15 MARCH 1902, Page 15

THE WILD ANIMALS BILL.

[To THE Eprrox, OF THE "SPEOTATOR.")

Sin,—The writer of the article on "The Wild Animals Bill" in the Spectator of March 8th states that "pigeon-shooting finds no place in the pages of the Badminton' volumes on shooting." So far from this being the case, the volume on field and covert shooting contains a whole chapter on pigeon- shooting by Mr. Stuart-Wortley. The further statement that there is little to be learnt from shooting at live pigeons which cannot be learnt from shooting at clay pigeons is one that no practical sportsman would agree to, for the very good reason that a. clay pigeon starts fast and goes slower every minute, while a live pigeon and all wild game do exactly the opposite.

[If that is the case, then the skill to be obtained from shoot- ing tame pigeons let out of traps is one which our sportsmen had best go without. As our readers know, we are no enemies, but rather the friends, of all healthful and manly sports. Among these, however, we cannot think that pigeon-shooting should be reckoned.—En. Spectator.]