RULES TO BE ATTENDED TO IN SHOOTING. 835 



the points alluded to, will depend the success of the sports- 

 man in taking a good aim, and the facility with which he 

 can bring the sight to the eye, and cover his game in taking 

 aim. 



5. Great attention is requisite in keeping powder perfectly 

 dry, and it ought to be kept in tin or copper flasks. The 

 quantity of powder requisite for a charge will depend upon 

 the size of shot, which is regulated by the kind of game as 

 well as the season of the year. A measure should be pro- 

 cured with a guage of the various proportions marked on it. 

 Patent shot is now in universal use ; the siz^s and range are 

 described under the article Shot. 



6. Patent wadding is the best, or an old felt hat cut into 

 small circles the size of the calibre of the fowling-piece. It 

 should only be moderately rammed down. Brown-paper 

 should never be used as wadding, and where proper wadding 

 cannot be obtained at the time, soft grey paper or an old 

 newspaper will be good substitutes for the patent wadding. 



7. Whenever a piece is fired it should be reloaded without 

 delay. 



8. No. 6 shot is used for shooting at a quadruped, such 

 as a hare, &c., 45 to 50 paces is the range of the distance 

 likely to take effect ; and for birds on the wing from 60 to 

 Q^ paces. No genuine sportsman will think of shooting at 

 birds while sitting on the ground or perched on a tree : it is 

 shooting on the wing which is the delight of the sportsman. 



9. In shooting at a hare or other animal running, or a bird 

 flying, aim must be taken a little way before the animal, 

 according to the distance it is from the shooter, for which no 

 precise rules can be laid down ; but it will be best acquired 

 by experience. 



10. Take care always to hunt with the wind. When the 

 weather is warm the sportsman must take open ground ; but 



