SPORTING. 
allpged reason of having but one is, that the 
interior is simplified, while the sportsman 
is less bewildered in regard to the choice of 
triggers, and in the application of the finger 
thereto ; but we conceive, that no cool or 
expert sportsman is ever at a loss in those 
particulars. 
We now come to speak of the sizes of 
shot in ordinary nse, as they are appro- 
priated to various kinds and sizes of birds : 
observing, that many old sportsmen and 
game-keepers consider it advantageous to 
mix No. 4, 5, 6, and in nearly equal 
quantities. This, however, does not seem 
to be warranted. The application of par- 
ticular sizes to corresponding purpose,s, ap- 
pears to us more proper ; nor can we re- 
ject that which rests on the solid basis of 
reason, in favour of a system but partially 
supported, even in vvords, and without a 
sufficient course of experiment under the 
eye of impartiality. We have, indeed, the 
assertions of various gentlemen, of the most 
candid dispositions, and versed in those ex- 
perimental tests requisite to sanction a prac- 
tice, whereby it should appear that no mix- 
ture should ever take place ; but that where 
large, shy game is sought (such as wild 
geese, bustards, &c.) No. 1 should be used ; 
or in default of that, No. %: that where 
wild ducks, and other hard-feathered birds 
are in view. No. 3, or 4, should be used ; 
that for hares, pheasants, and partridges. 
No. 4 and 5 ought to be employed; that 
for woodcocks, No. 6 ami 7 suit well; while 
for snipes and quails. No. 7 and 8 answer 
admirably. As for ortolans, larks, &c. 
No. 9 and 10 should be used, where the 
birds are not very shy ; otherwise No. 8. 
From this it will be seen, that No. 4, 5, 
6, and 7, certainly constitute the, general 
expenditure of the regular sportsman ; hut 
we cannot, from that, deduce, that they 
ought to be mixed. However much we may 
differ, in the above point, from the Rev. 
W. B. Daniel, author of the celebrated 
“ Rural Sports.” Such is. the opinion we 
entertain of that work, that we. shall pre- 
sent our rsadevs w'ith the following passage 
extracted from his second volume. He 
gives the i’ollowing table. 
, Grains. 
One ounce of common shot, No. 4, 
contains jgg 
Charge for double gun 317 
One ounce of patent shot, No,, 4, 
contains oyg 
Charge for double gun 375 
The difference of charge, between the 
patent, and the common shot, is 
therefore 58 grains in the ounce. 
One ounce of No. 5, common .shot, 
contains 230 
Charge for ditto 437 
One ounce of patent ditto g7i 
Charge for ditto 512 
Difference 75 grains. 
One ounce of No. 6, common shot, 
contains y.... 300 
Charge for ditto 554 
One ounce of patent ditto 327 
Charge for ditto 
Difference 76 grains. 
One qunce of No. 7, common shot, 
contains ggg 
Charge for ditto 703 
One ounce of patent ditto sgg 
Charge of ditto 757 
Difference 49 grains. 
MIXED SHOT. 
One ounce of No. 4, 5, 6, common 
shot, contains 
Charge for ditto 
One ounce of patent ditto. No 4 
5, 6 ’ J 
Charge for ditto 
Difference 59 grains. 
232 
434 
263 
493 
One ounce of No. 5, 6, and 7, com- 
mon shot, contain 297 
Charge for ditto ’ ’ ggg 
One ounce of patent. No. .5, 6, 7 .... 330 
Charge for ditto ggp 
Difference 17 grains.” 
Our readers cannot fail to perceive, that 
the word “ charge” is, in the above’ case, 
purely arbitrary ; we nece.ssarily conclude, 
that Mr. Daniel found such answer well for 
the double barrel gun which he used ; which 
might be of a large, or of as mall, bore. Tak- 
ing the average, we compute his charges to 
weigh about 9 or 10, to the pound ; and this 
we may, perhap.^, find to be tolerably cor- 
rect, as a standard on common occasions - 
since it is found, in general, that a bag of 
shot, weighing a quarter, i. e. 28 pounds, 
will make about 260 charges. 
Mr. Daniel continues as follows : 
The smallest shot above mentioned 
(i. e. No. 7), will kill at forty yards; the ve- 
locity of a charge of No. 7, being equal to 
one of No. 3, at that distance ; and, since 
small shot fly thicker tlian large, ui propor- 
tion to size, and, as there are many parts 
about the body of a bird, wherein a pellet 
