TARGET (root uncertain, but the word, in some form, fOuncl in all European Ian. guages). in its modern sense, is the mark for aiming at in practicing with the cannon, rifle, or bow and arrow. In its more ancient meaning, a target or targe was a shield, circular in form, cut out of oxhide, mounted on light but strong wood. and strength ened by bosses, spikes, etc. Of modern targets, the simplest is that used for archery (q.v.). With regard to rifle targets, the Spread of the volunteer movement and the numerous rifle-matches have caused ranges to be constructed over the whole country. The necessities are: a butt, artificially constructed or cut in the face of a hill, to prevent wide balls from scattering—a marker's shot-proof cell, near the targets—and a range of such length as can be procured. The sizes of targets used by the British army are as follows: for firing up to 300 yards, the target is 6 ft. high by 4 ft. broad, with a circular bull's eye 1 foot in diameter, and a center of 3 feet. Up to 600 yards, the target is 6 ft. square; bull's eye, 2 ft. diameter; center, 4 feet. Up. to 800 yards, the target is 6 ft. by 8; bull's eye, 3 ft. in diameter; and center, 5 feet. The marker signals the "hits" from his box, denoting a bull's-eye by a red-and-white flag, a center by a blue flag, and an outer by a white flag. If he show a red flag, it is to cease firing while he inspects the target. In scoring, the outer counts 2; center, 3; and bull's-eye, 4. A red flag should' fly on the butt during the whole time of practice, to warn passers-by to keep off the range. The targets used by the National rifle association at Wimbledon are not the
same as those used by the army. According to the Wimbledon regulations of 1876, the target for the distance of 200 yards had a circle of 40 in. diameter, divided into the cir cular bull's-eye 8 in. in diameter, a center of 16 in. diameter, an "inner" of 28 in., the rest of the 40 in. being accounted "outer." On the target for 500 and 600 yards, the circle of 70 iu. falls into a bull's-eye of 22 in. diameter, center 38 in., inner 54 in., and the rest outer. The rectangular frame for 800, 900, and 1000 yards distance had a circular bull's-eye of 3 ft. in diameter, a center 4 ft. 6 in. a square inner of 6 ft., the remainder of the target counting as outer. Of the ordinary in., targets for 1879 (Qs in 1878), that for 200 yards distance is divided into a bull's-eye 8 in. in diameter; " inner," 1 foot; `;magpie," 2 ft.; and outer, the remainder of the target 4 ft. square. At 500 and 600 yards, the bull's-eye is 2 ft. in diameter; the inner, 3 ft.; the magpie, 4 ft.; and outer, the rest of the target of 6 ft. square. At 800, 900, and 1000 yards, the bull'i-eye is 3 ft. diameter; inner, ft.; magpie, 6 ft. square; and outer, the rest of the target of 12 ft. by 6 feet.
Previous to the inaugurating of the Wimbledon meeting in 1860, all targets were cir cular, and made of iron. From that year till 1873 inclusive, they were square iron plates; but in 1874 targets of canvas stretched on an iron frame were introduced.