486 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



Purified Neafs-foot Oil. Procure half a pint 

 of the best fresh neat's-foot oil, let it stand till all 

 the thick has sunk to the bottom ; pour off only the 

 clear or bright part into a bottle ; to this add a 

 quarter of an ounce of powdered animal charcoal, 

 shake up well and let it stand for twenty-four to 

 thirty-six hours ; strain off into a bottle half-filled 

 with bright lead shavings, place it in a light place, a 

 sunny one if possible, when all the thick and fatty 

 particles of the oil will sink and adhere to the bright 

 lead. It is generally necessary to pour the oil 

 carefully, avoiding all sediment, on to a second set 

 of lead shavings. After that it may be transferred to 

 small bottles for use, which keep well corked. The 

 whole process will take some three weeks to com- 

 plete. 



To keep a gun in nice order when in constant 

 use nothing is better, cheaper, or more simple than 

 refined parafifine to take rust off or to use for every 

 part of a gun, but it must be well rubbed from all 

 exposed parts soon after putting on. On applying 

 oil to the action and lock of a gun it cannot be 

 put on too thin ; the working parts of the lock 

 especially should be very lightly touched, and very 

 seldom twice a season, perhaps, at most. 



When a gun is cleaned and will not be wanted 

 for a week or so, put in each barrel a stick covered 

 with thin flannel or baize wrapped round it several 

 times, and then neatly stitched from loosening, till 

 it fits the barrel fairly tight, the flannel to be 

 slightly coated with neat's-foot or vaseline : a twist 

 of either stick, if the gun is not used as soon as 

 expected, will keep all in order inside. These rods 



