HUNTING (.1C. huntung. from huntian. to hunt : connected With I hinVarr, to seize, and probably with i-ng ham/ I. The pursuit of game, 'specially us a recreation or sport The true sportsman is a strong supporter of every law designed for the proteetion of game (see vmr. and rarely kills ff:1 Inv for any other purpose than for eating. it is a dangerous creature or a nuisance. Thus an animal like the fox is hunted partly on account of its de structiveness and partly for the enjoyment to he obtained in its pursuit. Drag hunting, in which the hounds follow the trail of an aniseed hag wide!' has been previously dragged over a se lected course. is a favorite substitute for fox hunting. Bunting is n very ancient amuse anent, and the pursuit of game, either as a pas time or for the necessities of subsistence, has from the 'artiest times been one of the most prominent occupations of the race. Ac vording to tradition, Alexander the Great paid n large suet tor a treatise on this subject IT Aristotle. while the chase has been descrila.•.1 by Appianus, Neniesiailus, and litany other classic authors.
Eint:Atisis. The improvement in firearms has worked a great revolution in the hunting and
.11....ting of such animals and birds as I•onw under the game laws, or are regnrded as permissible lin:u by the limit-man. Nevertheless, it has male more neeessary than ever the study of natu ral history:1ml woodcraft by the mould be hunter. In order to be a first•class shot, or to attain dex terity in the use of the sporting gml, it is neces sary that the weapon should lit' the shooter. Proper regard must be paid to the weight of the weam n, and the ease w 5th which it can he manipulated; it must he adapted to his chest. length of arm. eh.., so that it mav be readily brought into seri ice without any straining of the body, arms. or muscles of the neck. An experienced gunsmith should be consulted, who will easily deride the weapon best suited for his customer. The weight of the weapon depends largely on the size of the bore and the length of the barrels. For a more detailed description of the various type; of shotgun for every variety of game, the reader is referred to SHOTGUN.