OF SHOOTING. 221 



ject (which, however, must be regulated by the dis- 

 tance), as the course of the shot will be triflingly bent 

 by the wind. But if the wind blows with the bird, 

 the observance of the general rule will be found to 

 answer, as the wind helps the bird forward, as much 

 as it diverts the course of the shot. These rules will 

 equally apply to shooting of hares. 



From a deliberate and careful practice of the fore- 

 going rules, there is little doubt of a young sportsman 

 very soon acquiring the art of shooting flying ; and, 

 in fact, the only difficulty is that of overcoming the 

 anxiety, trepidation, and impatience, at the critical 

 moment when all should be as calm and unruffled as 

 a Stoic. There is no pursuit or amusement where a 

 steady hand, a cool head, and philosophical patience, 

 are more required than that of shooting. 



It may happen (and frequently does) that a consi- 

 derable time elapses before a juvenile sportsman is 

 enabled to overcome the difficulties above mentioned. 

 However, let him not despair, even though several 

 seasons should pass before he arrives at any degree of 

 excellence in this art ; for he may depend on it, that 

 practice and a careful endeavour to observe the fore- 

 going rules, will eventually prevail, and that in time 

 he must become a good shot. 



However, prior to shooting at game, the trim of 

 the fowling-piece (or, in other words, the manner in 

 which it throws the shot) should be ascertained with 

 all possible precision. The best method of doing this 

 is to fire repeatedly at sheets of white paper, placed 



