EXPERIMENTAL SHOTS. 125 



all would have been upon the ground ; as it was, 

 nothing could have been more ludicrous than to see 

 the startled geese endeavouring to regain their dis- 

 carded velocity of flight. It was a scramble, a regular 

 sauve qui pent, in which all were seriously retarded 

 by their proximity to each other. Either from a 

 desire to know what prevented the killed from joining 

 their flight, or ignorance of what had caused the 

 rapid retreat, back the flock came, and passed within 

 forty yards of my screen. By this time I had inserted 

 fresh cartridges, so two more birds paid the penalty 

 of their rashness. For a few minutes after this I had 

 some rest, but after that respite again the geese com- 

 menced to visit my immediate locality, in constantly 

 increasing numbers. Their flight was so steady, 

 their approach so apparent, that no one could fail 

 to kill the game, unless he was like a Cincinnati friend 

 of mine, who invariably shut both eyes when he 

 pitched his gun to his shoulder. When I had but 

 four cartridges remaining, I resolved to fire them at, 

 such long distances as would give me enlighten- 

 ment on the vexed question, c< How far can a wild 

 goose be killed with ordinary shot ? " Circumstances 

 permitted me to pick my birds, so all were fired at 

 as the birds crossed me, at fifty, sixty, and sixty-five 

 yards. I had most satisfactory results, but with the 

 last bird, which I judged to be further off than either 

 of the others, the result was different, for the goose 

 soared and fell dead within a hundred yards of where 

 I stood. However, such an experience as this does 

 not prove much unless that my gun "held its shot 

 well together, yet threw it with great force for if 

 the game had been in another position at the time 

 I aligned my barrels upon it, the result might have 

 been different. 



The above is narrated with the purpose of eluci- 

 dating the question, whether a bird like a goose can be 

 killed with three or five shot under certain circum- 



