21S 



priming, the progress of the train through the 

 touchhole will be often considerably retarded ; 

 and your allowance for this distance should 

 consequently be increased. When the wind 

 blows hard also, and the flight of your bird 

 happens to be directly against it, the curvature 

 of the line made by your charge, before it 

 reaches a long shot, will be more than you are 

 aware of: a foot or two will not be more than 

 enough, at such time, for this allowance*. In 

 short, it is a thing which varies so much under 

 different circumstances, that no absolute rule 

 can be given for it ; but it must rest with the 

 judgment of the practitioner. For his regula- 

 tion, however, it may be noted, that an ample 

 allowance is on the safer side of error : for your 

 gun may hang fire a little ; and you will recollect 

 that a single shot through the head will bring 

 down your bird, when a dozen at the other end 

 will produce you no more than a tail-feather. 



Again I perceive that I am getting on too 

 fast. In all regular education, it is by due sub- 

 mission to progressive lessons of improvement 

 that a pupil, such as I have now to consider 

 before me, is to be led on towards perfection. 



* In a windy day I should recommend the use of heavier 

 shot; their relative power in overcoming this impediment 

 being considerably greater. 



