C FIELD OBNITHOLOGY. 



right), across the frout (if yuur person, the hand on the grip, tlio nuizzki elevated abont 45°. 

 2. Hang it by the trigger guard liitclied over the forearm brouglit round to the breast, the 

 stock passing behind the npper arm, the mnzzle pointing to the ground a pace or so in frtmt 

 of you. 3. Shoulder it, the hand on the grip or heel-plate, the nmzzle pointing up\i-ard 

 at least 45°. 4. Shoulder it reversed, the hand grasping the barrels about their niiddh>, tliO 

 muzzle [lointing forward and doAvnward : this is perfectly admissible, but is the most awkward 

 position of all to recoviu' from. Always citrrij a loaded (jitn at lutlf-coclc, unless you are about 

 to shoot. Most good guns are now fitted with rebounding locks, an arrangement Tiy which 

 the hammer is tlirown back to half-cock as soon as the blow is delivered on tlie pin. Tliis 

 admirable device is a great safe-guard, and is particularly eligibh! for breech-loaders, as the 

 Tiarrels may be unlocked and relocked without touching the hammers. Unless the lock fail, 

 accidental discharge is impossible, except under these circnmstauces : a, a direct blow on the 

 nipple or pin ; h, catching of both hammer and trigger simultaneously, drawing back of 

 the former and its release whilst the trigger is still held, — the chances against which are 

 simply incalculable. Full-cock, ticklish as it seems, is safer than no-cock, when a tap on 

 the hammer or even tlie hctd-platc, or a slight catch and release of the hammer, may cause 

 discharge. Never let the nmzzle of a loaded guu point toward your own person for a 

 single instant. Get your gun over fences, or into boats or carriages, before you get over 

 or in yourself, or at any rate no later. Remove caps or cartridges on entering a liousc. 

 Never aim a gun, loade<l or not, at any object, unless y(ju mean to ])ress i\if trigger. Never 

 put a loaded gun away long enough to firget wlictlier it is loaded or not; never leave a 

 loaded gun to be found by others under circumstances reason:ibly presu]>posing it to be un- 

 loaded. Never put a gun where it can be knocked down by a dog oi' a child. Ni'ver imagine 

 that there can be any excuse for leaving a breech-loader loaded under any circumstances. 

 Never forget that the idiots who kill people because they " did n't know it was loaded," are 

 perennial. Never forget that though a gunning accident may be sometimes interpreted (from 

 a certain standpoint) as a " dispensation of Providence," such dispensations happen oftene.st 

 to the careless. 



To Clean a Gun properly rc(phres some knowledge, more good temper, and most 

 "elbow-grease;" it is dirty, disagreeable, inevitable work, which laziness, business, tiredness, 

 indifference, and good taste will by turns tempt you to shirk. After a hunt _you are tired, have 

 your clothes to change, a meal to eat, a lot of birds to skin, a journal to write up. If you 

 "sub-let" the contract the chances an; it is but half fulfilled ; si'rve youivself, if yon want to 

 hi- well served. If you cannot find timi' for a. reg\dar cleaning, an intoleraldy foul gun may be 

 made to do another day's work by swabbing foi' a. few m<iments with a wet (not drijiping) rag, 

 and then witli an oiled one. For the full wash use cold water first ; it loosens dirt better than 

 hot water. Set the barrels in a pail of water ; wrap the end of the cleaning rod with tow <ir 

 cloth, and pump away till your arms ache. Cliange the rag or tow, and the fl'ater too, till 

 they both .stay clean for all the swabldng yon can do. Fill the barnds with boiling water till 

 they are well heated ; jiour it out, Avipc :is dry as possible inside and out, and set them by a 

 fire. Finish with a lii/ht nWing, inside aial out; toucli n[i all the metal about the stock, and 

 pcjlish the wood-W(a'k. Do u(jt remove the locks oftencr than is necessary ; every time they 

 are taken out, something of the exquisite fitting that marks a good gun may be hist ; as long 

 as they work smoothly take it for granted they are all right. Tlu^ .sanu' directhui applies to 

 nipples. To keep a gun well, under long disuse, it should have had a particnhudy thorough 

 cleaning; the chambers should be iiacked with greasy tow; grease.l wads may bo rammed at 

 intervals along the barrels; or the barrels may be filled witli melted tallow. Neat's-foot is 

 recommended as the best easily procured oil; porpoi.s(!-oil which is, I believe, used by watch- 

 makers, is the very best; the oil made for use on sewhig-niachiiiea is excellent; " olivii " oil 



