HINTS ON SHOOTING. 187 



HINTS ON SHOOTING. 



To lay down rules by the observance of which the 

 majority of bad shots may become experts is easy 

 enough ; but the trouble is, however great the deter- 

 mination to follow the precepts may be, as soon as 

 game is flushed the advice of instruction is thrown 

 to the winds, and bang, bang, go both barrels, with 

 the same unsuccessful results as previously. That 

 more birds are missed by shooting too quickly, I as- 

 sert as a fact that is indisputable ; and knowing this 

 to be the case, why will it continue to be practiced ? 

 For this reason, that many are so fearfully nervous 

 that for the moment they have no control of their 

 actions, or that they are so timid that firing off their 

 gun they consider a duty, and the sooner it is got 

 through with the better ; neither of such pupils are 

 ever likely to become crack shots. I have a friend 

 who is, without exception, the most unlucky shot 

 I was going to say the worst that ever I met. We 

 at one period very frequently shot together, and each 



