DEER -STALKING. 



shots 5 " for although the first-rate hand with the fowling- 

 piece may often bring down the deer running in admirable 

 style, yet upon any unexpected fair chance presenting 

 itself, he is apt to fire too quick, forgetting the different 

 style of shooting which is required for a rifle 5 while the 

 slow man, however taken unawares, always gives himself 

 time for deliberate aim. Any one, also, who has been 

 practising much at snipe, or other quick shooting, will, 

 unless quite on his guard, be almost certain to miss the 

 deer until his hand is brought in, after which, when he 

 again returns to the snipe, they will stand a better chance 

 of escape, from the poking manner in which he will at 

 first be inclined to fire at them. As a boy, I remember 

 being much perplexed to see a gamekeeper miss a fair 

 shot at a deer, when a few days before he had killed seven 

 swifts out of eight flying past at " full bat ; " while his 

 father, the old forester whose likeness I have given, could 

 scarcely have touched one, and yet seldom missed a 

 rifle-shot. There was another man who generally accom- 

 panied them in their stalking expeditions, and whose 

 shooting was a still greater puzzle. Although not left- 

 handed, he shot from the left shoulder, being unable to 

 close his left eye, and was as slow a performer as ever 

 pulled a trigger. Flying shots he invariably missed, and, 

 at last, seldom fired at ; but ground game, except rabbits, 

 had no chance with him. Nothing could flurry or put 

 him out of his shooting. If the shot was not intercepted, 

 and he was only allowed plenty of time, it was certain 

 death. 



