OF THE OLD WORLD. 491 



When once the aim is clearly taken, all delay in 

 pressing the trigger is prejudical to good shooting, 

 as, if the rifle is held at the " present" too long, a 

 " wavering'' of the muzzle takes place, and an un- 

 certain shot is the consequence. 



In taking aim at a target, fix the eye steadfastly 

 on the bull's-eye, grasping the rifle firmly luith the 

 left hand " well forward," (according to its balance,) 

 the butt being pressed home into the hollow of the 

 shoulder ; the right hand, with the exception of the 

 forefinger, lightly clasping the small of the stock 

 behind the trigger-guard, so as to steady and pre- 

 serve the butt in a vertical position ; then, holding 

 the breath, place the forefinger well round the trigger, 

 feeling it lightly, and raise the muzzle gradually and 

 steadily until the fore-sight is seen through the centre 

 of the notch of the back-sight covering the centre of 

 the bull's-eye, when the motion should be arrested, 

 and the trigger simultaneously pressed without the 

 slightest jerk, the eye being rigidly fixed on the 

 object aimed at, and the whole of the body immobile. 



The great " knack " in rifle-practice is to accustom 

 the hand and eye to work together, so that the trigger 

 be pressed simultaneously with the object being 

 " covered," as it is almost an impossibility to retain 

 an aim. 



Care should be taken that the aim is not lost in 

 pressing the trigger, which, if the lock is well made, 

 should not " pull too strongly." 



After the trigger is pressed — keeping the rifle to 



