DEER-STALKING. 7 



our country would have been puzzled to do much execution 

 with it at first. It looked and felt exactly like a toy, with its 

 peaked and silver-mounted toe- and heel-plate, long unbalanced 

 barrel, and ludicrously small bore. Our rifles, on the contrary, 

 are beautifully poised, and their weight enables us to take a 

 much steadier aim at a long distance ; while the ball, from 

 being much larger, is less affected by the wind. I daresay, 

 however, if a Highland deer-stalker and an American wood- 

 ranger, both finished adepts in their own way, were fairly 

 matched, each would have a sovereign contempt for the dex- 

 terity of the other. 



I have constantly observed that the performers most to be 

 depended on with the rifle are what are called " poking shots "; 

 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 ; 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 accompanied 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, 



