points of iron or brass.  They are from 25 to 30 inches in length.  The quiver belt is worn round the waist, and contains the arrows which are being used.  The arm is protected from the blow of the string by the “arm-guard,” a broad guard of strong leather buckled on the left wrist by two straps.  A shooting-glove is worn on the right hand to protect the fingers from soreness in drawing the string of the bow.

The target consists of a circular, thick mat of straw, from two to four feet in diameter, covered with canvas, painted in a series of circles.  The inner circle is a gold color, then comes red, white, black, and the outer circle white.  The score for a gold hit is nine; the red 7, the inner white 5; the black 3, and the outer white 1.

The use of the bow and arrows, the proper manner of holding them, and directions for shooting are to be found in pamphlets of instruction, which often accompany the implements.

ARCHERY CLUBS AND PRACTICE.

In many cities and villages throughout the country, clubs have been formed, and regular days for practice and prize shooting are appointed.  Each member of the the club is expected to furnish his or her own implements, and to attend all the practice meetings and prize shootings.  The clubs are about equally divided as to ladies and gentlemen, as both sexes participate equally in the sport.  The officers are such as are usually chosen in all organizations, with the addition of a Lady Paramount, a scorer, and a Field Marshal.  The lady paramount is the highest office of honor in the club.  She is expected to act as an umpire or judge in all matters of dispute that may come up in the club, and her decisions must be regarded as final.  She is also expected to do all in her power to further the interests of the organization.  A field marshal has been appointed by some clubs, and his duties are to place the targets, measure the shooting distances, and have general supervision of the field on practice days.  The scorer keeps a score of each individual member of the club.

In meeting for practice, it is customary to have one target for every six, eight or ten persons, the latter number being sufficient for any one target.  The targets are placed at any distance required, from thirty to one hundred yards; ladies being allowed an advantage of about one-fourth the distance in shooting.  To beginners, a distance of from twenty-five to forty yards for gentlemen, and twenty to thirty for ladies, is sufficient, and this distance may be increased as practice is acquired.  An equal number of ladies and gentlemen usually occupy one target, and each shoots a certain number of arrows as agreed upon, usually from three to six, a score being kept as the target is hit.  After each person has shot the allotted number of arrows, it is regarded as an “end,” and a certain number of ends, as agreed upon, constitute a “round.”  For prize shooting, the