12 THE STILL-HUNTER. 



nary shooting is true. But it is equally true that as 

 much game is lost by bad shooting as by bad hunt- 

 ing. And it is quite as true that bad shooting is 

 as much due to downright, solid ignorance of the 

 rifle, the principles of projectiles, and the use of the 

 rifle in the field as distinguished from its use at the 

 target, as to nervousness, excitement, want of prac- 

 tice, and all other causes put together. The extent 

 of this ignorance, even among very successful hunters, 

 is amazing ; their success being due to their good 

 hunting, energy, and perseverance, and in spite of 

 their poor shooting. I therefore deem a treatise on 

 the hunting-rifle : and its use in the field an indispens- 

 able part of any work on still-hunting. And since 

 this information cannot be found to any valuable ex- 

 tent in any other work on shooting that I have seen, 

 I have treated the subject quite fully, omitting how- 

 ever, out of regard for the reader's patience, much 

 that can be trusted to his intelligence and much that 

 may be found in works on the rifle and on target- 

 shooting. 



It is to be expected that many hunters, and good 

 ones too, will differ from many of my views. Among 

 even the best and most intelligent sportsmen there is 

 much disagreement on even the simplest points. It 

 is therefore vain for any one to expect indorsement 

 upon every point from the man who declares that a 

 gun is safest with the hammer resting on the cap ; 

 who thinks a slow twist makes a "slow ball," a quick 

 twist a "quick ball," a gain twist a "strong ball;" 

 who sincerely believes that his rifle shoots on a level 

 line for two hundred yards ; who talks of putting a 

 ball in the heart of a running deer at three hundred 



