File:The encyclopaedia of sport (1897) (14597447619).jpg

Identifier: encyclopaediaofs02suff (find matches)
Title: The encyclopaedia of sport
Year: 1897 (1890s)
Authors: Suffolk and Berkshire, Henry Charles Howard, Earl of, 1833-1898 Peek, Hedley Aflalo, Frederick G. (Frederick George), 1870-1918
Subjects: Horses Sports Games
Publisher: London : Lawrence and Bullen
Contributing Library: Webster Family Library of Veterinary Medicine
Digitizing Sponsor: Tufts University

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h ofneck and height from the water, swans have anextended range of vision and thus are able todetect the movements inside a punt at someconsiderable distance. Over-anxiety has spoiltmany good opportunities in swan shooting.Thus, when approaching swans in the water, thegunner should not be in too great a hurry totake a shot, for these heavy-bodied biids, unliketeal and some other ducks, cannot spring highinto the air at one bound, but require both timeand room to get under way. Thus there isample time to tip the punt-gun and take a coolshot whenever they open their wings. It should,however, be remetnbered that swans rising fromthe ground are much quicker in getting well onthe wing. In case the punt gun cannot betipped, or the gunner doubts his ability to makethe most of a flying shot, it is as well to remindhitn that the gun should be set high and thatthe heads and necks of sitting swans should behis target; moreover for this kind of shootingthe mistake should not be made of using shot
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sw.w) THE ENCVCLOP/EDIA OF SPORT 417 too large in size—B.B. will usually be quite largeenough. In shooting at flying swans with the shouldergun the novice is liable to fall into error in twoways, first as regards their rate of speed, andnext, in estimating the distance. The flight ofa swan is very deceptive ; the idea of speed isscarcely to be associated with the slow andmeasured beat of his huge wings, and yet thebird may actually be travelling faster than wildducks or sharp-flying Brent geese. Inexperi-enced gunners often innocently open fire uponswans at from one to two hundred yardsdistance under the impression that they arewell within gunshot. This, however, serves butto wound and to frighten birds, and care shouldbe taken to estimate distances, if on land, bythe birds surroundings, or, if on water, by itseye, the marking on its bill, and the general dis-tinctness with which it may be seen. The head or the hollow underneath the wingare the most assailable targets at which to ai

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