486 THE HUNTING GKOUNDS 



inches from the ground (or the average height of a 

 man's shoulder) will answer every purpose ; and the 

 novice is required to align his rifle with the proper 

 elevation upon objects at distances varying from fifty 

 to nine hundred yards. Each time he has aligned his 

 rifle he steps aside, in order that the instructor may 

 take his place and see if the aim be correct. This 

 practice should be continued until the novice has no 

 difiiculty in aligning his rifle on the bull's-eye at all 

 distances. Up to three hundred yards, the bull's-eye 

 is eight inches in diameter, and above that distance 

 two feet. 



Position Drill is absolutely necessary to ensure 

 good practice at long ranges. It habituates the 

 novice to correct positions, and enables him to fire 

 steadily in all situations. It gives him a perfect 

 command over his weapon, and enables the eye and 

 hand to act together, so that the left hand raises the 

 rifle at once to bear upon the object, for the eye to 

 take aim ; and at the same moment the fore-finger 

 of the right hand acts upon the trigger. 



To establish the natural connexion between the 

 eye and the hand, constant practice is required ; and 

 the novice should be accustomed Eo handle his rifle 

 both with and without the bayonet, being put through 

 all the motions of firing standing and kneeling, with 

 the same precision as if actually practising with ball- 

 cartridge. 



At the School of Musketry at Hythe, recruits are 

 taught to fire standing at all distances up to three 



