SHOT-GUN AND SPORTING RIFLE: AND THE DOGS, PONIES, FERRETS, &c., USED WITH THEM IN THE VARIOUS KINDS OF SHOOTING BY STONEHENGE, AUTHOR OF "BRITISH RURAL SPORTS." Illustrated with numerous Engrabings. LONDON: ROULTEDGE, WARNE, AND ROUTLEDGE, FARRINGDON STREET. NEW YORK: 56, WALKER STREET. 1859. [The Author reserves the right of Translation.] PREFACE. THE circumstances which have led to the publication of this treatise on the Shot-gun and Sporting-rifle are as follows: At the close of the year 1857, on undertaking the editorship of the department of the Field connected with shooting, I found its columns deluged with an angry correspondence on the comparative merits of the breech-loader and muzzleloader-statements and counter-statements were made, week after week, all of which could not possibly be true, since many of them were in direct opposition to each other. Theories were propounded of the most visionary kind, yet, as generally happens, their inventors expected them to be received as conclusive of the opinion to support which they were brought forward. The battle had raged for several months; but after all this no one was convinced, and the question was left exactly where it was when the correspondence commenced. But, as numerous good sportsmen seemed really desirous of ascertaining with something like exactness the real merits of these guns, it was determined to give them a public trial, |