218 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. 



difficult to correct, when contracted) prevents a per- 

 son from attaining perfection in this art, however 

 eminently he may be qualified in other respects. Nor 

 is it less essential, in a cross shot, to aim before the 

 object, in proportion to its distance and speed at the 

 time of firing. If a partridge, for instance, flies across 

 at the distance of thirty or thirty -five yards, it will be 

 sufficient to take aim about three inches before it. 

 But, supposing the distance to be fifty or sixty yards, 

 it will then become necessary to level at least half a 

 foot before the head. The same method should be 

 observed in shooting at a hare, when running in a 

 cross direction. It is also proper, in shooting at a 

 very distant object, to aim a little above it (unless 

 where the elevated breech is used), because shot, as well 

 as ball, has but a certain range point blank, beyond 

 which it begins to describe the curve of a parabola. 



When a hare runs in a straight line from the 

 shooter, he should take aim between the ears, other- 

 wise he will run the hazard of missing ; or perhaps 

 he may slightly wound the animal, and it will escape. 

 A true sportsman is not content with only breaking 

 the wing of a partridge, or the thigh of a hare, when 

 he shoots at a fair distance ; for in such case the hare 

 or partridge ought to be shot in such a manner, that 

 it shtould remain in the place where it was shot, and 

 not afterwards require the assistance of dogs to catch 

 it. But if he shoots at a great distance, it is no re- 

 proach that the partridge is only winged, or the hare 

 wounded, so that it cannot escape. 



