2 VARIETIES OP SHOOTING. 



be found described at length in Book II.; and the best 

 modes of trapping vermin, and of rearing and preserving 

 game in the FOURTH BOOK. It will thus be made clear, that 

 in the present book I shall proceed to describe in general 

 terms only the various sports known as grouse and par- 

 tridge shooting, covert shooting, &c., giving such particular 

 directions as will enable the tyro to master each, and 

 beginning with those methods which are the most easily 

 practised, and which are, at the same time, the most likely 

 to make him ultimately expert in all branches of shooting. 



FIRST LESSONS IN SHOOTING. 



Before the intending shooter ventures to practise upon any 

 living object, he should make himself completely master of 

 the tool which he is to employ. It is not necessary, per- 

 haps, in all cases, that he should understand the mechanism 

 of its locks, or that he should know how it has been con- 

 structed; but he should, at all events, have learned how to 

 load his gun or rifle in a safe and proper manner, and the best 

 and safest mode of putting the various parts together, as he 

 takes them out of his gun case. For the purpose of gaining 

 this information he will do well to consult some experienced 

 person, from whom he will readily learn by demonstration 

 that which would possibly take him a long time to acquire 

 from the pages in which it is described in its proper place in 

 this manual. But in whichever mode the knowledge is to be 

 obtained, it is absolutely essential to the safety of the shooter 

 and his friends that it should not be neglected ; and until 

 he has learnt to put his gun together, to cock and uncock it, 

 to load it and to discharge it properly, he must carefully 

 avoid using it indoors or out. At the same time he should 

 diligently study the following general rules for the preven- 

 tion of accidents, which should never under any circum- 

 stances, or with any gun, be overlooked : 



1. Never let the muzzle of the gun be pointed at any 

 living object, excepting that which is intended to be hit. 



2. In carrying the gun three positions only are allow- 

 able, excepting at the moment of firing. Firstly, with the 

 trigger-guard on the forearm, and the muzzle pointing 



