16 WILD 15EASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP, i 



the Express bullet unfortunately broke up. Probably, be thinks a 12-bore 

 would have reached the brain.' 



I could produce numerous instances where failures have occurred, 

 and I know sportsmen of long experience who have given up the 

 use of hollow bullets except against such small game as black-buck 

 and other antelopes or deer. 



So much for the Express hollow bullet, after which it is at the 

 option of all persons to please themselves ; but personally I should 

 decline the company of any friend who wished to join me in the 

 pursuit of dangerous game if armed with such an inferior weapon. 

 In another portion of this volume I shall produce a striking in- 

 stance of the result. 



The magazine rifle, which is destined to become the military 

 arm of the future, can hardly merit a place among sporting rifles, 

 as it must always possess the disadvantage of altering its balance 

 as the ammunition is expended. The "Winchester Company have, 

 I believe, produced a great improvement in a rifle of this kind, 

 100, which carries a charge of 110 grains of powder; but even so 

 small a bore must be unhandy if the rifle is arranged to contain a 

 supply of cartridges. For my own use I am quite contented with 

 one '577, a '400, and a No. 12 Paradox all solid bullets, but 

 varying in hardness of metal according to the quality of game ; for 

 the largest animals a pair of No. 8 rifles with hard bullets and 1 4 

 drams of powder. 



I can say nothing more concerning rifles for the practical use of 

 sportsmen, although a volume might be devoted to their history 

 and development Shot-guns are too well understood to merit a 

 special notice. 



