556 FOREST, FIELD, AND PRAIRIE. 



quently is, which would produce a heavy recoil, and if it gets op the bairel, will 

 burst the gun and likely take a hand off besides. 



* 'th — ^Never take hold of the mozzle to draw it toward you, nor set it up, when, 

 if falling its muzzle would be toward you. 



Finally, follow all these suggestions and be self-possessed, and the fields will 

 afford you sport without danger, and I hope without temptation. 



HINTS FOR SOUTHERN SHOOTING. 



For all but boat shooting, guns to be used under the hot sun 

 that, even in winter, falls on the Southern fields with a fierce heat, 

 should be light, and of not too large bore, to economize weight of 

 ammunition. 



A rifle should be short, and one chosen that will in opening be 

 free from long levers that may catch in bridle reins, wUl avoid an- 

 noyance. For alligators and panthers, the Mead explosive ball is 

 unequalled, and its use increases very materially the chances of so 

 shocking and stunning those tenacious animals as to recover them 

 at once. All the talk of a ball glancing harmlessly from their scales 

 may have been true years ago, but the modem rifle carries its mis- 

 sile through the scales and skull, and penetrates any part of the 

 animal, even at long range. 



For all but the " gator," the shot gun is the convenient arm. 

 Deer are usually "jumped " and shot bounding through the large 

 leaves of low palmetto, and at all times one load of fine shot is 

 needed for quail, snipe and plumage birds, that are constantly flut- 

 tering up. For this reason, on account of the miscellaneous char- 

 acter of the game, where one is liable at any time to meet deer, 

 quail, panthers, snipe, bears, ducks, or wild cattle, which are more 

 dangerous than any other animal, as they are likely to charge a 

 foot-man at sight (a horseman is safe), we have always been per- 

 sistent in recommending the Baker three-barrel gun, notwith- 

 standing the prejudice against combination arms. It is very light 

 and handy, and always prepared for the exigencies of the chase. 

 The rifle barrel occupies the place taken up by a ramrod in the. 

 ordinary muzzle-loader. The gun has two shot barrels 12-gauge, 

 and one rifle barrel 44 calibre. Central fire, one extractor vdth- 

 drawing all three shells. Weight of gun eight and three-quarter 

 pounds. The rifle is apt to shoot truer than the ordinary sporting 

 rifle, because it Ues under the shot barrels, the tendency of all rifle- 



