OF THE OLD WOKLD. 48o 



initiated with the use of the sights, teaching him how 

 to " ali(jn " his rifle, or " aim " correctly at a mark. 

 The practice of this drill exercises the eye, strength- 

 ening and develojjing the sight in the same manner 

 that continued exertion increases the power of the 

 limbs. The following standard rules should be care- 

 fully observed : — 



I. — The rifle should alivays he held luith the sifjhts 

 'perfectly uprigltt, as it is only in this position that 

 the line of sight, the line of fire, and trajectory, are 

 in the same vertical plane. If the butt of the rifle 

 is not held vertically, but is " canted " either to the 

 right or the left, so that the perpendicular of the 

 back-sight with the axis of the barrel is not pre- 

 served, the ball will strike to the rifi;ht if the siefht 

 inclines to the left, and vice versa ; and in firing at 

 long ranges, a very slight deviation in this respect 

 will cause a wide deflection. 



II. — The " aim " or " line of sigJit " should be 

 taken along the centre of the notch of the back- 

 sight and the top of the fore-sight, which should 

 cover the centre of the object aimed at. 



III. — The eye should be fixed steadfastly on the 

 mark aimed at, and not on the barrel or fore-sight, 

 which latter will be easily brought into the align- 

 ment if the eye is fixed as directed. 



IV. — In aiming, the left eye should be closed. 

 Aiming drill is generally taught with a " traversing- 

 rest," or, if that is not at hand, a tripod with a 

 sandbag on the top, standing about four feet eight 



