216 THE GROUSE 



watchword, and when the birds do come 

 remember your business is to " beat them 

 back." 



Pages have been written on how best 

 to shoot your birds, long technical descrip- 

 tions of how much to allow under varying 

 circumstances, but all, I fear, to little 

 purpose. Only your own experience, and 

 the hints you may gather from watching 

 good shots in the field, can teach you how 

 to kill birds cleanly and in good style. All 

 the good you can gather from books on the 

 subject may be comprised in a few hints. 



Choose the bird you mean to kill 

 quickly, and let nothing divert your 

 attention from him while he is still 

 alive. Keep your eye fixed on him, 

 and as soon as he comes within the 

 killing range you have allotted yourself, 

 throw up your gun, with your left hand 

 reaching well forward, and pull as soon as 

 it gets to the shoulder. Avoid any 

 dwelling on your aim or following birds 

 round as you would avoid the devil, for 

 thus are dangerous shots made. 



