SHOOTING ON THE WING. 57 



time will be regulated in a great measure bj the quality of the 

 powder, and the construction of the gun, which, however, will 

 be spoken of more particularly under a more appropriate head. 

 If, therefore, the motion of the gun be stopped during the time 

 of pulling the trigger and the escape of the load, the Bird will 

 inevitably have got beyond the reach of the shot, without we 

 should allow double the distance to intervene between the Bird 

 and the point of sight, and this kind of shooting would be very 

 uncertain. Therefore, we repeat again, that it is of the utmost 

 importance that the gun should continue its gentle movement 

 in the line of flight at the proper distance in advance of the 

 game till after the pulling of the trigger. Most young shots 

 have a strong inclination to arrest the progress of the gun when 

 pulling the trigger, which, if not early corrected, degenerates 

 into a settled habit, that is very difficult to be got rid of. 



A Bird crossing to the right is generally considered more 

 difficult to shoot than when going to the left; and very justly 

 so; as the gun, being balanced on the left hand, can be carried 

 towards that side with more ease and freedom than it can 

 towards the right. If any of our readers are dubious on this 

 point, let him take a gun in his hand and place himself in the 

 usual position to fire, and he will readily perceive what we 

 mean, as upon trial he will find it difficult to take sight on an 

 object even at right angles with his right side, whereas he will 

 be able to turn himself with ease so far to the left that he can 

 shoot in a direct line behind his person. 



A Bird when crossing is much easier killed, if struck, than 

 when going straight from you, or coming towards you, as the 

 vital parts are somewhat protected in the first case by the rump, 

 and in the second the shot is very apt to glance off from the 

 thick feathers of the breast. When a Bird is flying towards 

 you, or over your head, you will be very apt to miss it; the 

 better plan is to wait till it has passed, and then turn and take 

 a fair shot at it. If, however, you prefer shooting as the Bird 

 advances towards you, aim for the head, or rather the bill, when 

 he has arrived at a fair shooting distance. If coming very 

 swiftly, as they most generally do when frightened, it will not 

 be too much to aim even a foot or more before the Bird. When 



