TOUfOURS PERDRIX' 



have seen men who must be described as good shots, 

 even very good, but who are without it ; they never 

 seem to kill the bird at the right moment nor in the 

 right way, and yet they will contribute their full share 

 of the day's total, and do as well as better men, unless 

 exceptional opportunities or conditions give the latter 

 their chance to show their superior quality. Let there 

 come a really heavy rush of birds, lasting for some 

 time, or a very queer light, or a heavy gale of wind, 

 or all these three conditions-combined, and these men 

 will fall far behind our first-rate friend, so far that you 

 would hardly believe the difference could be due to 

 anything but luck, having seen them miss so little 

 previously. 



The style of a first-rate man is unmistakable, 

 difficult as it may be to define or describe. It is, no 

 doubt, primarily due to a mixture of activity and 

 strength, combining to assist exceptionally fine eye- 

 sight. To these must be added, I think, some intel- 

 lectual ability. I do not recollect an instance of a 

 first-rate shot being a stupid man, nor do I see how 

 he could be. A certain mathematical aptitude, which 

 finds vent in calculation of distances and study of 

 angles, is an essential ; and combined with this, and 

 perhaps producing it, is a love of accuracy in all 

 things. This latter quality assists the development 



