OF SHOOTING. 223 



ger-guard, in which situation the piece can neither 

 be held so steady, nor the aim consequently so well 

 taken, as when that hand is placed near to that part 

 of the stock where the ram-rod enters : at the same 

 time, the piece should he strongly grasped, and not 

 suffered merely to rest between the thumb and fore- 

 finger. The reason appears very evident why the 

 latter method is preferable to the former. The left 

 hand is intended as a rest or support to the piece in 

 the act of levelling ; and when it is placed close to 

 the trigger-guard, the fowling-piece must conse- 

 quently be rendered too heavy at the muzzle, and 

 the necessary equilibrium in a great measure de- 

 stroyed. If, however, the gun is short, this method 

 may answer : and indeed it has one very strong rea- 

 son to recommend it, namely, if the piece bursts, the 

 hand is less liable to be shattered. 



Different opinions will be found to exist as to the 

 best method of loading, &c. Some say that the piece 

 should be first loaded, and then primed, while others 

 maintain that it is the best to prime first; also, there 

 will be found those who give directions for the pan 

 and the touch-hole to be brushed with a feather every 

 time the piece is fired; but this, it must be confessed, 

 is an antiquated notion. However, I shall inform 

 the reader of that method which experience has 

 proved to be superior to all others, and which I in- 

 variably practise. 



Immediately on firing, it will be necessary to re- 

 load, in order to prevent that moisture which will 



