682 Bob IVhite, the Game Bird of America. 



thus show him the way to improvement in his marksmanship ; 

 but no matter how well we may know how the shooting should 

 be done, to do it is an art which can be attained only by the 

 assiduous cultivation and development of certain peculiar natural gifts. 

 A beginner who, out of three shots, can bring one Bob White to 

 bag, need not be discouraged or ashamed ; with sufficient practice, 

 he may one day kill one out of two birds fired at. The sportsman 

 who does not select his shots (and no man really a sportsman can 

 do that), but takes his chances in the open and in covert on all birds 

 which offer a probability of success to his skill, and who, the season 

 through, brings to his bag three out of five birds fired at, is an 

 accomplished sportsman. If he can make three successful shots out 

 of four, he is a phenomenal marksman. 



EUROPEAN RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGES. (CACCABIS RUFA.) 



Last season, I shot with the best wing-shot I ever hunted with. 

 At my request, this gentleman, Mr. H. K. B. Davis, of Philadel- 

 phia, has written for me the following statement, which, coming from 

 one who has had such unusual opportunities in hunting Bob White, 

 in North Carolina, cannot fail to be of interest to all sportsmen : 



" I find, on referring to my record containing the number of coveys found and the 

 number of birds killed, that the average is but little over three birds brought to bag 



