OVER HEAD SHOTS. 57 



them, and they would fall dead as a rock, and often I have 

 shot them coming under full headway, right on me, and 

 when the gun would crack, they being so close the shot 

 would fairly riddle them, and I have often killed them fly- 

 ing down hill, coming directly at me, and flying so swiftly, 

 being frightened, that when the shot would hit them, they 

 would be coming with such velocity, that they would 

 fall ten feet behind me, and on several occasions I have 

 caught them when they were falling, with my hand, and 

 have had them to fall dead at my feet. And I have even 

 had birds that were wing-tipped, when falling, to pitch 

 and hit me. I have killed Partridges flying in every con- 

 ceivable direction, advancing towards me, or passing over 

 my head ; and I have always found, that when the gun 

 was pointed right, and the aim correct, and the bird in 

 killing range of certainty, it was brought down and killed. 

 It made no difference in which direction the bird was fly- 

 ing, whether it was advancing towards me, or going away 

 from me. "When a Partridge has passed over head, flying 

 in full flight, be quick in your movements, turn your body 

 and catch aim on the bird in an instant, draw the trigger 

 and fire. The aim should be quick, and very accurate, be- 

 ojuiso the bird is in full flight going at the top of its speed, 

 and flying very swiftly, and unless you catch aim on it, in 

 an instant, and shoot quickly, it will get out of killing dis- 

 tance of certainty of the gun, and unless the aim is perfect 

 the bird will be missed, because it is flying at an acute an- 

 gle with the shot. To be successful in shooting Partridges 

 flying over head, all you have got to do, is to aim directly 

 at the bird, and keep up the motion of the gun with the 

 flight of the bird, and always remember to shoot the first 

 barrel when the bird is advancing towards you, and before 

 it gets over your head, so if you should happen to miss 

 your mark, you will have another chance at the bird with 

 the second barrel, by turning and taking a fair shot at it 

 flying off. Unless strict attention is paid to these rules, 

 you will miss the fairest marks offered by Partridges flying 

 over head. 



