THE DESIDERATA IN THE SHOT-GUN. 175 



cap, and Sharp's rifle also is without one; but in each case 

 a copper disk is substituted for it, and as there is merely an 

 alteration of form, they can scarcely be said to be exceptions. 

 We may, therefore, assume that in all cases our modern 

 guns are made so that the charge is exploded by means of a 

 cap or disk containing fulminating powder, and exploded by 

 means of percussion. In this point, therefore, there is little 

 difference to be found in the principle adopted, and we must 

 look further to discover the particular element in which the 

 various guns now in use differ from each other. We find 

 them to consist chiefly of, first, the original percussion gun, 

 which has been in general use among sportsmen for about 

 forty years; secondly, of the French crutch gun, introduced 

 into England within the last four or five years, but known 

 on the Continent for about twenty years ; thirdly, of Lan- 

 caster's additions to this ; and fourthly, of Needham's needle- 

 gun. There are minor points of difference adopted by gun- 

 makers in the two first divisions ; but the two last, being 

 patented by their respective inventors, are each of one 

 pattern only. Now, among all these four the barrel is 

 nearly the same, and the charge is fired by means of a per- 

 cussion cap or disk; but, while in the first this charge is 

 introduced by the muzzle, in all the three last the breech is 

 opened for its insertion and then closed again by a mecha- 

 nical contrivance. Hence, in the list of the various shot- 

 guns of the present day, a distinction is now made between 

 muzzle-loaders and breech-loaders, and these must be sepa- 

 rately examined before their merits can be compared, with a 

 view to ascertain how nearly each of them comes to the 

 standard of efficiency which is desired. In order to ascertain 

 what that is, we must first consider what are 



THE DESIDERATA IN THE SHOT-GUN. 



It is found by experience, as far as our present knowledge 

 goes, that a gun can only be made to combine a certain 

 amount of strength with regularity of pattern. By a par- 

 ticular method of boring its cylinder, it is comparatively 

 easy to obtain either of these objects, but the other cannot 

 be added without a sacrifice of the first in some degree. 



