454 LETTERS TO YOUNG SHOOTERS LETTER xxvm. 



As to shot, I prefer 1 J oz. of No. 4 ; most of your 

 birds will be killed within 30 yards, and the pattern 

 of this charge is close enough at that range ; and as 

 pigeons are very tough, especially when their crops 

 are full, No. 4 will drop them dead without the risk 

 of their sloping down at a distance, or fluttering away 

 on the ground to hide under the brushwood. 



As it is sometimes tiring to stand a long time 

 without a shot, with the gun tightly grasped, and the 



PIG. 



arms in a state of tension, I advise two forked sticks 

 standing 3ft. high (fig. 98), to be utilised for resting 

 the gun in ; then, if you chance to be lighting a pipe 

 or eating sandwiches, and pigeons appear overhead, 

 you can instantly seize your gun for a shot, and as 

 quickly fire it as if you had it in your hands. 



