256 THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



rim into the shot When, therefore, the aim is correct 

 the hare, or some portion of it according to the distance, 

 is lost sight of beneath the barrels of the gun. 

 . No. 5 is the best size of shot for the general purposes 

 of the hare-shooter. Big, strong hillside hares, in their 

 thick winter coats, take a good deal of stopping. Under 

 ordinary circumstances 35 yards is an extreme range at 

 which to fire at hares running directly away from the 





SCOTCH HARE: WINTER AND SUMMER. 



shooter, and I know of no more severe test of the capa- 

 bilities of. a gun than the shooting of these animals under 

 these conditions. With No. 3 shot in the gun I have 

 found that some few yards may be added to this distance ; 

 and from the frequency with which hares are killed out- 

 right at 45 yards with this charge fired from fully-choked 

 guns, I feel fully justified in taking all going-away shots 

 at 40 yards, and crossing shots at a still more extended 

 range with guns so loaded. 



In some situations hares will take to water without 



