" I ^ORM," like "taste," is a very definite thing to every one 

 Ji of us, but probably no two persons have ever quite agreed 

 about either. Shooting "form " is just as definite: we know for 

 ourselves what is, and what is not, good form instantly ; but 

 again it is not an easy thing to agree upon in the abstract, 

 although in practice when two men discuss another they will 

 not be unlikely to agree that he is either " good form " or " bad 

 form." There appears to be no half-way house it is always 

 either good or bad. Form as it is generally understood has not 

 much to do with success, but is more a matter of appearance. 

 If a shooter at a covert side planted his gun at his shoulder 

 when the drive began and so kept it until a pheasant came over 

 into line, and then he let off, his form would not be either good 

 or bad it would be too uncommon for either ; too ridiculous to 

 be seen, in fact ; but it is precisely that which pigeon shooters 

 and clay bird men mostly adopt. It is outside the question of 

 game killing altogether. 



No kind of shooting requires more sharpness of eye than 

 grouse driving, and when the gun is at the shoulder, engaged 

 with one bird, we all know how easy it is for others to slip by 

 unobserved, and then we get just as bad a reputation as if we 

 had blazed away and missed. 



Obviously, quickness of perception has much influence on 

 success, but whether it has anything to do with form is doubtful. 

 It is curious that what we all agree is the best possible style for 

 the second barrel is the worst possible for the first. The man 

 who takes down his gun between the double shot is a fumbler, 

 unless he has to turn round ; but the man who keeps his gun at 



