/JVSTJ? UC TION TO BE GINNERS 1 7 1 



even he cannot afford very much assistance in many- 

 instances. 



When a bad habit has been acquired, it is very 

 difficult to correct it. It would be a presumption on 

 my part to offer more instruction in the art of shoot- 

 ing than to make mention of the well-known rules 

 which are practised by all average and crack shots ; at 

 the same time, however, it must be borne in mind that 

 even amongst the very best shots no two men shoot by 

 exactly the same rule ; and this goes very far to prove 

 that men who have learned to shoot by practice cannot 

 give practical instruction as to the rules they adopt. 

 Thus it happens at times that a man may make an 

 extra quick shot when he has not even had time to 

 bring his gun to the shoulder. I myself often have, 

 and often do, shoot without shouldering my gun or even 

 looking at it ; but, by keeping my eye on the bird, I 

 seem to be instinctively able to calculate its pace and 

 the swing of the gun necessary, hand and eye working 

 in unison. A practical shot at a wind-driven grouse, 

 so to speak, sees, determines, and acts instantly; in 

 other words, judgment, hand, and eye all work to- 

 gether. I may therefore well ask how the ability to 

 so judge and act is to be learned by theory alone, I 

 trust, however, that I may succeed in initiating the 

 beginner by giving him, as a preliminary lesson, a few 

 practical hints, though it is impossible to lay down any 

 hard and fast rule for everyone, inasmuch as natural 

 formation, sight, and nerve vary very considerably 

 in different individuals. Some men, with but com- 

 paratively little practice, shoot well, taking to it 

 naturally ; some can attain perfection with the aid of 

 a litde tuition and practice, and others require the 



