346 lewis' AMERICAN SPORTSMAN". 



how expert or ready he may be, can find sufficient time to cock 

 his gun and fire in this short space of time. In Snipe and 

 Woodcock shooting, it is also better to carry the Gun cocked, 

 as the Game is so uncertain in its movements. And on the 

 score of prudence, we would apprehend more danger from a 

 companion cocking his Gun on the springing of a Bird behind 

 him than if he were to have the piece already prepared to fire, 

 as in the hurry and excitement of the moment he might not pull 

 the cock sufficiently far back to make it catch the tumbler, and 

 the consequence of this omission would be the discharge of the 

 piece on a level with one's head, or perhaps the death of a valu- 

 able Dog. 



The Gun, however, as before stated, should always be held in 

 such a position that, no matter when or how exploded, its con- 

 tents can do no mischief save the killing of a Bird ; and we 

 would be loath to shoot in company a second time with any one 

 who seemed thoughtless or hardy upon this subject, as life is 

 too precious to be placed in jeopardy on every shooting excur- 

 sion. 



WADDING. 



Patent wadding, or rather patent wads, have come so gene- 

 rally into use, and are so well known to all our Shooters, that it 

 would seem a waste of time to say anything on the subject. 

 These wads are made of a species of thick, elastic, porous paste- 

 board, and are numbered from one to twenty, so as to fit the 

 bore of every description of Gan. They are put up in boxes 

 of one hundred to three hundred, are very convenient, compact, 

 and serviceable. 



Those living at a distance from the city had better always be 

 provided with a "punch" for cutting wads, so that in case of 

 need, or for economy's sake, they can be cut out of an old hat 

 or stiff pasteboard or leather. 



If the "punch" be of good metal, a thick heavy piece of lead 

 with a smooth surface can be used to cut the waddings on, with- 

 out injury to the instrument; a piece of hard-grained wood, 

 however, will answer the same purpose, and perhaps be easier 

 obtained. There is a species of metallic wads sold by the Gun- 

 smiths for the purpose of cleansing the Gun when clogged dur- 



