THE SPORTSMAN'S VADE MECUM. 49 



and in wet, than in dry. When dampness and heat are 

 combined, the mischief is yet augmented; and, probably, 

 the worst conditions that can be supposed are when, to 

 dampness and heat, a salt atmosphere is superadded. 



No man who owns a fine gun, which he values, ought ever 

 to put it aside after use without cleaning, even if he have 

 fired but a single shot. Again, every man who loves his 

 gun, should make it a point to clean it with his own hands. 

 It may do in Europe, where one has a game-keeper at his 

 elbow who knows how to clean a gun better than he does 

 himself, and who takes as much pride in having it clean as 

 he. Use strong and clean shooting powders. Don't use 

 too large, nor yet too small shot. Six, seven, and eight are 

 about your mark for ordinary work ; for duck, from common 

 gun, number four. Never leave your dog whip at home : 

 you always want it most on those occasions. A gun thirty- 

 one inch barrel, fourteen gauge, and eight pounds weight, is 

 as useful an article as you can have. Never poke at a bird, 

 that is, try to see him along the barrels. If you do, you 

 never can be a good or a quick shot. Fix your eye or eyes 

 on the bird, lift up your gun, and fire the moment it touches 

 your shoulder. Practise this a little, and believe me you 

 will give the pokers the go by in a short time. It is the 

 only way to be a sharp shot. And now I will have done, 

 trusting I have not wasted your time in reading so far to no 

 purpose. 



CREDIT GIVEN FOR RECEIPTS. 



In the following receipts you will find those of Elaine 



Youatt, My res, Herbert, and several other people, but as 1 

 3 



