22 FLINT AND DETONATING GUNS. 



When you miss, and seem confident that your sight was 

 good, depend upon the fault heing in the finger not 

 pbeying the eye ; therefore be not intimidated, but en- 

 deavour to pull quick the instant you see the gun cover 

 the object : you cannot be too sharp ; stretch your eyes 

 wide open, and look hard. If you feel disposed to 

 flinch, take a sandwich and a glass of brandy; after 

 which, stand as still as possible at least five minutes, and 

 then proceed. There are many directions in which your 

 objects fly and run, but none can get out in the compass 

 of a point-blank shot. Pheasants and woodcocks (being 

 in cover) will obstruct your sight, by flying right before 

 a tree, holding their heads back, to keep the direction ; 

 in which case you must immediately step aside. 



FLINT AND DETONATING GUNS. 



THE principle of ignition by percussion cap and detonat- 

 ing has now become so general as to have entirely super- 

 seded the old plan of discharging sporting guns by means 

 of flint and steel. A few of the old school still insist 

 that there is nothing like flint ; that the gun so supplied 

 shoots stronger than the detonator, while Young Eng- 

 land would scorn being seen in the field so appointed. 

 The truth is, in point of igniting the charge there is very 

 little difference between the time consumed by the two 

 principles. If this be so, the superior convenience of 

 the detonator can admit of no question. Let your flint 



