It is impossible that results could be more conclusive, conducted as they were with great care and impartiality; and in presence of some of the most strenuous supporters of the breech-loading system.

Other trials took place at Ashburnham Park, and Kilburn Victoria Rifle-ground, with similar results; the breech-loaders being signally beaten, despite their extra allowance of gunpowder.

And, it must not be overlooked that though the breech-loader used cartridges; in the muzzleloader, simply loose charges of shot were used; it may therefore be fairly concluded, that if green cartridges had been fired from the muzzle-loader, instead of loose shot, the result would have shown that the latter would kill nearly one-fourth farther than the other.

It should also be remembered, that the breechloader must have its extra quarter drachm of powder; consequently, the barrels must be of stouter substance than the muzzle-loader of the same caliber, and yet, with both these extras, the shooting is not so strong as the other.

Undoubtedly, the most perfect and useful gun in the hands of a sportsman, is that which possesses the power of shooting strongest and farthest, with the smallest charges.

Bad shots, inexperienced sportsmen, and those who are ignorant of the true principles of good

shooting, will probably be heard frequently expressing their opinions in favour of the breechloader; and probably with much honesty of purpose; for perhaps such men may find that they kill more game with a breech-loader than with a muzzle-loader.

Mr. Greener, who has written a very able book on Gunnery, and who has devoted his whole life to that subject, and obtained one or two patents for breech-loading guns, candidly admits that, in his opinion, there is no possibility of inventing a breech-loader such as would shoot with equal force and effect to that of a well made muzzleloader.

Mr. Greener's opinion on the subject is worthy of the highest consideration: he sums up his remarks in the following damnatory sentence :--"Breech-loaders do not shoot nearly so well, and are not half so safe as muzzle-loading guns."

It has always been urged on the part of the advocates of the breech-loading system, that for the purposes of a punt-gun for wild-fowl shooting the breech-loader is invaluable, because it dispenses with the necessity of shifting so heavy a gun to the aft part of a very fragile boat: this is undoubtedly an advantage; but then, again, the great and insurmountable disadvantage as to range, stares us in the face. And for a punt-gun, of all things, range is the most important con

sideration. Wild-fowl are by nature so extremely vigilant, and the punter so exposed on the open water, without any screen to hide him, that the most skilful fowlers find it very difficult to approach within range; it is therefore an indisputable fact, that the gun which shoots sharpest and farthest is to all intents and purposes the best and only serviceable one to a practical punter: and such a gun is not to be found among the breechloading punt-guns.

A writer in the Sporting Review says: "Having tested several of these novelties or breech-loading punt-guns side by side with muzzle-loaders, I maintain, in defiance of every gun-maker in England, that the breech-loading punt-gun has yet to be made that will equal a good sound percussion muzzle-loader, in range, compactness, and strength of throwing the shot. A muzzle-loader punt-gun will kill one-fourth farther than a breech-loader; and if the muzzleloader be charged with a cartridge, it will beat the breech-loader nearly one-third."

RUDIMENTARY LESSONS.

"Enough! permit me now to sing

The art of killing birds on wing."-WATT.

THE young sportsman should commence by using himself to handle and carry the gun in a safe position: then point the gun at small objects, sitting, flying, and running fast and slow. When he has had several lessons on these, he may load with a little powder, but no shot; and after firing away some two or three dozen charges in course of a week, he may commence by shooting small birds sitting, using very small shot, and loading with small charges.

Shooting sparrows from a pigeon trap is very good initiatory practice for partridge shooting; and if a very small portion of the tips of the feathers in each wing be clipped off with a pair of scissors; or if a portion of their tails be clipped off in the same manner, it will make them fly so steadily, and so much like young partridges, that

it will be as good practice as he can make, before the shooting season commences. Another mode of making sparrows fly steadily, is by slipping a bit of paper over their heads; the process is performed by simply cutting a hole in the centre of a piece of paper about three or four inches square, and by slipping their heads through it; the paper forms a collar which impedes their flight considerably.

When the dog points at game, never run, but walk leisurely up; taking short steps; you will then have a better command of your range, and the flight of the bird when it rises (which it may do at any instant) than if loping along with hasty strides.

On presenting and taking aim, always remember that the hand which touches the trigger must obey the eye; not the eye the hand.

Put your left hand forward in advance of the guard, to grasp the barrel and assist in holding the gun steady: (see frontispiece.)

Light guns may be held firmly, by placing the left hand in front of the trigger-guard (see opposite plate, and compare with frontispiece); and a strong man can accustom himself to hold a tolerably heavy gun in this manner; but all the best shots I ever met with put their left hand forward in advance of the guard.

A young sportsman always profits by going out