USE OF THE GUN. 21 



young gunner, for which purpose one or two dogs and an 

 experienced friend are quite sufficient company. Be 

 circumspect and deliberate ; the dogs standing and the 

 birds having been sprung, in a moment calculate the 

 proper distance at which to fire, and then cock and 

 shoulder the piece. Always aim at one particular bird, 

 not firing at random at the whole covey, or " into the 

 brown of them;" and, till well accustomed to shooting, 

 always aim at the object point blank. A bird may be 

 permitted to advance from fifteen to thirty yards from its 

 springing, before the gun is cocked, and the shot may be 

 made from thirty-five to fifty paces distant. Experience 

 will soon direct the sportsman to fire full a hand's 

 breadth before the bird, at a distance of forty yards, and 

 from that to a foot or upwards, should he have a long 

 shot. 



In shooting, flying or running, let the object get a 

 fair distance before you take the gun up : then throw it 

 upon the object at full sight, and pull instantly. The 

 finger being a day's march behind, is the principal cause 

 of missing, as that gives liberty or time for flinching. 

 Never carry your gun with the object, nor shoot before 

 it, as it cannot get out in the compass of a point-blank 

 shot, and it may turn, in which case your shot will pass 

 it. If you are fond of snap-shooting, which is requisite 

 in cock and rabbit shooting, mind never to hold full 

 upon the object at short distances. If a side shot, take 

 its head; if going from you, take its wing. Never 

 shoot full at coveys ; called " flanking them," &c. 



