58 



lewis' AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



shooting at long distances, be careful to hold the gun full high ; 

 as shot, after going a certain distance, has, as a matter of course, 

 a downward tendency. The most common fault committed by 

 Sportsmen generally is the too frequent habit of shooting under 

 their game, and we are satisfied from repeated observation that 

 where one Bird is missed by shooting too high, ten are missed by 

 shooting too low. When, however, the game is flushed on the 

 side of a hill and takes a downward course, the point of aim 

 should then be at the feet, or the load will pass over the object, 

 as it must be recollected that the Bird is now descending — quite 

 the opposite of its usual habit. To obviate the inconvenience 

 arising from the smoke of the first barrel, or, in other words, 

 to prevent the smOke of the first barrel interfering with the 

 shooting or sighting of the second barrel, more particularly 

 when a covey rises, we would advise our readers to get as many 

 cross shots as possible. This can be done by either heading 

 the Dogs or by flushing the Birds from the side, and not going 

 directly on the game from the Dogs, which practice, by the by, 

 most generally is bad. % 





