to the stock that a slight opening between the barrels and false breech is easily effected in the snap guns, but not in the Lafanchaux regulated by the ordinary lever. Another important fact must not be lost sight of in Lancaster's gun, which is, that owing to the relative positions of the breech end of the barrels and the false breech, no moisture can possibly pass between them so as to reach the cartridges, and this cannot be said of any of the varieties of the Lafanchaux (except Martin's), the breech end of the barrels and base of the false breech being rectangular.

Lancaster's cartridges have no complication of caps, cups, or anvils; there is merely a sufficient amount of detonating powder exactly in the centre, which is so arranged that when struck it explodes internally. There is a well-contrived extractor of the cartridges which is brought effectively into operation by the action of the barrels as they rise, being liberated by the moving of the lever, so that the process of withdrawing the exploded cartridges and of substituting fresh ones is as speedily accomplished as in any gun now in use. With regard to the central fire, truth demands that I should state that it is by no means a recent discovery, as I have seen an old detonator constructed on this principle by Kavanagh, of Dublin, which was made nearly forty years ago; but Lancaster has the merit of having fully developed and

turned this principle to the greatest possible advantage, of having produced a gun which approaches as near perfection as any gun can do. The cylinders, pistons, the obtusangular shape of the breech end of the barrels, and the acutangular shape of the false breech are entirely his own inventions, and establish his just claim to considerable merit on this score alone independently of the workmanship of the entire weapon, which is as good as can be found in London. I now add Mr. Lancaster's short and concise description of his gun in his own words:

'The distinctive features of this gun consist in the first place of the use of a cartridge without any pin as in the Lafanchaux gun, and consequently the entire absence of all escape of gas at the rear on the explosion of the charge. Secondly, the mechanical arrangement is distinct from that other gun.

of any

'The closing and opening of the gun being performed by a powerful lever and eccentric, thus producing a sliding motion prior to the barrels being allowed to rise to receive the cartridge.'

The breech end of the barrels is arranged at an obtuse angle, and the breech fits into the stock at a corresponding retiring or acute angle: thus when the barrel is brought home by the eccentric it dovetailed underneath the breech, and cannot move however often the gun is fired. In

discharging the gun the hammer strikes the piston which is driven forward horizontally, directly on the centre of the base of the cartridge, producing instantaneous explosion. On opening the gun an extractor having an automatic movement embraces the periphery of the cartridge and pulls it out sufficiently to admit of its being removed, leaving the barrels in a position for the reception of the fresh cartridges. As a test of the endurance of these guns during the past five seasons, a distinguished sportsman has fired upwards of forty-five thousand shots from a pair of them, which are now perfect in every respect.' The best breech-loader which can be used in a punt is one made by Baddeley, 183 Central Street, City Road, Islington, a description of which will be found at the end of the chapter on wild-fowl shooting.

SUMMARY.

NOTWITHSTANDING the numerous advantages which the breech-loader incontestably possesses over the muzzle-loader, and which the most prejudiced in favour of the latter can scarcely now deny, it is strange that, although this weapon has been in general use in France more than twenty years and

in England during the last fifteen, even within a few years it has been repudiated by some sportsmen as an inferior and less safe weapon. As evidence of the extent to which prejudice will exert its influence, I refer my readers to the twelve following objections urged against the breech-loader in a work recently published. I will enumerate them seriatim and reply to them briefly, although they scarcely require an answer, having been amply refuted by the results of many years continuous experience. No. 1. They don't kill as far as the muzzle-loader. Ans. They kill quite as far and shoot as strong; a fact which may be easily ascertained by an experiment at a target. No. 2. They are much heavier. This is not invariably the case, and when it does occur, it is only to a slight extent; for, although the barrels are somewhat heavier at the breech end than ordinary barrels, it must be remembered that there is neither ramrod nor heel-plate, and no loading rod to be carried. The false breech and lever of course add something to the weight, but to so trifling a degree as not to occasion any inconvenience, so that the objection is of small consequence. No. 3. They are more expensive. Ans. This depends on circumstances, and very possibly is not the case, when the sportsman makes his own cartridges and refills them two or three times. It must also be taken into con

sideration that no ammunition is expended in useless discharges or otherwise wasted. No. 4. Does not last so long. Ans. This is questionable. I certainly entertain a very different opinion. No. 5. Greater liability to get out of order. This is more than doubtful with a first-class Lafanchaux, for if a new pin may be required after four or five years' constant use, new nipples in copper-cap guns are also required within the same time, as they also wear out, become too large at the opening, sometimes split, and occasionally fly out of their sockets. No. 6. Recoil greater. This is very questionable, I certainly have not found it invariably to be the case. No. 7. Penetration of wet between the barrels and false breech not to be avoided in wet weather. Ans. In some breech-loaders this inconvenience may occur to a slight degree; with Lancaster's gun it is impossible; but with care, with any description of breech-loader, missfires in consequence of damp are much rarer than with the muzzleloader, copper caps, if unprotected and exposed to the weather, being as accessible to damp, if not more so, than cartridges-under similar circumstances, as far as my personal experience is concerned, I can truthfully affirm I have had many more missfires with copper caps than I have ever had with cartridges. No. 8. Greater risk of bursting. Ans. This opinion is opposed to fact

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