230 OF SHOOTING, 



stock bent a little more than ordinary is bet- 

 ter for shooting true thari one too straight ; 

 because, the latter in coming up to the aim 

 is subject to the inconvenience of causing 

 the sportsman to shoot too high. I also 

 would advise him to have his fowling-piece 

 a little elevated at the muzzle, and the sight 

 small and flat ; for the experienced well 

 know that it is more usual to shoot low than 

 high ; it is therefore of service that a piece 

 should shoot a little high, and then the more 

 flat the sight the better the line of aim will 

 Coincide with that of the fire, and in conse- 

 quence the gun will be less liable to shoot 

 low. The method to avoid missing a cross- 

 shot, whether it be flying or running, is not 

 only to take aim before the object, but like- 

 wise not involuntarily to stop the motion of 

 the arms at the moment of pulling the trig- 

 ger, for the instant the hand stops in order 

 to fire, although the space of time is almost 

 imperceptible, the object of a bird gets be- 

 yond the line of aim, and the shot will fly 

 behind it : if a hare is shot at in this man- 



