COURSING, ETC. 229 



which his cheek should rest in taking aim, 

 feel a constraint that he never would experi- 

 ence ; when by the effect of the proper degree 

 of bend, the stock affords him some assist- 

 ance, and as it were meets his aim half way. 

 However I would advise the sportsman in 

 the choice of a fowling-piece, to have a long 

 stock in preference to a short one, and at 

 the same time to have it more bent than 

 usual ; for a long stock sits more firm to the 

 -shoulder than a short one, and particularly 

 so, when the shooter is accustomed to place 

 his left hand, which principally supports the 

 piece, above half way to the entrance of the 

 ramrod into the stock ; the practice of placing 

 that hand near the bridge of the guard is un- 

 doubtedly a bad one, the aim is never so 

 sure, nor has the shooter such a ready com- 

 mand over his piece, as when he places his 

 hand above half way to the entrance of the 

 ramrod, and at the same time grasps the 

 barrel instead of resting it between his fore- 

 finger and thumb, as is the general custom ; 

 it may therefore be depended upon, that a 

 X 



