i26 ifcfnas ot tbe TCofc, IRffle, an& (Bun 



deer-stealers and poachers that infested the New Forest, 

 the noblemen and gentlemen concerned in the preserva- 

 tion of the Deer and Game in that district, can bear 

 abundant Testimony. 



The exploits which Mr. R. Toomer performed in 

 shooting with such apparent ease soon convinced the 

 persons who saw them that they were done methodically ; 

 and this was completely ascertained, by his frequently 

 suffering himself to be blinded with a double hand- 

 kerchief over his eyes, after having taken his aim, and 

 then to fire and hit a small object. Some little time 

 previous to his death, he went to Moyles Court, near 

 Ringwood, for a day's rook-shooting ; he made some 

 trifling bet with Mr. Mist that he killed more birds 

 with his rifle and a single ball than Mr. Mist did with 

 his fowling-piece and shot. The number of shots was 

 limited to twenty. Mr. T. killed every shot, Mr. M. 

 nineteen ; the latter expressed his surprise at the event, 

 remarking that as the trees were very lofty, Mr. T.'s 

 eyesight must be superior to that of others. Mr. 

 T.'s answer was, ' I will convince you, my friend, there 

 is not such extraordinary eyesight required, and that 

 what you have seen is not so difficult as you imagine ' : 

 he selected a rook, levelled his rifle, and then desired 

 Mr. Mist to tie a handkerchief over his eyes, so that 

 he was in perfect darkness. After this was done, he 

 fired and brought down the bird ; he reloaded and 

 repeated this a second time with the same effect, to 

 the astonishment of many spectators. Mr. T. was 

 satisfied that birds might be readily killed flying with 

 a single ball, if the lock of the gun was not too large, 



