192 RAIL-SHOOTING. 



The first necessity of equipment for this sport is 

 a breech-loading gun, which not only enables the 

 sportsman to kill double the number of birds, but 

 will occasionally give him the benefit, by a rapid 

 change in the charge, of a favorable presentation of 

 a chance flock of ducks. But as many persons, out 

 of a want of knowledge or of funds, still cling to 

 the old muzzle-loader, it may be well briefly to men- 

 tion the articles that tend to modify its inferiority. 



Of course, as the shooting occupies but a few 

 hours, and in good days the birds are perpetually on 

 the wing, it is essential to load rapidly ; and to do 

 this the sportsman places on a thwart before him a 

 tin box divided into compartments for powder, shot, 

 caps, and wads, or, as I prefer, two boxes, one filled 

 with powder and the other with the other materials. 

 For many reasons there should be a lid over the 

 powder to prevent its being ignited by a chance 

 spark or blown away by a strong wind and the 

 ordinary flask is frequently used in spite of the con- 

 sequent delay. A double scoop, made of tin or 

 brass, and regulated to the precise load, is placed 

 among the powder and the shot, and a solid loading- 

 stick lies near at hand. 



By these means the rapidity of loading is more 

 than doubled ; the powder is dropped into both bar- 

 rels at once by means of the double scoop, wads are 

 driven home by a single blow of the rod, both bar- 

 rels are charged with shot at once in the same man- 

 ner, the caps are within easy reach, and the gun is 

 loaded in less than half the time consumed in the 



