132 SHOOTING, 



they belong. By this means there is no " wiping of 

 noses /" as they call it ; no " blazing a volley into the 

 brown of'em!" or, in other words, no jealousy; no 

 unfair work ; and two sportsmen may thus shoot coolly 

 together with good nerves and in good friendship, in- 

 stead of with jealousy and greediness, which not only 

 destroys all pleasure, but soon lessens their good shoot- 

 ing, if not their good fellowship. I adopted these regu- 

 lations for three seasons, with one of the best shots that 

 ever went into a field ; and our diversion, by this means, 

 invariably went on so pleasantly, that we shot with 

 additional confidence when in each other's company. 

 The gentleman alluded to was my lamented friend, the 

 late John Ponton, Esq., of Udders House, Dorset. 



Taking the average of shooting companions, however 

 (except to beat a double hedge-row, or divide what could 

 not be seen on both sides), I should pardon any old 

 sportsman for saying that he would rather have their 

 room than their company. 



From one, who professes himself an adept with a 

 double gun, it is expected, that he will kill a bird with 

 each barrel, almost every time the covey rises within 

 fair distance ; unless impeded by the smoke of his first 

 barrel or other obstacles, which he should endeavour to 

 avoid. The usual method is to take clown the gun, and 

 present it afresh, after the first shot ; but as I have seen 

 fourteen successive double shots killed the other way, 

 I shall venture to recommend it, as being more expe- 

 ditious. It is, never to take the guufrom the shoulder, 

 till both barrels are fired; by which means so little 

 time is taken between the two shots, that the first, as 

 well as the second bird, may be suffered to fly to a 



