108 LEWIS'S AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



A snap shot is more successful in the woods than a plain shot ; 

 and the reader should recollect that in firing snap shots the fault 

 most generally committed is shooting under the bird, forgetting 

 that the bird is on the rise, almost always, when first flushed. 



Never beat the bushes with your gun, or you may shoot a 

 favorite dog, or perhaps, what would be a hundred times worse, 

 you may shoot a friend; the habit is an unsportsmanlike and 

 dangerous one, and should never be tolerated in a companion. 

 You cannot be too careful with your gun in covert shooting; 

 its position should be watched with the most jealous attention, 

 and never for one moment neglected, more especially if shooting 

 in company; for a twig or a bough may catch the hammer or 

 trigger at any moment, and commit perhaps irreparable injury 

 either to yourself or friend. Be ever cautious also in climbing 

 fences or jumping ditches. 



BOTH EYES OPEN. 



Some shooters fire with both eyes wide open. This practice 

 is a mere peculiarity acquired by some ready shots, but which 

 does not possess a single advantage over the old style of closing 

 the left eye to recommend it to our notice. But, on the con- 

 trary, we are convinced that no one, except by very long prac- 

 tice, can shoot with the same degree of certainty with both eyes 

 open as he can when one is shut in the usual way. The manner 

 of acquiring this knack is to hold the eyes steadily upon the 

 object, bring the gun up to the proper position, and draw upon 

 the trigger without sighting down the barrel, the hand and finger 

 actually obeying the promptings of the eye without there being 

 any actual collusion, or, rather, concert of action, between the two 

 organs. Some sportsmen, however, recommend the novice to 

 begin shooting with both eyes upon the game, insisting that this 

 practice is the best. Although we differ with these gentlemen 

 upon this subject, we do not wish our opinions to be considered 

 paramount, or more worthy of credence than theirs, but, on the 

 contrary, are willing to believe all they say upon this head, not- 



