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In the first place, it is this decided irremove- 

 able dart of your eye upon the selected object, 

 and the habitual practice of thus bringing your 

 barrel at once up to it, instead of applying your 

 eye to the barrel as it rises, and having the 

 object to find out afterwards, which is to do 

 every thing for you in shooting flying. It is 

 the grand secret. It makes all the difference 

 between the mere humble hedge-popper, and 

 the liberal professor of a superior art. If your 

 eye falter, and you begin to take a rifle-view 

 along the barrel, be assured the bird will slip 

 from you. You may look for it again ; but the 

 odds will be very considerable against your 

 ever finding it. I have my doubts whether, in 

 very expert shooting, the barrel, except just at 

 the muzzle, is ever seen at all ; at least the eye 

 is not conscious of it. I could readily give 

 some pretty clear proof of this, were it not that 

 we should be somewhat too much diverted from 

 the more instructive pursuit of our subject. It 

 will be enough for me to lay down this as an 

 axiom, with the truth of which you will find 

 yourself more strongly impressed as you improve 

 in practice : Keep your eye firm upon the bird, 

 and your gun will find its way to it of itself. 



I have recommended the line of level, as 

 made by the first present of your barrel, to be 



