MISCELLANEOUS HINTS. 365 



hanging vines. This opportune moment must be instantly caught 

 at by the sportsman, or the game escapes ; and we are convinced 

 thai no one, no matter how expert or ready he may be, can find 

 sufficient time to cock his gun and fire in this short space of time. 

 In snipe and woodcock-shooting it is also better to carry the gun 

 cocked, as the game is so uncertain in its movements. And on the 

 score of prudence, we would apprehend more danger from a com- 

 panion cocking his gun on the springing of a bird behind him than 

 if he were to have the piece already prepared to fire, as in the 

 hurry and excitement of the moment he might not pull the cock 

 sufficiently far back to make it catch the tumbler, and the conse- 

 quence of this omission would be the discharge of the piece on a 

 level with one's head, or perhaps the death of a valuable dog. 



The gun, however, as before stated, should always be held in 

 such a position that, no matter when or how exploded, its contents 

 can do no mischief save the killing of a bird ; and we would be 

 loath to shoot in company a second time with any one who seemed 

 thoughtless or hardy upon this subject, as life is too precious to be 

 placed in jeopardy on every shooting-excursion. 



WADDING. 



Patent wadding, or rather patent wads, have come so generally 

 into use, and are so well known to all our shooters, that it would 

 seem a waste of time to say any thing on the subject. These wads 

 are made of a species of thick, elastic, porous pasteboard, and are 

 numbered from one to twenty, so as to fit the bore of every de- 

 scription of gun. They are put up in boxes of from one hundred 

 to three hundred, and are very convenient, compact, and serviceable. 



Those living at a distance from the city had better always be 

 provided with a "punch" for cutting wads, so that in case of need, 

 or for economy's sake, they can be cut out of an old hat or stiff 

 pasteboard or leather. 



If the "punch" be of good metal, a thick, heavy piece of lead 

 with a smooth surface can be used to cut the waddings on, without 

 injury to the instrument ; a piece of hard-grained wood, however, 



