io8 SHOOTING THE PARTRIDGE 



As a matter of fact, the inferior performer does 

 not wound much in shooting long shots ; for if, as we 

 have been showing, he is inaccurate at short distance, 

 he will be often many feet out at the farther range. 

 Probably the distance by which birds flying very fast 

 at long ranges are missed often amounts to as many 

 yards as it is popularly supposed to be feet. But a 

 really good shot should be chary of firing at game 

 beyond the real killing distance; for, as he is seldom 

 much off the mark, he will strike nearly every bird with 

 an outside corn or two. I have always seen a much 

 heavier pick-up on the following day when the guns 

 have been very good, and there can be no doubt this 

 is the reason. It is odd that the contrary is usually 

 supposed to be the case, but I think all those who 

 have been used to shooting in first-class company 

 will corroborate my view, although, as a matter of 

 humanity, it may tell against themselves. 



I must recur again to the value of pigeon-shooting 

 from traps in competition with, others as fine practice 

 for game. You have to maintain a very high average 

 of kills even to pay your expenses, and the rivalry, as 

 well as the penalty you pay for missing, causes you to 

 take greater pains. The body of a blue-rock pigeon 

 is smaller even than that of a partridge, and unless you 

 get this little object in the centre of the charge you will 



