COURSING, ETC. 225 



as the powder ; after having given a stroke 

 on the ground with the but-end of the gun in 

 order to settle it the same as for the powder, 

 the wadding should then be gently put do wn, but 

 not so close as that over the powder, because 

 when the shot is wadded too tight it spreads 

 wide, and the piece will recoil. In this, 

 therefore, as well as in every other mode of 

 loading, the sportsman should never carry 

 his gun under his arm with the muzzle inclin- 

 ed to the ground, as that practice at all times 

 loosens the wadding and charge too much, 

 and sometimes occasions the loss of the shot. 

 When the piece is fired, it should be reload- 

 ed immediately while the barrel is warm, 

 lest, by delaying it, a certain moisture should 

 be formed in the barrel, which would retain 

 a part of the powder when pouring in the 

 charge, and hinder it from falling to the bot- 

 tom. Powder, as already mentioned, will 

 imbibe moisture from the air, and therefore 

 it is of additional advantage to reload the 

 piece whilst the barrel is warm, because some 

 part of the moisture will be thereby evaporat- 



