THE GUN FOR THE WORK. 97 



used a 12-bore, when you visit the western country, 

 provide yourself with a ro-bore. Now, although 

 what I say after this may appear contradictory to the 

 above selection of weapons, I will at once state that, 

 in my belief, there is no gun, in proportion to its 

 weight and calibre, can give such good results as a 

 lO-bore, and no style of field sports will so well ex- 

 hibit this superiority as water-fowl shooting. 



I am aware that in those parts of the Eastern 

 States where heavy-plumaged birds are getting 

 scarce, there is a tendency among the inhabitant to 

 adopt 12-bore guns. That is all well enough where 

 the game solely consists of "bob-whites," ruffed 

 grouse, woodcock, snipe, and hares, for they are light 

 to carry and very handy in cover ; but go out West, 

 where water-fowl are still 'plentiful, and you will 

 find the folks there sticking to their 10 bores as their 

 fathers did before them. Now, as I am going to 

 take the reader out West with me in thought, at 

 least I will leave the Yankees to shoot with what 

 they " darned please/' while I tell you what you are 

 to fetch from your side of the water when you make 

 a trip westward of the Wabash river, or, better still, 

 beyond the " Big Muddy," otherwise known as the 

 Missouri. 



A quarter of a century back there was an English- 

 man of the name of Abbey residing in Chicago, who 

 could turn out the best muzzle-loader for prairie 

 work that I ever saw. Occasionally even now you 

 will see his productions in the hands of patriarchs, 

 who were not young when the " know nothing " 

 political party was organized. In our own country I 

 have met gentlemen in the field with Manton's and 

 Egg's, keeping everybody waiting while they fooled 

 away good time loading. For neither of these kinds 

 of old " cranks " am I writing if such want to shoot, 

 let them do it alone, or in the company of servants- 

 but for the man of the period, who is up to date, and is 



II 



