202 SHOOTING. 



It is not an easy matter to prevent a dog chasing a hare, un- 

 less he is in the constant habit of seeing them. I do not hesi- 

 tate to shoot a hare on her seat, if I happen to observe her, and 

 am in want of a hare, in order to prevent the dogs chasing, 

 which will not fail to make them unsteady for an hour or two 

 afterwards, particularly if she happens to be lamed. In shooting 

 at a running hare, the fowling-piece should be levelled forward, 

 as a hare will carry away a great quantity of shot, if struck about 

 the buttocks : a trifle kills them if hit in the head, or just be- 

 hind the fore-leg. 



c5 



The great secret of shooting feathered game is the attainment 

 of philosophical calmness : a hare even, whose progressive 

 motion is attended with little or no noise, yet starts so suddenly 

 as to disconcert the inexperienced ; but the rising of a pheasant, 

 particularly out of a bush, will not fail to startle any stranger to 

 the diversion: Fabricius of old, who testified no symptom of as- 

 tonishment at the sudden appearance of an elephant, would not 

 have been proof against surprise had a pheasant risen before him. 



In aiming, I have met with one or two gentlemen who do j 

 not shut one eye, and have, nevertheless, been very fair shots. 

 Savages, in some parts of the world, are very expert with the 

 bow and arrow at moving objects the emperor Commodus ex- 

 celled in this respect, and with arrows headed with broad sharp 

 barbs, was able to cut off the head of an ostrich at full speed ; 

 yet, neither the native savages, nor the more savage Roman, 

 shut one eye, or even looked down the arrow, but directed their 

 attention to the object. There is a strong sympathy between 

 the action of the hand and the organs of vision, and I have no 

 doubt, that by practice the union just mentioned will become so 

 perfect, as to produce the effect of almost unerring certainty. In 

 this way I account for good shots, who regard the object with 

 both eyes, without looking down the fowling piece. Neverthe- 

 less, I always shut one eye in aiming, and have not the least 



