HOW TO LEARN TO SHOOT. 151 
as the animal is ascending, descending, or running on the 
level, will not be an inch too much 
On level ground it is well to shoot a little low of the 
object, as it is better to take the deer on alighting from his 
bounds, especially if he be in bushy covert or underwood. 
All allowances of distance, as also for the force of a 
cross wind, however, are matters of judgment and calcula- 
tion, as are the ranges at which the shooter is actually 
firing ; and practice is the only true way to obtain correct- 
ness of judgment, and of eye-calculation. 
It must always be remembered, however, that every 
one who has acquired the skill to shoot off-hand, necessa- 
rily possesses that which enables him to shoot with a rest; 
and that he who can surely strike an object in motion can 
strike one at rest with tenfold certainty. 
To conclude, I advise no person who desires to become 
a proficient with both weapons, by any means to touch the 
rifle until he has made himself a perfect master of shoot- 
ing on the wing; and then never to practise with single 
ball at a mark for any length of time, without diversifying 
his practice by shooting at turnips, bowled or tossed, as 
described before. 
If he do, he will lose one skill, as he acquires the 
other, even though he may be an old craftsman and a cap- 
ital shot. 
The habit of waiting and following for an exact aim, 
with the sights in line, will stick to him, and incline him 
to dwell and follow his birds on the wing, in a manner 
which, as it has been shown, is destructive to quickness, 
style and handsomeness of killing. 
