PIGEON-SHOOTING
—is a sport principally resorted to at that season of the year when guns are laying dormant, and game of every other kind is, by the privilege of Parliament, permitted to enjoy its rest. Pigeon-shooting is a match between two individuals, or any fixed number on each side, and is decided by one, or the other, killing the greatest NUMBER of PIGEONS within an equal number of shots. The match made, and the place agreed on where it is to be decided, the dove-house pigeons are provided in proportion to the parties who stand engaged to shoot; of which there are generally four, five, or six, on each side; and as every individual feels disposed to shoot at least five or six times, less than eight or ten dozen are hardly ever procured for the occasion.
Previous to the commencement of the match, an open spot is fixed on, agreeable to the arbitrators, one appointed by each side; here TWENTY YARDS are measured with accuracy, and both extremities correctly marked. At one end a hole is made in the earth, in which is deposited a small box, about eight inches deep, six inches wide, and a foot long; its surface two inches above the level of the ground, with a sliding-lid running in a groove: to the front of this lid is affixed a string, or small cord, of one or two-and-twenty yards in length, which extended, will reach a little beyond the precise distance of twenty yards, where each of the parties concerned will afterwards stand to shoot. The preliminaries adjusted of having taken the toss, to determine which side is to take the lead, and all parties ready, a PIGEON is lodged in the BOX, and the runner (as he is called) resuming his post, by the side of the person whose turn it is to shoot, he is there ready to pull the STRING annexed to the SLIDER, and give liberty to the bird, the moment he is ordered by the SHOOTER so to do. It is a fixed rule, that the GUN is never to be advanced to the SHOULDER till the bird is upon wing; this is to be decided (as well as every other cause of dispute) by the persons appointed; and every pigeon so shot at, must fall to the ground within ONE HUNDRED YARDS of the BOX, or it is not admitted a BIRD KILLED, but a shot missed. The first person having shot, (hit or miss,) he is succeeded by one of the opposite side; and they continue to shoot in alternate rotation till the match is decided according to the original terms upon which it was made, in respect to the number of pigeons to be shot at by each distinct party, when those who kill the most are declared the winners, and entitled to the stakes made.