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be an advantage which tl>o ono-oycd man will 

 unquestionably have over his opponent. This 

 occasion will frequently arise in shooting in 

 the Highlautl.-^, at all sorts of game, but par- 

 tioularlv at black game, whose flight is peculiar. 

 These birds rarely ascend, even when found on 

 the open heather, or in corn-tields ; and not one 

 in twenty rises vertically, but emerges from the 

 heather, corn, or bushes obliquely, and immedi- 

 ately takes a horizontal direction, except when 

 it leaves a high mountain-top — in which case, 

 in the first instance, it descends, subsequently 

 preserving its horizontal course ; and when 

 disturbed in cover, always escaping through 

 the first openings which present themselves, 

 emerging horizontally, and never rising verti- 

 cally, except its horizontal flight be ob- 

 structed. Having shot hundreds of these 

 birds, and seen thousands of them ou wing at 

 diflerent times, we can speak with some de- 

 gree of certainty on this point ; and if we 

 allude to the peculiarity of their flight, it is 

 merely as illustrative of the position which we 

 have assumed, that all the advantages are not 

 ou the side of the two-eyed men. Black game 

 are remarkably easy birds to shoot, when a fair 

 chance can be got at them ; but they con- 

 stantly rise near, without aflbrding the op- 

 portunity cf a good shot, especially in cover; 

 and this is very intelligible, when their pecu- 

 liar mode of flight, we have just explained, is 

 considered. 



THE GUN AND THE TARGET. 

 OThe examination or trial of a foivJing -piece 

 is one of those duties so essential, even to the 

 safety of the sportsman, that he must by no 

 means neglect it. Nor must he neglect to 

 make a thorough trial of the instrument which 

 be intends to use, under every change of wea- 

 ther, before he ventures upon the moor or the 

 manor to seek for his sport. In the manufac- 

 ture of guns there is as much deception as 

 there is in the manufacture of any other ar- 

 ticles of commerce; therefore, it behoves the 

 gun-purchaser to bring all his skill and judg- 

 ment to bear upon the general make of the 

 instrument he desires to purchase, before he 

 has taken it into the field with him. " It is 

 /lot altogether true," says the Oakleigh Shoot- 

 ing Code, " that the best guns are made by the 

 most celebrated makers ; but the reason why 

 3x 



a gun made by ono of these makera is to bo 

 preferred by a person not thoroughly conver- 

 sant with the arcana of the trade, is the prob- 

 able certainty of his obtaining a good one ; 

 for a first-rate maker will not hazard his repu- 

 tation by turning out an inditlV-rcnt one. Tho 

 unwillingness, however, to give a first-rater's 

 price, induces the shooter to look out for a 

 second-hand piece; and the eagerness with 

 which second-hand pieces are sought for, has 

 led to a species of deception to entrap tho un- 

 wary. Tho following remarks on second-hand 

 fowling-pieces, are by a gun-maker — ' Eight 

 out of ten of the guns sold as second-hand aro 

 new guns, made up purj)0sely to suit the public 

 taste, or predilection for second-hand guns by 

 a good maker.' And really one might suppose 

 that none but mere novices could be imposed on 

 by them, for they generally bear the names of 

 makers, many of whom were dead before tho 

 invention of the copper cap ; such as Henry 

 North, "W. Mortimer, Feuton, Hewson, &c. ; 

 but all these are warranted genuine. 



"In making trial of the gun, care should bo 

 taken that it is what we will venture to call a 

 thoroughly agreeable piece ; that it is easy and 

 pleasant to handle ; that it fits the shoulder 

 well ; and that it is altogether an instrument 

 that pleases the eye. There is more in this hist 

 observation than many would think; for, if the 

 eye is not pleased with the appearance of the 

 piece, good shooting is apt to be marred by it. 

 After the examination, let the breeching be 

 taken out ; and remember that the screw, 

 both male and female, be examined carefully ; 

 that the male ribs and tho female indentations 

 fit so closely together as to harbour no wet ; 

 but that, when screwed up, they make a solid 

 mass. This is often little attended to ; but, if 

 the amateur will take out the breeches of some 

 of the cheap guns, he will be convinced, by the 

 ill-fitting of these important parts together, 

 of the liability of such guns to corrode, and 

 eventually to burst. AVe therefore say, buy no 

 gun that shows any marks of disunion between 

 the breech-screw and the barrel ; also, look 

 down it agaiust the glare of a large candle, 

 and if any flaw appears, let it be care- 

 fully examined with callipers. The breech or 

 breeches being replaced, proceed to an equally 

 close examination of every other part ot tuo 

 barrel. Next examine the stock and its mouut- 



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