[To the Editor of the SrEmaron.1 Sum,—No doubt pigeon shooting
in the beautiful surroundings of Monte Carlo hurts many people's feelings. I have felt it myself when there ; but why do people write nonsense about it, as, for instance, the lady in your last issue who speaks of "the crack of rifle shooting," or the other lady who objects to the second shot at a bird knocked down, which is probably the most humane thing in the whole performance, though the intention, of course, is simply to prevent the bird rising again ?
The " sport " is not a nice one, but no cause is helped by exaggerated statements, and it ,should be freely confessed that a well-shot bird dies the most painless and instantaneous death of any sentient creature; The trouble is that there are
many wounded birds, and with the difficult shots presented by small and strong-flying birds rising at perhaps thirty yards, there are far too many such.—I am, Sir, &c.,
HERBERT W. H. GREEN.
Bidford House, Leamington.
[The sub-editorial staff of the Spectator is in sackcloth and ashes. How the stock phrase "the crack of the rifle" was passed by them in last week's' issue they are at a loss to understand.' So are we.—En. Spectator.]
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