16? 



CLEANING THE FOWLING PIECE. 



This operation is so obvious and so well known, that it would 

 appear time worse than idly spent to describe it. Nevertheless, 

 I will take the liberty to say a few words on the subject. Those 

 who wish to shoot with pleasure and precision must keep the 

 fowling-piece always very clean. After returning from an ex- 

 cursion, though I may not have had a shot, and have only 

 flashed the powder off prior to going into the house (a rule 

 which I invariably observe) the first object, to which I dedicate 

 my attention, after having taken a little refreshment, is the 

 fowling-piece, which I clean thoroughly, not omitting the inside 

 of the locks if rain should have overtaken me ; an operation that 

 takes up but a few minutes, and to which nothing more is requi- 

 site in addition to the screw driver, than a spring cramp. There 

 is no difficulty in the matter, and the only introductory lesson at 

 all necessary is merely to look on while a gunsmith performs the 

 operation, twice or three times at most. 



OF OIL, 



AND THE BEST MODE OF CLARIFYING IT. 



All vegetable oils possess a harder quality, and are more apt 

 to become cloggy, than animal oils ; and are, consequently, not 

 so well calculated for the fowling-piece, the locks in particular. 

 Neat'g foot oil, and the oil from sheep's feet, generally contain 



