Some TKntmblefcon "foeroes 655 



made a highest possible, 105 points, at those ranges 

 in 1898; and last year at Bisley Sergeant Wood, of 

 the South Stafford, performed the same remarkable 

 feat, and had also bull's-eyes for sighting shots ! Mac- 

 Vittie was one of the British team that went over to 

 America to shoot in the great Centennial Match in 

 1876. On his return he adopted the American position 

 in firing at long ranges. " I get," he says, in his little 

 book on rifle-shooting, " as flat on my back as possible, 

 and cross the left leg over the right. My hand is kept 

 in proper position by a strap which passes round my 

 left wrist, and the ends of which are held by my teeth. 

 The rifle is laid over the left leg a little way above 

 the knee, and the stock held firmly into the shoulder. 

 By adopting the back position greater steadiness can 

 certainly be attained, but there are also many draw- 

 backs. ... I invariably prefer to aim on a level with 

 the bull's-eye." 



I do not know who was the first to adopt the back 

 position, but the Hon. T. F. Fremantle, himself an 

 excellent shot, in his interesting " Notes on the Rifle," 

 reproduces a plate from Ezekiel Baker's " Remarks on 

 Rifle Guns," published in 1803, which depicts a rifleman 

 shooting from a back position almost exactly similar 

 to that now in vogue. I think the first marksman I 

 saw shooting in this position was Mr. Farquharson, 

 M.P., in the match Lords v. Commons. He was a 

 man of great bulk and stature, and a fine shot As 

 a quick shooter he had few equals. I saw him once 

 fire 52 shots in two minutes at 200 yards, scoring 

 5 bulls, 26 centres, and 21 outers. But he certainly 



