114 LOADING. 



chiefly to the closeness of their shooting. But we should 

 remember, that if a gun is overloaded with shot, a great 

 part of it, at any distance, drops short of the object ; 

 and the remainder has not so much strength left, as if 

 that only had received ihe full force of the powder. 

 Try this on the water. I do not, however, say, but, 

 at even a little distance, some shot must strike (not 

 fall) short, if a bird is swimming. These are the 

 grains, which, in spreading, would take the under part 

 of any thing placed perpendicular. It should also be 

 observed, that with a small charge of shot you are not 

 so liable to fire behind an object crossing, or under a 

 bird which is rising, by reason that the less the weight 

 of shot is in proportion to the charge of powder, the 

 shorter time it requires to travel through the air. 



