42 
THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 
racy of his aim. Tn fact, it was not unusual for the owners 
of the poor birds, which were inhumanly “ set up” on 
such occasions, to bribe him to take no share in the sports. 
If he did persist in claiming his privilege, the six-cents 
premium paid for the chance, was iJut a poor recompense 
to the owner for the loss of his bird. “ Old Natty Bumpo,” 
for so he was called by his brother shooters, was in the 
habit of posting away to take a part in great turkey-matches, 
in remote villages, where he was unknown, from which 
he always returned, with a large proportion of the plunder. I 
was told that he at one time hired his wagon, rode twenty 
miles, and returned the same day, having killed forty out 
of fifty of the birds. His booty amply paid him for his 
trouble and expense, in addition to the gratification of 
gaining so complete a triumph over the “ strangers .” 
He was in the practice of wandering about, alone, in the 
extensive meadows in the valley of the Connecticut, and 
wo betide the beast or bird that ventured within the range 
of his rifle. He at one time, in the course of his rambles 
in these plains, discovered an eagle sitting upon a large 
and solitary oak, apparently regardless of his approach. He 
fired at him from a great distance, fearing that he should be 
unable to approach without giving alarm, and fortunately 
wounded him. The eagle lost his balance, but still held, 
however, his grasp upon the branch upon which he had 
rested. Our rifleman fired again, cut off the twig which 
he clung to, and secured his prisoner. 
It was of such hardy and skilful men that our armies of 
the Revolution were composed; and to their accuracy of 
eye, and firmness of nerve, we may attribute the repeated 
successes of undisciplined men, over the practised veterans 
of Europe. If General Hull, during the North-Western 
Campaign of the last war, had been followed to the field by 
a body of such men, bearing any fair proportion to the 
army of Brock, he would have added new lustre to the 
reputation he had gained under Washington, in nearly 
every battle of the Revolution, and escaped those vile im- 
putations upon his honour and courage, which his enemies, 
and those by whom he had been wronged, endeavoured to 
cast upon him. Posterity, however, will see this affair 
through the medium of historical truth, and will render to 
his memory a deserved though tardy tribute. M. 
INSTRUCTIONS TO YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 
No. I. 
The first important step towards becoming an expert 
Sportsman, is a perfect knowledge of the gun. This is 
the rudiment of the science, and is of more importance than 
most young men are aware, who are about to enter into 
the enjoyments of the field. To obtain this knowledge, 
much patience and experience are required; and certain 
rules observed by the learner, from which he ought not to 
depart. In the hands of the careless and inexperienced, 
the gun often proves an instrument of death to a compa- 
nion, and his future days become embittered by the care- 
lessness of a moment, which might have been avoided, had 
that attention been paid to the subject which it certainly 
demands. Wherefore, I hold it as an infallible rule, that 
none should ever venture in search of game with a gun, 
especially beside his companions, until familiarity with it at 
home, has made him a master of his gun. I shall advance 
a few rules on this head, founded on my own observation 
and the experience of others, which perhaps may assist the 
young beginner in the science. 
So much has been said about the “choice of guns,” that 
any thing advanced here on that point might be considered 
superfluous; but when we reflect on the number of accidents 
which have occurred through the medium of inferior guns, 
and how much it is recommended that “ any kind of gun” 
will answer to learn with, — that I cannot help joining other 
writers, and exclaim against all inferior or low priced guns. 
I most strenuously recommend the young Sportsman to 
beware of common English, French, and Dutch guns. A 
medium or high price English gun is the cheapest in the 
end for a gentleman who intends using it during the succes- 
sive seasons of shooting, and would recommend him to pay 
a price not less than fifty dollars, as very few lower priced 
than this can be depended on. The best, and most popular 
description of guns, are the stub and twist double guns, of 
ll-16ths of an inch calibre, and thirty inches in length, with 
back action locks, and steel works; steel furniture without 
scroll guards; spring-box triggers; a plain stock, checquered 
only at the breech, and the grain of the wood running 
parallel with the bend. Do not choose a gun for its beau- 
tiful stock, as that description seldom proves serviceable, 
but will break with very trifling usage. Let the stock be 
rather straight, and long from the trigger to the butt, in 
order to enable you to keep your head elevated. 
A gun of the above cast can be purchased now for sixty to 
seventy -five dollars, — should you pay less than this for a 
new gun, in a regalar gun store, you cannot depend on its 
being a stub and twist. Very showy guns have been sell- 
ing at prices, varying from thirty-five to fifty dollars, but 
be assured they are only twisted iron; and have not steel 
works in their locks, but case-hardened iron, which is 
almost as brittle as glass, and the furniture is either of cast 
iron, or of the most inferior quality. 
A gun of the former kind may be used constantly for 
eight or ten years, or until the owner becomes an expert 
