rm, whose
powerful charges are not required, and which simply adds to the
fatigue. Much lighter guns are used now than formerly; they do not
last so long, but few of us now look forward forty years. A gun of
6 1/2 pounds' weight will be better than anything else for summer
work. All sportsmen say it is a toy and so it is, but a very deadly
one. The same weapon will equally well do for the first of September
(unless the weather has been very bad), and for a few weeks of
partridge-shooting. But if the sport comes later in the autumn, a
heavier gun with a stronger charge (alluding to guns of the old
style of boring) will be found useful. For shooting when the leaves
are off a heavier gun has, perhaps, some advantages.

Battue-shooting puts a great strain upon a gun, from the rapid and
continuous firing, and a pheasant often requires a hard knock to
grass him successfully. You never know, either, at what range you
are likely to meet with him. It may be ten yards, it may be sixty;
so that a strong charge, a long range, and considerable power of
penetration are desirable, if it is wished to make a good
performance. I recommend a powerful gun for pheasant-shooting,
because probably in no other sport is a miss so annoying. The bird
is large and in popular estimation, therefore ought not to get away.
There is generally a party at the house at the time, and shots are
sure to be talked about, good or bad, but especially the latter,
which some men have a knack of noticing, though they may be
apparently out of sight, and bring up against you in the pleasantest
way possible: 'I say, you were rather in a fluster, weren't you,
this morning? Nerves out of order--eh?' Now, is there anything so
aggravating as to be asked about your nerves? It is, perhaps, from
the operation of competition that pheasants, as a rule, get very
little law allowed them. If you want to shine at this kind of sport,
knock the bird over, no matter when you see him--if his tail brushes
the muzzle of your gun: every head counts. The fact is, if a
pheasant is allowed law, and really treated as game, he is not by
any means so easy a bird to kill as may be supposed.

If money is no particular object, of course the sportsman can allow
himself a gun for every different kind of sport, although luxury in
that respect is apt to bring with it its punishment, by making him
but an indifferent shot with either of his weapons. But if anyone
wishes to be a really good shot, to