102 VAKIETIES OF SHOOTING. 



stalker should content himself with what he can obtain. 

 For many purposes the ordinary race-glass, the field of which 

 is much more extensive than that of the compound telescope, 

 is sufficiently strong, but for deer stalking it is quite inade- 

 quate. With regard to dress, all that can be said is, that it 

 should be composed of such neutral colours as shall not easily 

 be distinguished, and of materials which, while they afford 

 protection from the weather, will permit the free use of the 

 limbs. 



THE SPORTING RIFLE. 



As I have previously hinted, the form of rifle best suited 

 to the sportsman altogether depends upon the particular kind 

 of game which he is about to pursue. Thus, for rooks and 

 rabbits, a very small bore is to be selected, such as is seen in 

 what is called the " pea rifle," from the ball being of that 

 size. For red deer a ball of average weight must be chosen, 

 but at least sixteen to the pound, that is, suited to a 16 

 gauge. In a conical ball, the absolute weight in this case 

 will be about double that of the spherical, for on the average 

 two diameters and a half may be reckoned on. Hence a 

 smaller bore than 1 6 is often used ; and even the Enfield 

 rifle, the gauge of which is little more than half of this, will 

 serve, though perhaps hardly to be depended on, if a bone is 

 to be broken. Again, in still larger beasts, such as the ele- 

 phant, rhinoceros, or lion, the heaviest projectile which the 

 shoulder can bear is the only one that should be trusted, the 

 immediate death of the animal being necessary to the safety 

 of the sportsman. As an instance of the time which a small 

 ball takes to produce death, even if passing through a vital 

 part, we may mention that it has been stated, on excellent 

 authority, that a rebellious Sepoy was shot through the liver 

 and stomach with three of Colt's pistol balls, as he was 

 coming up to attack an officer near Delhi; yet in spite of 

 these serious wounds, which would soon prove fatal, he was 

 nearly able to overpower the sword of the Englishman, who, 

 however, at length cut him down; and on examination the 

 three balls were all found to have passed clean through him, and 

 through the vital organs to which I have alluded. The same 

 thing may, of course, happen with any of the lower animals, 



