48 lewis' AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



couraged at their want of success, as well as perplexed, at tlie 

 inability of their Sporting companion to give them any definite 

 or systematic instruction for shooting, that they not unfre- 

 quently have withdrawn from the field completely mortified 

 and disgusted with everything appertaining to the Sport — 

 when, by a little perseverance and a few well-timed hints from 

 their companion, they might soon have arrived at that pinnacle 

 of fame to which all Sportsmen aspire; we mean — a good 



shot ! 



We ourselves do not pretend to be a great shot, but, on the 

 contrary, are very modest in our claims upon this point ; but 

 because we can't kill every Bird we fire at, that is no reason 

 why we may not instruct others, so that they, by longer prac- 

 tice, may arrive at this degree of excellence, if they desire it, 

 but to which we have neither the ambition to aspire nor the 

 time at our disposal to acquire. It is no uncommon circum- 

 stance in the study of the arts and sciences for the pupil to 

 excel the master; and we suppose, or rather we flatter our- 

 selves, that we may yet look forward to encountering some 

 one of our own pupils in the field who will not hesitate to 

 snub our nose whenever an opportunity offers. If such should 

 be the case, we shall be happy in the knowledge of having done 

 some good for our country, and more particularly for the 

 Sports of the field. 



The first grand desideratum to be considered by the pupil is 

 the possession of a good gun, of which, however, we will speak 

 more particularly under the chapter on fire-arms. The next 

 great acquisition to be sought after is coolness and deliheraiion^ 

 for without these qualities you might as well leave the gun in 

 its case, and walk into the fields with a Dog at your heels, and 

 a shooting-cracker in your hand ready to throw at the Birds 

 as they rise from the stubble, in the vain hope of frightening 

 them to death by the noise of the explosion, as to fire a gun 

 over them without perfect self-possession and composure. 

 Without coolness and deliberation, a young Shooter, or even 

 an old Shooter, can hope to accomplish but little in the field. 

 In fact, we have seen the best of shots miss Bird after Bird 

 during a whole day's excursion, owing to some unexpected but 

 perhaps trifling occurrence that had interrupted their natural 



