THB FOWLING-PIECE. 163 



side quite round ; though sometimes the lower part 

 is formed into eight sides. This octagonal form may 

 appear more handsome, for aught I know, but it 

 serves to make the barrel heavier, without adding iu 

 the least to its strength; since the effort of the powder 

 will always be sustained by the thinnest part of the 

 circumference, without any regard to those places 

 that are thicker than the rest. Great pains are always 

 taken to render the circumference of the barrel very^ 

 even throughout, which is indispensably necessary, 

 in order to render it perfectly sound and secure. 



The last operation is that of colouring the barrel ; 

 previous to which it is polished with fine emery and 

 oil, until it is rendered perfectly smooth and equal. 

 It was formerly the custom to colour barrels by ex- 

 posing them to a degree of heat, which produced an 

 elegant blue tinge; but as this effect arises from a 

 degree of calcination taking place upon the surface 

 of the metal, the inside of the barrel consequently 

 sustained considerable injury; and this practice, 

 therefore, has been disused for many years. It is 

 now the custom to brown barrels ; which is done by 

 rubbing the barrel over with aqua-fortis, or spirit of 

 salt, diluted with water, and laying it by until a 

 complete coat of rust is formed upon it ; a little oil 

 is then applied, and the surface, being rubbed dry, is 

 polished with a hard brush and bees-wax. This is 

 not the only method to render barrels of a fine 

 brown; it may be done (by the sportsman himself, 

 if he thinks proper) by first rubbing the barrel bright 



