292 TRAP-SHOOTING. 



during whiob there is absolutely no legitimate sport 

 with the gun whatever ; the woodcock are not yet 

 grown, the snipe have passed to their northern 

 homes, and the sportsman fills the vacancy with the 

 emulation of surpassing his associates at trap-shoot- 

 ing. The attempt is exciting, and the art peculiar, 

 requiring great self-command and utter disregard of 

 the jeers, praises, or contemptuous laughter of a 

 thousand spectators. 



Tame pigeons are not so well adapted to the pur- 

 pose as their wild brethren, having a quiet way of 

 ignoring the object for which they are produced, 

 and walking towards the stand, or picking up scraps 

 of food the moment they are released, that is try- 

 ing to the expectant shooter. Then they are strong 

 of wing and well feathered, so that the shot must be 

 driven hard to penetrate to a vital spot ; and they 

 fly as often towards the crowd assembled behind the 

 score as in the contrary direction. Their flight is 

 uneven, and frequently, after rising a few feet, they 

 will suddenly alight, or pitch down part of the way. 

 The best shots, therefore, prefer the wild birds, that 

 go off with a rush the moment the trap is pulled — 

 for, although they fly faster, they are more certain in 

 their motions. Tame birds are collected in the 

 neighborhood of towns and through the country, but 

 rarely in large numbers ; and being accustomed to 

 the presence of man, require little special care. 

 Wild birds are brought from long distances, fre- 

 quently from the confines of Wisconsin, and in 

 consequence of their timid, excitable nature, re- 



