THE RIFLE AND THE SPY-GLASS. 11 



foresight would have almost to be lost to mew if aiming 

 direct at the heart, and this is a very difficult matter to 

 remember and put in practice quickly. Also with the 

 fine sight, and the difficulties of light, c. already men- 

 tioned, it is hard to keep it fine. The deer is often so 

 dim that the shooter wants to see a little more of it 

 the head is raised ever such a trifle, the sight becomes 

 a thick one, the trigger is pressed, and the bullet either 

 ploughs up the peat or smacks on the stones, quite true 

 in direction, but just over the back of the quarry. As 

 a matter of fact, the history of most misses with both 

 barrels may be summed up in three words over and 

 under. Personally speaking the writer has found a bar 

 sight the best, with the V inverted and filled in either 

 with enamel, platina, or ivory ; as to which is prefer- 

 able, much depends on the peculiarities of vision of the 

 shooter, and many first-class .shots at deer can never 

 shoot well with this description of sight. Of the three 

 substances, that which gives the least " glint " in sun- 

 shine will be the best. Ivory discolours with weather, 

 age, and grease, but as long as it is quite fresh it beats 

 all others. If some enamel could be made of the egg- 

 shell type, dull, pale cream-coloured, and not liable to be 

 affected by wear, it would be better than any of the 

 three mentioned. Mr. Rigby is quite aware of this, and 

 first mentioned the matter to the writer, but at present 

 such a composition has not been produced. He was 

 also the first to point out the great difference there is 

 in visibility between platina and enamel, which any one 

 can see for himself by placing an egg and a highly- 

 polished silver table-spoon on the turf in the dusk. 



