FIRING A PUNT-GUN. 353 



mixture of curlews and gulls ; the latter of which 

 were killed, and the others never touched. 



By this I discovered, that the one, being quick- 

 sighted and active birds, sprung before the shot got 

 to them ; while the others, not being able to get out 

 of the way, were killed. A little elevation for the 

 gun (in which a few shots at a mark will direct you), 

 and a pretty good elevation for the springing of the 

 birch-, according to what birds they are, is absolutely 

 necessary, and practice alone will best teach this. 

 Suffice it to say, however, that a man, to be a good 

 shot, with a large gun, has even more to learn than 

 to shoot well in the field ; particularly when he comes 

 to cross shots at flocks going past, where, sometimes, 

 there may be required a yard of elevation, and ten 

 yards allowance for the distance they are at, and the 

 rapidity of their flight. 



As it becomes necessary, when approaching wild 

 birds, to be well concealed in your punt, you are 

 obliged to fire these guns, lying down as close as 

 possible on your chest. For which some have a 

 wedge to support the breast. If you put your cheek 

 to the stock, your shoulder bone in contact with the 

 but, or your second finger behind the trigger, you 

 run a risk of having them severely jarred ; but, if 

 you manage the gun properly, the sensation, with a 

 light charge, is no more than that of firing powder 

 from a small gun ; and the report, to the shooter, 

 seems a mere nothing. To fire a stanchion gun, put 

 your left hand over the but, and regulate it to the 



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