SUGGESTIONS TO SPORTSMEN. 275 



according to Frank Forester, those who, in covert 

 and out of covert, the season through, will kill three 

 out of five of the birds that rise fairly within range ; 

 but in the opinion of the author, the application 

 should be extended to any man who can kill two 

 out of five on an average. This calculation, how- 

 ever, has no reference to fair shots ; every bird that 

 rises within twenty-five yards and is seen, though it 

 be but for an instant, and many that rise at thirty- 

 five yards, are to be counted. 



In our country there is so much covert, that the 

 man who picks his birds and only fires at open 

 chances, is a potterer, unworthy even of the com- 

 mon-place name of gunner ; he has nothing of the 

 sportsman and little of the man about him. Afraid 

 to miss, anxious to boast of his skill, desirous of sur- 

 passing his friends, he unites the qualities of braggart 

 and sneak. 



Be liberal in your shots ; do not grudge ammuni- 

 tion, nor dread the disgrace of a miss the disgrace 

 of eluding the trial is far greater ; and no ihan who 

 waits for open shots, and acquires a hesitating man- 

 ner, will ever effect anything brilliant. If you miss, 

 there are always ple/ity of excellent excuses at hand 

 your foot slipped, the bird dodged, a tree inter- 

 vened ; or, you hit him hard, cut out his feathers, 

 or even killed him stone dead, but he did not fall at 

 once. If you doubt the validity of these excuses, 

 go out with the best shot you know, and observe 

 whether he does not furnish you with ten times the 

 number in a week. 



