RAIL-SHOOTING. 195 



the lucky chance of coming npon a goodh' collection 

 of birds, and make the most of the scanty time 

 permitted to him. 



None of those vexatious mistakes that occasionally 

 happen to the best sportsmen can befall him ; the shot 

 cannot get into the wrong barrel, nor the cap be for- 

 gotten; the powder is not exposed to ashes from a 

 careless rcan's cigar ; and there being no hurry, there 

 is more probability of steady nerves and a true 

 aim. 



The charge should be light— three-quarters of an 

 ounce of shot and two drachms of powder being abun- 

 dant to kill the soft and gentle rail — and pellets at 

 least as fine as No. 9 are preferable to coarser sizes. 

 Old cartridges, that have been split and mended by 

 gumming a piece of paper over the crack, may be 

 used in the breech-loader, provided the sportsman 

 desires to indulge in praiseworthy economy, or is 

 deficient in a supply. 



The sport is extremely exciting : the boat is forced 

 along with considerable rustling and breaking of 

 stems and stalks ; the bright sun streams down 

 ^upon the yellow reeds and lights up the variegated 

 foliage of the distant, shore ; the waves of the bay or 

 river, rising apparently to a level with the eye, 

 sparkle in the gentle breeze that bends the sedge 

 grass in successive waves ; neighboring boats come 

 and go, approach and recede ; the rapid reports are 

 heard in all directions, like fireworks on the Fourth 

 of July ; the sportsman stands erect, and eager with 

 delirious excitement, near the bow ; the punter 



