France and Belgium
though the method of shooting is somewhat different from that of the Kilwinning Papingo. In France, outside certain towns, notably Calais and Boulogne, long poles may be seen with wires projecting at right angles, and graduated from the top. On the top of the pole and on the wires, when a meeting takes place, are placed imitation birds decked with ribbons, to each of which a specific value is attached, the highest being that of the top bird. Competitors stand sufficiently close to the pole to be able to rake the wires and top bird, using strong bows, and arrows having a broad flat horn head, receiving the equivalent value of any bird they may bring down. In Belgium somewhat similar competitions take place, a sort of penthouse round the pole regulating the distance the competitors stand from it.
It may be thought that the use of the bow in field sports is a thing of the past. Such, however, is not the case. Of its practical use in the chase and the delights which attend camping out with the bow for one's sole weapon, Mr. Maurice Thompson has much to say. The experiences of himself, his brother, and others in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, &c., while sporting with the bow, are the subject of many pleasant pages in Scribner's, Harper's, the Badminton, and other magazines, and tell us of turkeys, herons, wood-ducks, thunderpumpers, and other strange birds and beasts slain with the bow; bass or trout of four pounds weight also have fallen victims to it. The camp life seems to have closely approached the conditions existing before the introduction of firearms.
A member of the Royal Toxophilite Society, Mr. J. Straker, an enthusiastic archer, has for some years taken bows and arrows as part of his sporting-kit to India, and has met with some success in using them against birds. Of the advantage the bow has over the gun in not disturbing a tract of ground he speaks highly, but he has not, like Mr. Thompson, trusted wholly to the bow. Mr. H. Peard, M.B., has told us in the Field on sundry occasions of his sport in Argentina with a bow and arrows. Small partridges, tinamou ducks, spur-winged plover, nutrias, biscacho, and foxes, "horresco referens," are mentioned by him as falling victims to the "winged shaft." Even in England, rabbits are shot with the bow, so it will be seen that its practical use is not yet extinct. One thing stands prominently [ARCHERY forward, that all who write on this particular branch of archery vie with each other in its praise.
H. WALROND.
GRAND NATIONAL ARCHERY SOCIETY.
SHOOTING REGULATIONS. 1. The Grand Annual Meeting will consist of three days' shooting: the first two for the principal prizes; the third for prizes subscribed for handicap sweepstakes based upon the shooting of the two previous days. 2. The Judges will be appointed by the Committee. 3. The Ladies will shoot each day the National Round, viz.: four dozen arrows at 60 yards; two dozen arrows at 50 yards. The Gentlemen, the National York Round, viz.: six dozen arrows at 100 yards; four dozen arrows at 80 yards; and two dozen arrows at 60 yards. Three arrows to be shot at each end. 4. The Targets will be placed farther apart than the specified distances, but at the proper distances marks will be fixed, from which alone the archers are to shoot. 5. The bugle will sound the assembly at 10.45 A.M., and will again sound for the commencement of the shooting at 100 yards at II precisely; after the 100 yards' shooting, time will be allowed for luncheon; at 2.15 P.M. the assembly will again be sounded, and at 2.30 precisely the bugle will sound for the Ladies to commence the shooting at 60 yards and the Gentlemen at 80 yards. judges will appoint the time for the commencement of the shooting at 50 yards and 60 yards as they shall see fit. The bugle will sound accordingly. The judges shall also make what arrangements they shall see fit should anything occur to interfere with the shooting.
The 6. The Targets will measure four feet in diameter, and the centre of the gold shall be four feet from the ground. 7. The Captains will be placed-No. 3 at each Target, to take charge of the Targets and to score, assisted by No. 4. 8. Any Lady making three golds at one end shall be entitled to receive Is. from every other Lady competitor, and any Gentleman making three golds at one end, Is. from every other Gentleman competitor. 9. Any Archer having won one or more of the