OF 'SHOOTING. 213 



field, as in one where there is grass, stubble, &c., 

 which arises from the superior attraction, and also ob- 

 struction, which the latter affords to the floating cor- 

 puscles before described; the condition of the ground 

 too, and the temperature of the air, are objects of im- 

 portance ; both of which should be moist, without be- 

 ing too wet. Whenever the ground is hard, and the 

 air cold and dry, the abilities of the dog will be 

 exerted in vain, for scarcely any scent will be found; 

 nor does it lie well in general when the wind is in 

 the north or east. The soft winds from the west or 

 south (unattended with rain) are the best suited to the 

 sportsman. 



From these observations, the reader will easily ob- 

 serve the utility of the barometer, and the necessity 

 of attending to its fluctuations, which will enable him 

 to prevent numberless mortifications. If^ in the 

 morning, you find the air temperate, and the quick- 

 silver moderately high, and the top of it in the glass 

 eonvex, it is a fair invitation to prepare for this di- 

 version. There are portable barometers, that lock up 

 in a box, and do not suffer in the smallest degree from 

 carriage, frequently used by sportsmen, and which 

 indeed seem, in some measure, a necessary appen- 

 dage, particularly on a grouse-shooting excursion. 



I now come to that part, which the juvenile 

 shooter, I make no doubt, will eagerly seek on first 

 taking the volume into his hand I mean the art of 

 shooting flying. The anxiety to examine that part 

 which cursorily appears the most important, is very 



