FIEINQ.] 



SHOOTING, 



[precat:tions. 



should continue this lesson two or three days, 

 more or less, till he is as calm as if the leather 

 was still in the chaps. Now the grand and last 

 trial— complete loading. If he feels any 

 flutter or anxiety on his advance to the point, 

 let him draw his shot at once ; nay, powder 

 also, before he goes up to his dog, and repeat 

 this, toties quoties, till he has whipped himself 

 into good temper, and disappointed himself 

 into the accomplishment of his wishes. In 

 cross-shooting, if a bird goes to the left, step 

 forward with the right foot ; and the contrary, 

 if to the right hand. This removes at once 

 the complaint often made, of not killing one 

 way so well as the other. Shoot at the head 

 iu every direction, if possible ; and there can- 

 'jiot be any necessity for greater allowance. 

 In elevation, let the front of the guard be a 

 stop for the gripe of the left hand ; in which 

 situation, if the barrel should burst, it will not 

 be so liable to be injured ; and the thumb 

 being erect, an avenue is artificially made by 

 means of its corresponding with the cock nail, 

 tliat gives great direction to the eye. The 

 moment that the eye, in conjunction with the 

 muzzle of the gun, bears upon the object 

 aimed at, fire ; for when the eye bears too 

 long on the object, the sight becomes weak- 

 ened, whilst the object itself is extending the 

 distance between itself and the shooter." 



One of the standing topics of discussion 

 among sportsmen, is the average distance of a 

 fair shot. Much has been said and written 

 upon this question ; and, like all questions 

 upon which much is both said and Wiritten, it 

 has become as hazy in some minds as a Scotch 

 atmosphere in the month of November. Forty 

 yards is, however, pretty generally allowed to 

 be a fair average shot; but there are m.any 

 who kill at almost double that distance. The 

 subject, however, is not susceptible of any de- 

 termined solution. Most sportsmen know, 

 with tolerable accuracy, what can, and what 

 cannot be done by their fowling-pieces. 



A code of laws for the government of par- 

 ties shooting in company, has been framed, in 

 order to determine what is right and what is 

 wrong practice in the field. In this code, all 

 birds that cross, are to be considered as be- 

 /Ongiug to the gunner to whose side their 

 heads are pomted, unless a previous under- 

 standing was come to, that either party may 

 528 



take an after-shot at a tailing bird. When 

 single birds rise and go away fair for either 

 party, it may be proper to have it previously 

 understood that such should be taken alter- 

 nately by each shooter. 



Precautionary oiservations are commonly 

 appended to all formal treatises on the gun. 

 These are frequently of great value; yet they are 

 often disregarded ; and to the volume of acci- 

 dents which have already talcen place, through 

 carelessness, an additional sheet is every season 

 appended. Even this, however, is far from 

 being a complete record of all that happens, 

 whilst some of them are of the most painful 

 description. The habit should be formed to 

 attend to certain minute matters ; when this 

 is acquired, it becomes second nature, and 

 affords a firm confidence in the mind of the 

 sportsman himself, as well as in that of his 

 friend. 



In reference to the mode of carrying a gun, 

 Mr. Daniel is especially particular. He says, 

 " Always hold the gun with the left hand, 

 close to the guard, and not forward upon the 

 barrel, but strongly grasp it near the entrance 

 of the ramrod, which has been very frequently 

 strenuously recommended. All the requisite 

 steadiness in taking aim, and even of motion, 

 in traversing the flight of a bird, can be ob- 

 tained by thus holding the heaviest pieces; 

 and, in case of a barrel's bursting, the cer- 

 tainty of having a hand or arm shattered, by 

 grasping the barrel, is reduced to a certainty 

 of escaping some of the eff'ects of such an 

 accident, by placing the hand close to the 

 guard beneath it. "With double guns a danger 

 arises, from the shooter, after fii-ing but one 

 barrel, often setting the butt of the gun upou 

 the ground. A sense of self-preservation will 

 soon render it habitual not to do this ; and a 

 man who is so absent, or eager, as to disregard 

 this precaution, had better confine himself to 

 carrying a cane, instead of a gun." 



The following remarks are worthy of the 

 sportsman's attention: — 



1st. If you or your dog should at any time get a 

 severe blow, instantly foment the wounded part for 

 at least half-an-hour with warm water, as hot as can 

 be borne, and you will thereby greatly reduce your 

 sufferings, and also the time you will be kept from 

 your sport. . , 



2nd. If you burn yourself m shootmg, wrap the 

 part affected immediately in cotton, the application 



