292 TRAP-SHOOTING. 



during which there is absolutely no legitimate sport 

 with the gun whatever ; the woodcock are not yet 

 grown, the snipe have passed to their northern 

 homes, and the sportsman fills the vacancy with the 

 emulation of surpassing his associates at trap-shoot- 

 ing. The attempt is exciting, and the art peculiar, 

 requiring great self-command and utter disregard of 

 the jeers, praises, or contemptuous laughter of a 

 thousand spectators. 



Tame pigeons are not so well adapted to the pur- 

 pose as their wild brethren, having a quiet way of 

 ignoring the object for which they are produced, 

 and walking towards the stand, or picking up scraps 

 of food the moment they are released, that is try- 

 ing to the expectant shooter. Then they are strong 

 of wing and well feathered, so that the shot must be 

 driven hard to penetrate to a vital spot ; and they 

 fly as often towards the crowd assembled behind the 

 score as in the contrary direction. Their flight is 

 uneven, and frequently, after rising a few feet, they 

 will suddenly alight, or pitch down part of the way. 

 The best shots, therefore, prefer the wild birds, that 

 go off with a rush the moment the trap is pulled 

 for, although they fly faster, they are more certain in 

 their motions. Tame birds are collected in the 

 neighborhood of towns and through the country, but 

 rarely in large numbers ; and being accustomed to 

 the presence of man, require little special care. 

 Wild birds are brought from long distances, fre- 

 quently from the confines of Wisconsin, and in 

 consequence of their timid, excitable nature, re- 



