92 THE COMPLETE SHOT 



but would not have held his own with Lord Walsingham in a 

 stiff day's walking up game. Some of the crack shots have not 

 been above shooting-school practice at streams of clay birds, 

 sent over them in order to get the arms used to working each 

 gun fairly, quickly, and accurately, and without the man be- 

 coming demoralised by suddenly asking too much of his muscles. 

 The writer has found his arms aching under the work as if with 

 rheumatism. 



The voting placed Lord de Grey still at the top of the tree ; 

 one shooter remarking that he was quite in a class by himself. 

 Lord de Grey uses hammer ejector guns, and he can always 

 shoot slowly, and on his day (and they are mostly his days) he 

 is said to be just as quick as the chances occur ; some of his 

 greatest admirers declare that you can never tell by the interval 

 when he changes guns. Mr. R. Rimington Wilson and Lord 

 Walsingham are bracketed for second place : the latter does less 

 shooting than he used to, and the former more. Most of the 

 modern generation have gone to school to Lord Walsingham, 

 and Mr. Wilson is described as the best grouse shot in the 

 world. The Prince of Wales takes rank amongst the twelve 

 best, and it is said, to the credit of the Royal sportsman, that he 

 would always draw for places if he were allowed to do so. His 

 keenness is beyond question, and his experience abroad as well 

 as in this country is well known. As a shot he is very quick. 

 Prince Victor Duleep Singh is remarkably quick too, and as 

 accurate as can be. Low flying pheasants he can kill regularly 

 without hitting them elsewhere than in the head and neck, but 

 then he went to school to his father at ten years old. Amongst 

 the men who have come to have great credit as shots of late 

 years is Mr. J. F. Mason, who now has Drumour, long shot over 

 by the late Barclay Field. Mr. Mason can kill wild pigeons as 

 well as game, the former with results never exceeded. The 

 Hon. H. Stonor is another gunner selected by the voting for the 

 twelve cracks ; he is particularly good at high pheasants, and is 

 built for shooting. Mr. Wykeham Martin and Mr. E. de C. 

 Oakley are said to be quite exceptional performers in a high 

 wind. Lord Falconer, whose shooting with the late Baron 



