176 PR A CTICE AT S WINGING-BTRD 



that of a snipe to that of a pigeon, is what I would 

 recommend. It should be hung against a wall, in 

 some safe place, in a field or a garden, by means of an 

 iron pin, about a foot long, to which a chain of some 

 four or five feet in length is attached. Two staples 

 must then be fixed in the wall on either side of the 

 chain, from five to ten feet (as may be most con- 

 venient) from the centre of the chain, where a thick 

 shot-proof wire is attached ; the latter is to be run 

 through the staples ; a cord is then fastened to the 

 wire at such a length of the latter as not to be exposed 

 to the shot, and the bird can thus be set in motion at 

 any pace, to either hand, by means of one or two 

 assistants, as may be required. The practice must 

 be carried out in precisely the same manner as 

 laid down for that at the gun-wads, and after a little 

 time a novice will become a crack shot at swinging- 

 birds, and hit them, no matter how rapidly they 

 may be moving. I have known men become really 

 crack shots through constantly shooting in matches 

 at these swinging marks. Of course in such 

 matches it is necessary to whitewash the bird after 

 each shot, so as to prove a hit or a miss. I have no 

 hesitation in asserting that the foregoing practices 

 are of far greater value for covert-shooting than 

 shooting pigeons out of traps ; while for grouse- 

 driving, or driving any winged game, it is by far the 

 best practice at angle-shooting, inasmuch as any pace 

 can be put on the bird if only there is sufficient height 

 and width to hang it up, so as to afford the necessary 

 swing. 



I have found that pigeon - shooting from traps 

 ruined my shooting at rocketing or driven birds, 



