WITH A STANCHION GUN. 365 



fires. But, in the other shooting, the different cal- 

 culations of elevation, &c., are tenfold more difficult, 

 and particularly if taking flying shots, at perhaps 

 one hundred yards, from a boat that is rolling and 

 pitching in a sea, and where one inch in aim might 

 make the difference of twenty fowl at a shot, or not 

 touching a feather. All this, however, is best gained 

 by practice, though it may be right to caution the 

 beginner against mismanagement, that might un- 

 justly put him out of conceit with his gun. 



In long sitting shots, he must (as I before observed, 

 and cannot too often repeat) remember, at long 

 distances, to preserve a little elevation for his gun ; 

 and further, a good elevation for the birds springing 

 at the flash, and perhaps being up before the shot 

 has time to reach them. 



On going to either hoopers or geese he will, nine 

 times in ten, have notice by the birds themselves 

 when he is to fire, as they, previously to taking wing, 

 draw closer together and set their heads up ; so that 

 he may keep on, even if it were to within forty yards, 

 till they give the signal. And if at night (which is 

 the only time he could get so near) they were still 

 down, he should first take level; and then, pre- 

 viously to drawing the trigger, make some little noise, 

 and by this means induce them to look up, before 

 they receive their " allowance." By thus having their 

 feathers open, and their stretched necks for a target, 

 he will kill at least double the quantity that he 

 would do when they were either sitting close down, 



