VARIOUS GOOD SHOTS 



came over to Europe when he was only twenty years 

 of age, perhaps even less. His name was Clarence 

 Norman. I am told by many who should know that 

 he was very likely the best pigeon-shot who ever lived. 

 I know that Crittenden Robinson thought Norman 

 was in a class absolutely by himself, and this coming 

 from such a great shot as Robinson was acknowledged 

 to be an opinion worth remembering. 



It has always struck me that while there might be 

 an age limit for other sports there is no age limit for 

 pigeon-shots. 



Take Harry Roberts for instance : he has kept his 

 form in the most extraordinary way. Another re- 

 markable instance was that of Baron de Dordolot. 

 Several men of over fifty who were shooting at Monte 

 Carlo used to call the Baron " Pop," signifying that he 

 was a generation older than themselves. This wonder 

 among veterans, in his limited shooting in the season 

 I have been writing about, killed one hundred and 

 ninety-two out of two hundred and forty-two birds. 

 Prince Poniatowski, another veteran, could shoot well. 

 " Sem " the French caricaturist drew a remarkable 

 picture of the Prince, who was a very tall thin man, 

 carrying a very small gun, while he depicted me with a 

 weapon as long as a rifle carried in any old warfare. 

 " Sem " said himself that this drawing was one of the 

 happiest things he ever did. 



Perhaps the shooter who impressed me more than 

 any other was Baron de Montpellier. He had a good 

 record that season, winning six first prizes and two 

 seconds. But that was not so much the point. He 

 was such a picturesque and stylish shot ; he could put 

 in the most wonderful finger work on his gun. Every- 

 one would be all attention when he walked out to 

 shoot. The two shots would be as near as possible 



211 



