COVERT-SHOOTING. 155 



happily they are rare, but their record has unduly 

 lengthened this paper. Let me conclude by giving 

 a word of advice to all neophytes in shooting. 

 Shooting is cruel ; so are many other things in this 

 world. Don't make it more cruel than necessary. 

 Shoot humanely. How ? First of all learn to 

 shoot. Practise at projected plates, bottles, glass- 

 balls, turnips, or any inanimate thing that moves, 

 before you shoot at living creatures. And then, I 

 implore you, shoot before, not at the latter, unless 

 sitting. Never mind if you miss, don't wound. 

 By shooting before the object (and you will soon 

 learn how much or how little before it you ought to 

 aim), you will, when you hit it, kill it dead, and so 

 spare suffering to the animal and your own feelings, 

 if you have any. Don't shoot very long shots at 

 any game ; and never, pray never ! at hares going 

 straight away from you, unless very close to you, 

 and you can aim at the back of their heads. 

 Broadside, if you shoot well before them, you can 

 kill them dead a good way off, but going straight 



