INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 



your shot. Before ramming it home over the 

 latter, give your gun a gentle blow upon the 

 ground, to make the shot lie even. The sooner 

 you re- load after firing the better: do it always 

 while the barrel is still warm. Of course, the last 

 thing you will do in loading is, to put on the caps. 



It will not be enough that the charger of 

 your powder-flask has been accurately adjusted 

 to the measure of your charge, for you must take 

 care it is also fairly filled. To do this, place 

 your finger upon the top of it sufficiently firm to 

 prevent the powder from spilling, but not so as 

 to force it into the charger ; then turn your flask 

 upside down, give it a shake, and you will have 

 your just complement. 



The size of shot is another fertile subject of 

 discussion among sportsmen. Some have gone 

 so far, in their desire to settle the question, as to 

 have pigeons plucked for the purpose of ascer- 

 taining to what extent feathers affect the pene- 

 tration of shot. Without leading our student 

 into refinements of theory as abstruse as this 

 unpleasant process of plucking word untuneful 

 to a student's ear we venture to propound, for 

 his acceptance, the fruit of our personal expe- 

 rience. In countries where game may be ap- 



