THE RIFLE. 301 



We subjoin the methods of taking aim at wild 

 beasts from practical sporting writers. Mr. Lloyd 

 says,* " If a man purposes attacking a bear at close 

 quarters, a double gun is decidedly the best ; if it be 

 in the winter season, a detonator is very preferable. 

 Owing to having flint locks, both my barrels, on one 

 occasion, missed fire, which might have been attended 

 with most serious consequences ; a large ball is very 

 desirable. The best points to hit a bear, or any 

 other animal, are in the forehead, in the breast, un- 

 der the ear, or at the back of the shoulder ; bullets 

 placed in other parts of the body of an old bear usu- 

 ally have little immediate effect. If the snow be 

 deep, and the bear is crossing a man, he should al- 

 ways aim very low ; he must often, indeed, fire into 

 the snow, if he expects to hit the heart of the 

 beast." Captain Williamson gives the following 

 instructions for shooting tigers :-f- "If the motion 

 of an animal through the grass be perceived, the 

 nearest elephant should be halted ; and its left 

 shoulder being pointed towards the moving object, 

 is the most favourable position for taking a good 

 aim. The hunter should fire without hesitation, 

 observing to proportion his level as far within the 

 space between himself and the tops of the yielding 

 grass as the height of the cover may dictate ; by 

 this precaution equally necessary when shooting 

 fish that are in any degree beneath the surface of 



* Field Sports of the North of Europe, by L. Lloyd, Esq. London, 

 1828. 



t Oriental Field Sports, by Captain Thomas Williamson. London, 

 1805. 



2c 



