FIRING A PUNT-GUN. 361 



I condemn tallow confined in wire, I can see no ob- 

 jection to it when merely covered with light paper. I 

 am indebted to my friend Captain Ward for this dis- 

 covery, and a schedule of its excellent performance. 



FIRING. 



The firing of these guns, at long distances, requires 

 some practice, by reason that, before the shot can travel 

 a hundred yards, the birds, if quick-sighted, will be on 

 the move, particularly if they see the flash. No one 

 had ever the kindness to tell me this, when I first used 

 a long gun ; till, after some time, wondering what was 

 the matter that I could not kill (not being able to see 

 through the smoke), I fired at a mixture of curlews 

 and gulls ; the latter of which were killed, and the 

 others never touched. 



By this I discovered, that the one, being quick- 

 sighted and active birds, sprung before the shot got to 

 them ; while the others, not being able to get out of 

 the way, were killed. A little elevation for the gun 

 (in which a few shots at a mark will direct you), and a 

 pretty good elevation for the springing of the birds, 

 according to what birds they are, is absolutely neces- 

 sary, and practice alone will best teach this. Suffice it 

 to say, however, that a man, to be a good shot, with a 

 large gun, has even more to learn than to shoot well 

 in the field ; particularly when he comes to cross shots 

 at flocks going past, where, sometimes, there may be 

 required a yard of elevation, and ten yards' allowance 

 for the distance they are at, and the rapidity of their 

 flight, 



