140 MANUAL FOR YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 
Let him now commence at small, short-winged birds, 
as they rise slowly from the grass, or flit across open 
spaces from tree to tree, still keeping his eyes riveted on 
the object while bringing up his piece, and firing instantly. 
If the former lessons have been perfectly acquired, 
and he be nearly sure of striking his stationary mark at 
snap shots, he is certain ultimately of becoming a quick 
and sure shot on the wing, and he will not fail to bring 
down his object, now and then, even from the first. 
Practice and coolness will do all the rest; and it is 
necessary now to guard against one malpractice only— 
never to take down the gun from the shoulder, when it 
once has been levelled, without firing, from tl:e idea that 
it is not correctly aimed, and from the fear of missing, is 
a positive and invariable rule. 
To do so, is to become undecided, unsteady, and to fal- 
ter more and more, until he have lost all nerve and ability 
to judge how the aim is taken, or what he is about at all. 
To shoot at all risks, with deliberate rashness or reck- 
lessness, if I may so express myself, is the only true 
maxim. If the shot tell—well and good. All is done 
that is desired, and the chance of doing so is doubled by 
the careless confidence with which it is done. 
If the aim be falsely taken, the distance, speed or mo- 
tion of the object miscalculated, if cool, the shooter will 
easily come to judge where the error lay, and to see at 
once why he missed; whether he over or under-shot, 
whether he fired before or behind, to right or to left of 
his object ; and this point once gained, wonderfully easily 
will he correct the errors and improve. 
