458 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 
The hunting field is no place for the breaking in of 
new footwear. The latter should be purchased months 
ahead of its actual use afield, and should be worn often 
enough to be thoroughly broken in, so that it may be 
worn with comfort in actual hunting. 
The footwear should be as light in material as is 
consistent with practical use. If the going is easy and 
dry, the hunter may advantageously use some of his 
old cast-off shoes, assuming, of course, that they have 
some wear left in them. About two dozen hobnails, 
driven in proper distribution in the soles and heels, 
add greatly to their efficiency in walking, and protect 
them from the grinding and cutting effects of rocks 
in rough going. It should be observed that the hob- 
nails are an indispensable adjunct to any hunting foot- 
wear. In dry weather the soles of the boots or shoes 
take on an exceedingly slippery polish, so much so that 
walking on dry leaves or grass in shoes without hob- 
nails presents the same difficulities as walking on ice. 
The specially manufactured hunting boots and shoes 
are made of various kinds of excellent leather, heavy 
and light, and in styles to suit the fancy of the pur- 
chaser. The best makes have tough, pliable uppers, 
strongly reinforced on the sides, double-soled from toe 
to heel, hobnailed; soft and elastic as a whole, yet so 
closely constructed, withal, as to be nominally water- 
proof, comfortable and durable. The boots, as a rule, 
are simply the shoes with a leg added, and they weigh 
more accordingly. 
After all, lightness of weight in foot gear is a most 
