* * * * * A ZOOLOGICAL CONUNDRUM.--_Intending Tenant_ (_to_ Lord Battusnatch's _Head Keeper_). And how about the birds? Are they plentiful, Gaskins? _Gaskins._ Well, sir, if the foxes of our two neighbours was able to lay pheasants' eggs, I should say there'd be no better shooting south o' the Trent. * * * * * SAD FATALITY TO ONE OF A SHOOTING PARTY ON THE MOORS.--On returning home, after a most successful day's sport, just as he entered the garden he was taken from life by a snap-shot. * * * * * [Illustration: A BLANK DAY.--_First Friend._ "The birds are terribly wild to-day." _Second Friend._ "Not half so wild as our host will be, if it keeps on like this."] * * * * * AT A DOG-SHOW.--_First Fancier._ That's a well-bred terrier of yours, Bill. _Second Fancier._ And so he ought to be. Didn't the Princess of Wales own his great grand-aunt! * * * * * [Illustration: Choke bore] * * * * * [Illustration: Birds were strong] * * * * * THE ANATOMY OF SHOOTING MEN WE NEVER MEET 1. The man who makes no excuses for shooting badly; such as--1. The light was in his eyes; 2. He was bilious; 3. There was something wrong with his cartridges; 4. Too many cigars the night before; 5. Some particular eatable or drinkable taken the night before; 6. Or that morning; 7. He was afraid of hitting that beater; 8. We were walking too fast; 9. He hadn't got his eye in; 10. Or his eye was out; 11. He didn't think it was his bird; 12. It was too far off; 13. He always thought there was something the matter with _that_ gun. 2. The man whose dog hasn't a good nose. 3. The man who can't "shoot a bit sometimes." 4. The man who hasn't some particular theory as to--1. The very best gun; 2. Cartridges; 3. Charges of powder and shot; 4. Best tipple to shoot on; 5. Best sort of boots; 6. Gaiters; 7. And equipment generally. 5. The man who doesn't change the said theory every season. 6. The man who hasn't sometimes said he couldn't shoot after lunch. 7. Or that he could shoot better after lunch. 8. The man who on your remarking that your friend George Lake is a good shot, doesn't answer that you should see Billy Mountain (or someone else) and then you would know what shooting really was. 9. The man who hasn't a friend who "can't hit a haystack." 10. The friend who owns it. 11. The man who doesn't like to be considered a good shot. 12. The man who, being a bad shot, doesn't comfort himself by thinking he knows a worse. 13. The man who hasn't made a longer shot than anyone in the company. 14. The man who, having made it, doesn't tell the story. 15. And who, having told the story, doesn't tell it more than once.