472 THE HUNTING GROUNDS 



tridges at tlie rate of about half a gross in an hour, 

 or, if he prefers it, he can purchase them all ready 

 from any gunmaker. 



When all the advantages of the breech-loader are 

 contrasted with the known disadvantages of the 

 muzzle-loader, it is difficult to account for the pre- 

 judice that has existed against them for so many 

 years ; for, notwithstanding that the present system 

 was introduced by La Faucheux a quarter of a cen- 

 tury ago, it is only lately that it has come into 

 general use amongst sportsmen. Numerous objec- 

 tions have been urged against the system, but none 

 appear to have had any substantial foundation ; and 

 I shall not enter into them, although I am aware 

 that there are many sportsmen of the old school 

 who, from prejudice, will not even deign to give it 

 a trial : with them arguments and facts are both 

 equally lost. 



In the pursuit of large game, breech-loading arms 

 are infinitely preferable ; for until the last few years 

 the hunter was always obliged, when waging war 

 with the denizens of the forest, to keep up a battery 

 of several guns and rifles, which, to say nothing of 

 the expense of the first outlay, and the continual 

 wear and tear, &c., was attended by several serious 

 disadvantages, some half-dozen of which I shall enu- 

 merate. In the first place, Two or three gun-bearers 

 are required to each sportsman, whose duty it is to 

 pass up the spare guns as fast as those in hand are 

 discharged : now it is a great disadvantage for a 



