18 IMPLEMENTS FOR COLLECTING, AND THEIR USE. 
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ately directly at an immovable object at fair range. Hold 
over a motionless object when far off, as the trajectory of the 
shot curves downward. Hold a little to one side of a station- 
ary object when very near, preferring rather to take the chances 
of missing it with the peripheral pellets, than of hopelessly — 
mutilating it with the main body of the charge. Fire at the 
first fair aim, without trying to improve what is good enough 
already. Never ‘‘pull” the trigger, but press it. Bear the - 
shock of discharge without flinching. In shooting on the — 
wing, fire the instant the butt of the gun taps your shoulder ; ° 
you will miss at first, but by and by the birds will begin ~ 
to drop, and you will have laid the foundation of good 
shooting, the knack of ‘‘covering”. a bird unconsciously. 
The habit of ‘“‘ poking” after a bird on the wing is an almost 
incurable vice, and: may keep you a poor shot all your life. 
(The collector’s frequent necessity of poking after little birds 
in the bush is just what so often hinders him from acquiring 
extraordinary diligence and perseverance. Certain prineiples — 
of shooting may perhaps be reduced to words. Aim deliber- 
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brilliant execution.) Aim ahead of a flying bird —the caleu- - 
lation to be made varies, according to the distance of the 
object, its velocity, its course and the wind, from a few 
inches to several feet ; practice will finally render it intuitive. 
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