PIGEON-MATCH SHOOTIXG. 275 



man is prepared to shoot. No bird should be 

 placed in the trap, until it is distinctly ascer- 

 tained by the arbiter that the shooter is ready 

 to take his stand, and every bird should be 

 placed with its head from the crowd. If the 

 judge has any doubts about a bird gathered 

 within the bounds, he should examine the bird 

 himself, and give his opinion accordingly. The 

 shooters should each charge their guns under the 

 inspection of the judge, as soon as their names 

 have been called by lottery. In gathering a 

 bird, the person appointed may go outside of it, 

 but he should on no account be allowed to strike 

 it with a missle of any kind. If it should alight 

 on a tree within the bounds, he may climb the 

 tree or send up a boy for the purpose, but the 

 bird, to count on the score in favor of the shooter, 

 must be fairly gathered with the hands. If a 

 bird walk from the trap and away from the 

 shooter, within the two minutes assigned, he may 

 advance or not at the discretion of the judge, 

 who should, however, always endeavor to pre- 

 serve the relative distance of the shooter and the 

 mark. No missies should be thrown on the 

 bird's refusing to rise, except at the order of the 

 judge. His decision in all cases should be de- 

 cisive on the ground. The ties should be shot 



