IN THEORY AND PRACTICE 
69 
it was struck by several, as three or four dropped from its 
plumage when being examined. 
Gun. — Pattern of 170 at a selected 30-in. circle at 40 yds., 
horizontal. Load : 44 grs. Schultze and i-j^ oz. No. 6, 287 
to 289 pellets to the charge. ^ 
Putting on one side the question of penetration, these 
records show the less number of pellets that are likely to strike 
the under-surface of a high pheasant, even though it is 
stationary and easy to shoot at, compared to the number 
that would show inside the outline of a mark the same size, 
when taken, as in Series VI., VII., VIII., from a selected 
pattern on a large target. In Series IX. twelve shots were 
fired at the 50- and 6o-yd. heights. In Series VII. and VIII. 
only six shots at each height. 
The difference, optical illusion though it may be, in the 
apparent size of a pheasant — as seen by the shooter — at 
40 yds. perpendicular and at 40 yds. horizontal is interesting 
in connection with a correct aim.2 
^ As I wished to give as much force to the shot-pellets as possible, I previously 
experimented at Petitts's pads with an ounce of No. 6 and 36 grs. E.G., and 
then with 46 grs. of Schultze, but with very poor results both as regards pattern 
and penetration. I scarce expected anything else, as nothing is more certain in a 
game-gun than that if it is overloaded with powder, its pattern, and, as a sequence, 
its penetration, is inferior. If shot-pellets are driven out of a barrel with too high 
an initial velocity, a large proportion of them scatter and whirl away from the line 
of aim. It is not unusual, however, to hear of a shooter who uses an overdose of 
powder and an underdose of shot, in the mistaken idea that such a load will assist 
him to kill very high or distant birds. This theory has been over and over again 
proved unsound in every respect. 
- I take the shooter as having normal long sight, and thus able to plainly see a 
high bird without eye-glasses. Though our eyes are lenses, and, like other lenses 
