh, after the first 

 shot ; but as I have seen fourteen successive double 

 shots killed the other way, I shall venture to re- 

 commend it, as being more expeditious. It is, never 

 to take the gun from the shoulder, till both barrels 

 are fired; by which means so little time is taken, 

 between the two shots, that the first, as well as the 



