CHAPTER V. 



ART OF SHOOTING ON THE WING. 



"All the sports of the field are delightful, I own, 



But none can with shooting compare ; 

 'Tis a joy that entices the King from his throne, 



'Tis a joy that the wisest may share. 

 The voice of the Hound on the breeze of the morn, 



The note of the bugle may please ; 

 The song of the Wild Bird is sweet from the thorn, 



But the Gun has more music than these." 



Most persons unconversant with the use of the gun are 

 naturally led to believe that there is some great mystery or 

 some extraordinary sleight-of-hand work connected with the 

 art of shooting Birds when on the wing. This opinion is often 

 so firmly engrafted on the minds of some sensitive individuals, 

 that they are ever unwilling even to make a trial of their own 

 dexterity in this way, feeling satisfied that they could never 

 arrive at any degree of perfection in an art so difficult to 

 acquire. Or, if they should be tempted to venture in the field 

 with some one of their associates more experienced in the use 

 of the gun, expecting a day's enjoyment, they become so dis- 



