22 ON THE DOGMATISM 



combine the defects of both. But very 

 likely this is my dogmatism again — still I 

 had one for some years. 



I own I swear by the 20-bore. I have 

 had almost every bore between 12 and 24 — 

 all that are made for modern cartridges, and 

 a few besides ; so, at least, I have tried those 

 I like less. The only thing to be said against 

 them is that the cartridges are not always at 

 hand, if one's own run out. For this reason 

 I intend my next gun to be a "Vena 

 Contracta " — is it necessary to explain that a 

 *' Vena Contracta " is a 20-bore eun taking 

 i2-bore cartridges? — and for this reason also 

 I recommend the i6-bore to sportsmen 

 going to Germany and Austria, where nearly 

 everyone uses that calibre. 



In this matter of guns sportsmen, how- 

 ever, are not nearly so dogmatic as their 



