374 LEWIS'S AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



than the best French, and when exploded split with an even and 

 regular fracture, without flying, as is often the case with the 

 highest-priced French caps. Nothing is more annoying, and even 

 dangerous, than the use of caps made of metal so thin and brittle 

 that at every displosion they are torn into several small pieces, 

 which fly about into the hands, and even cut the face or perhaps 

 lodge in the eye. Several of our acquaintances have had narrow 

 escapes from losing their eyes by the use of these miserable arti- 

 cles, and we ourself have had our hands cut more than once when 

 forced to use them. 



The composition of fulminating powder now used in caps is not 

 as corrosive in its properties as formerly, and is, therefore, less 

 objectionable. At first, large quantities of sulphur were used in 

 the manufacture of cap-powder, which of course made the com- 

 position very corroding to every portion of the gun it came in 

 contact with ; at present, the tubes or chambers of the fowling- 

 piece suffer but little from this drug, as its use has been almost 

 entirely abandoned. When we say "abandoned," we do not wish 

 to be understood that this corrosive powder is no longer employed 

 in the manufacture of cheap caps, for such is not the case ; but, 

 on the contrary, nearly all those caps which come from the Con- 

 tinent, both German and French, are made with a mixture of 

 chlorate of potash, sulphur, and charcoal, and are therefore hurtful 

 to every portion of the gun they come in contact with. The filling 

 of the caps with this kind of powder is the principal reason why 

 they can be sold so cheap. The best English caps, and even those 

 of a far inferior make, are filled with fulminating powder made 

 from the action of nitric acid upon mercury. This composition is 

 far more expensive than the other, but is far superior in many 

 points. In the first place, it does not corrode the fowling-pieces ; 

 in the next place, it does not attract moisture like the other, and 

 will explode even after being in the water for several hours. It 

 detonates with more ease but greater force than the other, and is 

 not affected by a damp atmosphere. 



Gold and silver, when exposed to the action of strong acids, 



