204 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. 



capable of resisting the shot than at a more advanced 

 period of the year. Hares also, at this season, sit 

 closer, and are more thinly covered with fur. About 

 the beginning of October, at which time partridges 

 are stronger in the wing, No. 5 will perhaps be 

 found to answer best. This size seems to preserve a 

 proper medium between shot too large, and that 

 which is too small, and will kill a hare at the dis- 

 tance of forty or even sixty yards, and a partridge at 

 seventy or more. In short, it is adapted for all 

 seasons, and many sportsmen use no other. It is 

 true, that distant objects are frequently missed for 

 want of larger shot ; but then these bear no propor- 

 tion to the number which are missed by using shot 

 of too large a size, especially with the feathered 

 game ; which enables it to escape in the vacant 



spaces of the circle or disk described by the shot. 

 Grouse require larger shot than partridges, as they 



are stronger birds. The same may be said of phea- 

 sants. No. 5, I am of opinion, is large enough for 



any thing the sportsman meets with. 



For snipe-shooting mustard seed is generally used, 



and is certainly the best adapted for this diversion. 



It fe the smallest of all, and called in some parts dust 



shot. 



The following table will exhibit the method by 



which the different sizes of shot are distinguished, 



and also show the gradations. 



Swan drops are the largest shot, and a few pellets, 



comparatively, weigh an ounce. 



