Wing vs. Ground Shooting. 217 



shooting, and do not count the empty 

 shells. There is an interesting story in 

 many of these empty shells, and I would 

 prefer that it remain untold. 



In your last issue "Octo" says that in 

 fifty-four flying shots at grouse he has killed 

 sixteen birds. I have counted shells often 

 enough to know what that means. There 

 have been days when eight or ten empty 

 shells represented as many ruffed grouse 

 in my bag ; and there have been other 

 days when the same number of shells 

 would indicate only a bird still in the fu- 

 ture. I can show you men, though, who 

 can and do average one bird to every two 

 shots, but they are market shooters, who 

 pick out only the fairest chances, and 

 thereby save an amunition bill. " Octo " 

 probably shoots at all of the birds that 

 rise within range, and so do I, and ten to 

 one we have the most fun. " Octo," I 'm 

 sorry that you killed those two sitting 

 birds. If you can keep up your average 

 on wing shots, come over to our side of 

 the fence, and your virtue will be its own 

 reward. 



