422 UPLAND SHOOTING. 



of guns embraces Purdey, Westley Richards, Lancaster, 

 in years gone by, latterly, Scott and Parker, besides 

 many an odd gun, here and there, of both English and 

 American makes. I may furthermore add that I never 

 have let the opportunity go by to test a reputedly good 

 gun, and that I have fired thousands of shots for pattern 

 and penetration, with all kinds of guns and about every 

 variety of ammunition, so that, if my knowledge is 

 meagre on these subjects, it is purely from want of ability 

 to comprehend, as my opportunities have been legion. 



FIELD-GUNS. 



The sine qua non of a fowling-piece is that it be a 

 perfect fit — the bore, weight, length, and make are, 

 individually or in the aggregate, as nothing compared 

 to the fit — and in this most essential feature no man can 

 impart much more than the most superficial information; 

 whUe nothing short of actual trial on game will reveal 

 the hidden mystery contained in every gun-stock, or, 

 rather, peculiar manner, position, style, or action of the 

 man that stands behind it. One man mounts a gun with 

 a jerk, aligns it, and shoots; another brings it up deliber- 

 ately, but the moment the heel-plate touches his shoulder, 

 the trigger is pulled. Now, in the first case, though not 

 an exact fit, yet moderately good shooting can be done, 

 because a certain aim is taken, while in the second — by 

 far the better way — no gun that is a misfit wiU do good 

 execution, for the simple reason that this style of shooter 

 does not see his gun, but is staring, both eyes wide open, 

 at his quarry; so that a poor shot, who only shoots a 

 little now and then, will generally go nearer his aver- 

 age with any borrowed gun than the good shot, who 

 never troubles himself about breech or muzzle, but rather 

 shoots from intuition— trusting entirely to his hands get- 

 ting the proper direction, while his head instantly 



