SHOOTING. 239 



gun should keep his eye upon the first bird, if wounded, and 

 leave the second to the shooter himself. 



The marker should however recollect that the harder a bird is 

 hit, especially at long distances, when only one or two grains 

 have taken place, the less visible signs of it are observed, unless 

 the bird drops the legs, or instantly towers; for which reason 

 the marker's eye should be kept on the bird so far as it can be 

 seen : it frequently happens, that a bird falls dead, four or five 

 hundred yards from the place where first struck, and is as fre- 

 quently lost for want of proper attention to its flight. When 

 a bird is seen to drop its legs at the instant of firing, and fly off 

 with an undulating motion, or tower to a great height, both these 

 are certain signs of death, and are generally occasioned by a con* 

 tusion on the vertebrae ; for if the spine is injured, paralytis 

 ensues. If the brain is contused, the bird towers, but the legs 

 are not pendent.'* 



