POSITION WHEN SHO O TING A T DRIVEN BIRDS 1 8 3 



of havino- to move the feet so as to recover the balance 

 of an over-swing is obviated, for if the toes are turned 

 inwards there is no occasion to do more than to turn 

 them in the direction towards which the bird is Hying 

 past, the turn being made on the ball of the feet and 

 the heels kept close to the ground. If the bird is 

 passing towards the right rear, then the left toe should 

 be so turned in that direction as to admit of the body 

 moving naturally with the swing, and this can often be 

 effected without moving the feet more than this. It is 

 more difficult to turn to the right with a swinging shot 

 than to the left ; but if the left toe is well turned in the 

 difficulty is very much modified, and a very slight turn 

 of the right foot is all that is necessary. When the 

 swing is required to be to the left rear, the right toe 

 should be pointing well to the left front, so that the 

 body alone can easily swing with the gun. 



A very little practical experience will serve to show 

 that where birds are flying too fast to be stopped in 

 front, or are second-barrel shots, they can be much 

 more easily and successfully killed by making use of 

 the above position than by any other. When shooting 

 from difficult or badly arranged ' heading butts,' one 

 is apt to get a bit demoralized when birds come 

 on us unawares, or at such angles that it is impossible 

 to get on them quickly enough ; in such cases the 

 position I have described will be found of the greatest 

 assistance, and serve to go far towards overcoming the 

 difficulties which may offer, no matter how fast or 

 awkwardly the flight may come. 



I have from time to time been asked to explain 

 the theory of straight shooting, i.e., how such may be 

 attained, but I have ever preferred to remain silent on 



