CHAPTER VII. 



ART OF SHOOTING ON THE WING. 



' All the sports of the field are delightful, I own, 



But none can with shooting compare ; 

 'Tis a joy that entices the king from his throne, 



'Tis a joy that the wisest may share. 

 The voice of the hound on the breeze of the morn, 



The note of the bugle, may please ; 

 The song of the wild bird is sweet from the thorn, 



But the gun has more music than these." 



OST persons unconversant with the use of 

 the gun are naturally led to believe that 

 there is some great mystery or some 

 extraordinary sleight-of-hand work con- 

 nected with the art of shooting birds 

 when on the wing. This opinion is often 

 so firmly engrafted on the minds of cer- 

 tain sensitive individuals that they are 



ever unwilling even to make a trial of their own dexterity ID 



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