BREECH-LOADERS. 73 



ness as at the beginning; also, the explosion 

 of the charge does not take place in the breech, 

 but in the paper cartridge, which comes out 

 uninjured, containing the debris of the burnt 

 powder, which in the ordinary gun is drawn into 

 the chamber and nipple every time it is reloaded, 

 until the latter becomes clogged up, and miss- 

 fires are the consequence. 

 Advantages 21. What an advantage it is, when 



whenLoad- 



ing- shooting in fens, swamps, or rice fields, 



to be able to load without being obliged to put 

 the butt of your gun in the mud or water, 

 whereby you wet and soil your clothes when 

 you put it up to the shoulder, making yourself 

 uncomfortable for the day. 



22. When shooting in dense covers, or perhaps 

 when perched in the fork of a tree, or in a pit 

 waiting by water, or a salt-lick for deer, bison, or 

 other large game, what an advantage it is being 

 able to reload with so very little change of 

 position in a small space 1 



23. What an advantage to the Indian sports- 



