260 FIELD SHOOTING. 



signifies one of the best. Going on missing time 

 after time, without stopping to consider why the 

 bird was missed, will not do. 



When a bird is going straight away from the 

 gun, the miss of the beginner is commonly ow- 

 ing to under-shooting. His line of fire, straight 

 ahead, is apt to be correct, but he often shoots 

 too low. Let him remember that a bird getting 

 up near him and flying away is almost always 

 rising for some distance. If the young shooter 

 gets sight of the bird, he is certain not to shoot 

 too high, and he may shoot too low; therefore 

 keep the gun up, and if you see a feather of 

 the bird in sighting along the ridge, crack away. 

 You will be nearly certain to bring it down. 

 Misses at birds which present side shots, and fly 

 across the line of fire, are usually owing to shoot- 

 ing behind the bird. The young shooter, as 

 1 observed before, must allow for the forward 

 motion of the bird he aims at; and if at short 

 distances, at larks and swamp blackbirds, he 

 shoots ten or twelve inches ahead of the bird, 

 he will be sure to hit it, provided the gun had 

 the right elevation. 



When the young shooter, after having missed 

 two or three side shots, thinks it was owing to 



