136 FRANK FORESTERS FIELD SPORTS. 



and seeing with his own eyes ; and above all, cause him to 

 avoid regarding the smallest peculiarity he may observe in the 

 field of nature unworthy of consideration. 



With regard to the art of shooting, a very few instructions only 

 can be given, and they can do but little toward the formation of a 

 shot. Practice alone can make a good shot, even of one en- 

 dowed with the greatest natural aptitude ; and, without the 

 gift of natural aptitude, no one can ever hope to be a crack 

 shot on the wing. No one, however, who desires it, need des 

 pair of becoming, in something more than a moderate degree, 

 a proficient in this beautiful art, since the introduction of the 

 percussion system ; which has so greatly simplified the art, 

 and diminished the difficulty of shooting on the wing, that it 

 is a current remark now-a-days that, "a bad shot in 1848 

 is a rarer thing to meet than a good one was in 1800." 



The same thing is in a less degree the case with the man- 

 agement of dogs in the field; there are, it is true, general, aye, 

 and particular rules, which may be laid down for the guidance 

 of the hunter ; which rules, if strenuously put in practice, shall 

 be in themselves all sufiicient. But to this end practice is 

 essential — practice in learning when and how each rule is to 

 be put in force ; practice in controlling impatience, in combat- 

 ing temper, in acquiring perfect coolness and complete self- 

 command. No man may hope, let him know how to do so 

 never so well, to govern his dogs, until he has learned first 

 to govern himself. If I were asked to state what were the 

 three things most necessary to the formation of the perfect 

 sportsman, I think I should parody the reply of the great 

 Athenian rhetorician, and reply, " Practice ! practice ! practice !" 



But of these things severally in their places : and now to 

 the field for spring Snipe-shooting. 



