478 THE HUNTING GROUNDS 



a breech-loader, he will produce the most finished 

 weapon of the day. Next to the Whitworth I ap- 

 preciate the advantages that Mr Lancaster's eliptical 

 rifling has over other systems, as it gives excellent 

 practice, and, the bore being smooth, is not liable 

 to harbour rust or wear away. This rifle has given 

 admirable results, and has the great advantage of 

 not fouling nearly so easily as the Regulation and 

 other pieces, and also admits of being cleared far 

 more easily. 



I shall conclude my remarks by observing that 

 the market in the present day is deluged with arms 

 that are made to sell, and not to shoot ; and the 

 public should be on their guard, so as not to allow 

 themselves to be taken in by spurious imitations ; 

 for there are unscrupulous vendors who do not hesi- 

 tate to engrave the names of first-class gunmakers 

 upon guns of inferior workmanship, and sell them 

 to the uninitiated as "bargains." Young sports- 

 men, in selecting a gun, should always go to a 

 maker of note, who, for the sake of his own credit 

 and reputation, would not allow an arm that is un- 

 sound, or of inferior workmanship, to leave his 

 establishment bearing his name, which, in first-class 

 work, is always engraved in full, with address. He 

 may have to pay a long figure in comparison with 

 the cost of the inferior article, and, perhaps, some- 

 thing for " the name ;" but he is sure of a good 

 w^eapon, which will prove far better worth the 

 money in the long run, and need not be appre- 



