THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND 
 MRS - PRUDENCE W.KOFOID 
 
THE 
 
 GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL 
 
 OF 
 
 SWEDEN AND NORWAY. 
 

 
 
THE 
 
 GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL 
 
 SWEDEN AND NORWAY; 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF THE SEALS AND SALT-WATER FISHES 
 OF THOSE COUNTRIES. 
 
 BY L LLOYD, 
 
 AUTHOR OF "FIELD SPORTS OF THE NORTH OF EUROPE," 
 "SCANDINAVIAN ADVENTURES," ETC. ETC. 
 
 SECOND EDITION, 
 , SKoobcuts, nnb Cljromo |llusirntions. 
 
 LONDON : 
 FEEDEEICK WAENE AND CO. 
 
 BEDFORD STREET, COVENT GARDEN. 
 
 1867. 
 [All rights reserved.} 
 
 
 t/ . i s <v k 
 
>1 PREFACE. 
 
 as also of the Scandinavian Salt-water Fishes, systema- 
 tically arranged according to Jenyns those pertaining 
 to the lakes and rivers of the interior having been 
 already treated of in " Scandinavian Adventures." 
 
 A chapter has been devoted to a description of 
 the monumental remains of the ancient Northmen ; 
 those very remarkable hieroglyphical figures (Htillrixt- 
 iiiityur) which seem, to be principally commemorative of 
 the exploits of the famous " Sea Kings," and which may 
 be seen in various parts of Scandinavia, carved on tho 
 face of precipitous rocks ; and of certain extraordinary 
 cavities (Elf-Grytor), supposed to have been formed by 
 the " Great Rolling Flood." These are subjects which, 
 critically speaking, may be considered beyond the scope 
 of the present work, but which are yet of sufficient 
 importance to the antiquary and the geologist, to 
 suggest their insertion. 
 
 Throughout these pages the reader will observe, that 
 in many instances I have entered considerably into 
 detail when describing the various devices some of a 
 rude, though efficacious nature adopted in thoe 
 Northern climes for the capture and destruction of 
 birds and four-footed animals ; but no apology on my 
 part is, I am sure, needful, as such particulars cannot 
 but be interesting to the British sportsman. 
 
 Nor can the latter or indeed the general reader, I 
 would remark in parenthesis be otherwise than grati- 
 lieil \\itli the very numerous and beautiful illustrations 
 adorning these pa-cs, the greater portion of which were 
 
PREFACE. Vll 
 
 executed expressly for this work by the late M. KORNER, 
 one of the most celebrated of Swedish artists, and have 
 been here reproduced by the publishers in full fac-simile 
 as to colour and drawing by means of Chromolithography. 
 Several of the woodcuts are by Mr. WOLF, whose de- 
 lineations of wild animals can hardly be surpassed. 
 
 The reader will further notice, that in this, as in 
 my former works, quotations from Scandinavian writers 
 occur somewhat frequently. This may seem to require 
 explanation ; but it being my object to show how 
 matters relating to " flood and field " are managed 
 in Scandinavia, I have thought it best to allow the 
 Northern naturalist and sportsman to tell their stories 
 in their own way. 
 
 In conclusion, I would remark that, presuming the 
 reader to be acquainted with my former works, I have 
 not in the present volume so fully explained the mean- 
 ing of Sporting and other terms as I should otherwise 
 have done. 
 
 L. LLOYD. 
 
 London, 20 Dec., 1866. 
 
 I, -2 
 

CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE CAPERCALI. Geographical Limits. Accidental Varieties. 
 SterileHens. Food. Roosting in the.Snow. Partial Migrations. 
 Bewilderment. Pugnacious Disposition. The Boy and Caper- 
 cali. Bewitched Bird ... ... ... ... ... page 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Pairing-grounds. Breeding. Habits. The Harem. Pugnacity. 
 Curious Crosses. Anserine Predilections. Enemies. Value for 
 the Table. Domestication. Treatment when in Confinement. 
 Naturalization in Scotland 19 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Shooting Capercali at the Pairing-ground. To the Pointer. Tragical 
 Event. Swedish Criminal Law. Shooting to the " Fogel-Hund." 
 Adventure with a Bear. Good Sport. How to make a Big 37 
 
CON! KNTS. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Stalking CapercalL Northern Forests. Shooting by " Lack." The 
 "Stick-Nat" The " Kasse." The "Lam." The "Fall-Stock." 
 The "Flaka," The "Bloss." The " Bloss och Hd" The 
 "Bulvan" ... ... page 53 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 The Black-Cock. Barren Hens. Habits. Food. Resorts. 
 Snowed-in. Migratory Birds. Cause of migration. The Pairing 
 Season. The Spel of the Black-Cock. Combative Propensities. 
 Cross Breeding. In Confinement ... ... ... ... 72 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Shooting Black-Cock at the Pairing-ground With a Pointer With 
 a Fogel-Hund. Capture by Nets. Artificial Decoy Birds. 
 Stalking on Foot In a Sledge. Traps and Snares. The Orre- 
 Tratt The Orre-Benne 85 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The Rackel-Fogel. Not a Separate Species. The Learned :it Fault. 
 Plumage of these Birds. Their Parentage. Opinions dili'er. 
 The Rackel-Fogel in Confinement. Their Habits. Pugnacity 
 of the Males. Their Sj K.] ... 103 
 
 CH.MTKi: VIII. 
 
 'I'll.- Hazel ||,., i. Widely .Utilised. Description. Accidental 
 Varieties Haunts and Food. Breeding. Domestication. -- 
 Natnrali/.atioii ill Knghind. The most delicious of Northern 
 <:,<me l!ir.]s. The Pointer. -The Fog.-1-Hund. Sagacity of the 
 !'_ The Iljer), 1'ipa. Tn.|.s and Snares .. Ill' 
 
CONTENTS. XI 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 The D<il-l!ipa. Where found. Description. Plumage. Moulting. 
 Resembles the Scotch Grouse Resorts. Food. Feeds at 
 Night. Habits. " Trees." Roosts in the Snow. Its Lek. 
 Breeding. Parental Affection. Enemies. Naturalization in 
 England. In request for the Table. The Rip-Orre ... page 121 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 The Fjall-Ripa. Soxithem limits in Scandinavia. Plumage. 
 Moulting. Habits. Resorts. Food. Feeding at Night. The 
 Lek. Breeding. The Male a Truant. Enemies. For the 
 Table . 138 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Shooting Ripa at the Lek-stiille To the Pointer. Migrations to 
 the Coast How Caused. Enormous Packs. Tracking. Shot 
 when " Treed." By Bloss at Night. Traps and Snares. The 
 Rip-Hag. Anecdote. Large Captures. The Snar-gang -... 145 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 The Common Partridge. Scandinavian and Northern. Their Habits 
 and Sufferings. Curious Incubation. The Partridge-pipe. 
 Sportsmen's Expedients. The Klafve. Training the Pointer. 
 Partridge-shooting. Daring of the Goshawk. The Tirass. The 
 Hog-Nat The Ryssja. Stock Birds. A Church-goer ... 1G1 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 The Common Quail. Its Habits. Migrations. The Bishop of 
 Quails.- The Great Bustard. Their Love-Season. Mode of 
 Capture. The Little and the Ruffed Bustard ... ... 177 
 
Xvi CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 The Common Plaice. The Flounder. The Common and other Dabs. 
 The Pole. The Holibut. The Turbot. The Brill. The 
 Topknots. The Whiff. The Sole. The Bimaculated and other 
 Suckers. The Conger Eel. The Launces. The Pipe-Fishes. 
 The Short Sun-Fish. The Common Sturgeon. The Sea Monster. 
 The Dog-Fishes. The Sharks. The Skates. The Rays. The 
 Sea Lamprey. The Myxine. The Lancelot And other 
 Malacopterygious and Plagiostomous Fishes allied to them...?>oy "'-7 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 The Swedish Herring-Fisheries, Past and Present. Superstitions. 
 Enormous Takes. The Herrings desert the Coast. Reasons 
 assigned for their Disappearance. These Reasons gainsaid l>y 
 the Fishermen. Speculations on the Subject. Loss attendant 
 on the Absence of the Fish. Demoralized State of the Fishermen ;">7i i 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 Page 53, line 3 (heading of clmpter), for " aeh Hiit'," read " iich llaf." 
 442, line 1, far "plat" read "]>a//." 
 4C3, line 1, after tfa word "fish," insert " and to take out the liver." 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 CHROMOLITHOGRAPHS. 
 
 Capercali ... ... ... ... ... ... facing Title-page. 
 
 Capercali Hen (singular variety) ... ... ... facing page 3 
 
 Sterile Capercali Hen ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 
 
 The Duel ... 16 
 
 The Harem 23 
 
 Stalking Capercali in Winter ... ... ... ... ... ... 53 
 
 The Stick-Nat 61 
 
 Black-Cock 72 
 
 Sterile Grey-Hen ... 74 
 
 The Black-Cock Lek ... 85 
 
 Stalking Black-Cock in Winter 96 
 
 Rackel-Fogel ... 103 
 
 TheHazel-Hen ... ... 112 
 
 Dal-Ripa in Summer Plumage ... ... ... ... ... 121 
 
 The Rip-Orre 136 
 
 Fjall-Ripa in Summer Plumage ... ... ... ... ... 138 
 
 Shooting Fjiill-Ripa in Winter 148 
 
 Dal-Ripa ... 152 
 
 Partridges ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 161 
 
 Daring of the Goshawk ... ... ... ... ... ... 170 
 
 Mode of Capturing Partridges in Scania ... ... ... ... 172 
 
 Quails ... 177 
 
 The Woodcock 185 
 
x \ i isi (>l ll.I.rsii: \TIONS. 
 
 TheSkal-Sten ... /'""' "_' 
 
 The Stand-Nat... 
 
 The Ldgg-Nat ... 
 
 TheSkiil-Kista... 
 
 The Seal-hook ... 
 
 The Skriickta . 
 
 Ti.r SkalJern . . . 
 
 LiiiiuiMis' Skal Ji-rn 
 
 The 
 
 Walrus aud Polar Bear /"""' W 
 
 The Bervx borwifa ... '""''' "''" 
 
 i *' 
 The Lophius euryptents 
 
 The Chironectes arcticus 
 
 17(1 
 Swedish Fishermen 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE CAPEROALI. Geographical Limits. Accidental Varieties. Sterile 
 Hens. Food. Roosting in the Snow. Partial Migrations. 
 Bewilderment. Pugnacious Disposition. The Boy and Capercali. 
 Bewitched Bird. 
 
 OF the Scandinavian game-birds, the Capercali, or 
 Capercailzie, the largest of the European Gallinao 
 (Tjiider, Sw. ; Tlur (male), Rol (female), Norw. ; Tetrao 
 Urogallm, Linn.), which is to the forests of Northern 
 Europe and Asia what the wild turkey is to those of North 
 America, takes undoubtedly the first place. Part of what 
 follows respecting this noble bird appeared, I should 
 remark, in a former work of mine, " Field Sports of 
 the North of Europe ;" but as it has lately been intro- 
 duced into Scotland, and with every prospect of success, I 
 feel fully assured, that all the details I can give in regard 
 to its habits, &c., cannot but interest the reader. 
 
 The Capercali has a wide geographical range, extend- 
 ing at least from the vicinity of the Frozen Ocean to the 
 Spanish Pyrenees. Temminck says, indeed, it has been 
 met with in some of the Islands of the Grecian Archi- 
 pelago, in Siberia, and throughout a large portion of the 
 llussian Empire in Europe (including Poland and Livonia). 
 In the mountainous and wooded districts of Hungary, 
 Germany, and Switzerland, it is met with more or less 
 
2 GEOGRAPHICAL LIMITS. 
 
 frequently. It is also found in parts of France, though 
 perhaps rather sparingly. 
 
 Throughout all the wooded parts of Scandinavia, from 
 Altengaard in Norway, 70 N. lat., where the northernmost 
 pine forests in Europe exist, to the northern portion of 
 Scania, in short, wherever the pine-tree flourishes, it is 
 pretty common. As high up, indeed, as Muonioniska, in 
 Swedish, or rather Russian, Lapland, 08 lat., I myself 
 once shot a brace of old birds ; but beyond that place it is 
 said to become scarcer and scarcer. 
 
 The male and female vary very greatly in plumage, 
 the predominant colour of the former being black or dark- 
 brown, whereas that of the female is reddish-brown with 
 black bars. 
 
 In size also the sexes greatly differ, the female being 
 fully one-third less than the male, which, when full- 
 grown, measures some three feet in length, and four 
 from tip to tip of wing. Its size, however, much 
 depends on the latitude it inhabits. In Lapland, at 
 least in the northern parts, it seldom exceeds eight to 
 nine pounds in weight, whilst in the more southern portion 
 of Sweden it has not unfrequently been met with weighing 
 as much as fourteen or sixteen pounds, or even more. 
 
 The Capercali is supposed to attain a considerable age, 
 which may be partly inferred from its not bein'g fully 
 grown until its third or fourth year. The old male birds 
 may readily be distinguished from the younger, not only 
 by their superior size, but also by their greater length of 
 tail, their more eagle-like beak, and the more beautiful 
 lustre of the plumage on the breast. 
 
 Accidental varieties of both sexes are not of imlYequcnt 
 occurrence. Nilsson makes mention of as many as four 
 such varieties, viz. : 
 
 Kl. A male killed in Daleearlia and preserved in the 
 museum of the Academy of Sciences in Stockholm. The 
 
ACCIDENTAL VARIETIES. 3 
 
 upper part of the back white, with rust-coloured, fine, 
 brown, wavy spots ; lower part of the back black, inter- 
 spersed with white feathers ; belly and tail spotted with 
 white ; legs dirty-white. 
 
 2nd. A male taken in Lapland, and now in the Thun- 
 borg collection at Upsala, under the name of Tetrao 
 Eremita. Less than ordinary size; colour ash-grey, with 
 head and neck somewhat darker. 
 
 3rd. A female in the same collection. Very pale ; 
 upper part of the body grey, with yellowish and white 
 bars ; under part white with rusty-red bars ; and the breast 
 red-brown. 
 
 4th. A female from Enontekis in Lapland, and at 
 present in the Stockholm museum. Colour dirty-white, 
 here and there shaded with brownish spots. 
 
 The Professor, when speaking of the varieties in ques- 
 tion, says, " One finds that all these belong to the high 
 north, that their colour is faded, and that they are most 
 commonly of a less size than usual, two circumstances 
 which may easily be the consequence of a severe and 
 uncongenial climate." 
 
 There may be some truth in the above remarks ; but if 
 Nilsson imagines that accidental varieties amongst Caper- 
 cali are confined to the northern parts of Scandinavia, he 
 would seem somewhat in error, as they are sometimes 
 met with in the more southern provinces of Sweden. Of 
 such a variety of a female, I subjoin the portrait kindly sent 
 me by the late Count Carl Piper, with the following note 
 in his own handwriting appended : 
 
 " This bird was killed in the beginning of September, 
 1828, in the province of Smaland. She had a brood of 
 young ones with her, one of which, a female, was also 
 shot ; and this young one, nearly full-grown, had the 
 usual colour of a capercali hen." 
 
 At times one meets with Barren Hens (Gall-Honor, 
 
 B 2 
 
1 
 
 S\v.), which assume in great measure the plumage of 
 the young male, together with its thick, crooked, and 
 white heak, and its longer tail ; hut they are always readily 
 distinguishahle by their inferior size. 
 
 "Their sterility," says Nilsson, when speaking of the 
 birds in question, "is not always a consequence of old 
 a^e ; for those that I have dissected were in their first 
 year, but in all of them the ovary and the oviduct wen- in 
 a diseased state and more or less destroyed. The younger 
 they were," the Professor proceeds to say, "the less they 
 resembled the male, and the older the closer resemblance 
 they bore to him." 
 
 The chosen haunts of the Capercali are mountainous 
 and hilly districts, where Barr-Skogar, or pine woods, 
 abound, particularly such as are of mature growth and 
 studded with lakes and morasses. Sometimes, however. 
 it is met with in woods interspersed with deciduous trees 
 (L&f-Skogar), more especially the oak; as it feeds Creel \ 
 on acorns. Excepting in the autumn, and when the 
 young are small and follow their mother, these birds are 
 seldom seen in brushwood or even in woods of young 
 growth, and then only when in the vicinity of great woods. 
 
 During the summer, the food of the Capercali consists 
 chiefly of several kinds of plants, ferns, and buds of certain 
 trees and hushes, such as the alder, birch, and hazel ; of 
 acorns, where procurable ; of almost all sorts of berries 
 found in the northern forests, as, for example, the 
 cranberry (Oxycocciu palvstris, L'crs. ; 1'ncrini/itt/ o.rycoc- 
 ., Linn.), the red whortleberry, or cowberry* ( 
 
 * The Kerry of tliis plant. whieh in the London market often ;.'oes 
 tlie erroneous nninc of ( 'ranKerry. is not of sn line a flavour, when 
 piv-'i < i'l. as tin- latter; Imt. owinj: to Kein^ ], s> aei<l, il is pn d mil l.y thrifty 
 liousew i\rs in Swe.len. MS reiplirin^ :i smaller i|iiant il\ ofsii^'ar. 1'eeently 
 I nt a ijiHMl uian\ li\ in^; sjieeimens of (he ( Ymiliern to Sir Tlionia^ Maryoli 
 \\'il.son. which :n-c- now flourishing at his s,.',t. ( 'harlton l|..iise. in Kent. 
 
o 
 
FOOD. -, 
 
 Vitits /</'(/), the common bilberry or bleaberry (Vaccinium 
 Myrtillus), the wild strawberry (Fragaria vescii), and 
 raspberry (Ritbus Idccus), the juniper-berry (Juniper us 
 communiti), and of insects, etc. It also feeds on the 
 leaves of the Scotch fir (Pinus sylvestris, Linn.), and of 
 the spruce pine* (Pinus Abies), though of the latter, so 
 far as my own observation goes, very sparingly. In the 
 winter time, when the ground is deeply covered with 
 snow, and berries, &c., not readily procurable, the Caper- 
 cali would seem to subsist almost altogether on the leaves 
 of the trees named, large portions of which, indeed, may 
 always be seen in its droppings. 
 
 The young Capercali feed, at first, on insects, larvae, 
 ant-eggs, and small worms ; but they soon learn to eat 
 the several kinds of berries specified, as also by degrees 
 acorns and pine leaves. 
 
 According to Swedish naturalists, the Capercali flies 
 heavily and with much noise, and seldom high or to a 
 distance. But in this matter I am somewhat at variance 
 with them ; because, taking the large size of the bird 
 into consideration, its flight appears to me rather light 
 than otherwise ; and I have not only seen it at a con- 
 siderable height, but known it to fly for several miles at 
 a stretch. 
 
 The learned tell us, moreover, that the Capercali 
 seldom sits on the tops of trees. This is also rather 
 contrary to my own experience, certainly so far as regards 
 the winter ; for at that season one often sees the male 
 bird perched on the very topmost branches of a pine. 
 
 During daytime, in the summer and autumn, the 
 Capercali is for the most part on the ground, feeding on 
 
 ' The Larch (Abies Larix, Rich. ; Pinus Larix, Linn.), excepting 
 in ornamental plantations, is unknown in Sweden. But the late Lord 
 Breadalbane told me recently, that at Taymouth Castle, where that tree 
 itlxiuuds, the < 'apereali i'eed on its leaves with avidity. 
 
6 ROOSTING IN THE SNOW. 
 
 the numerous berries with which the northern forests 
 ahound. Very often, however, it then sits in the trees, 
 and commonly in their most umbrageous parts ; but in 
 the winter, when snow covers the ground, it is rarely 
 met with elsewhere than on the pines, the leaves of which, 
 as said, then constitute its chief sustenance. 
 
 In summer and autumn one finds these birds alone 
 or in families ; but during the winter the males for t lie 
 most part pack, and often, as will presently be shown, in 
 very large numbers. 
 
 The Capercali generally roosts on trees, though not 
 always, as stated by Swedish ornithologists ; for in the 
 winter, more especially if the weather be very severe, it 
 not un frequently passes the night, and it may be the 
 day also, in the snow. It usually burrows into it at 
 dusk, and thus snugly ensconced remains until morning, 
 when, leaving its warm and comfortable quarters, it flies 
 up into the adjacent pines to feed. 
 
 The Capercali burrows into the snow horizontally, so 
 that the spot whence it emerges is somewhat distant from 
 that where it enters. The depth of the burrow is 
 said to be regulated by the temperature; for if very 
 cold, it is proportionately greater. Some writers assert, 
 that when the bird is thus embedded in the snow, its bill 
 protrudes above the surface ; but this I much doubt; for, 
 excepting the aperture by which it entered rendered, 
 however, hardly perceptible by the collapse of the snow 
 nothing whatever makes its presence known, at least to 
 the casual observer. But it is only when the snow is in 
 a Iwme state that it can burrow in the manner spoken 
 of; for if there is a crust upon the surface, it would 
 lie dillicult, if not impossible, for the bird to force its 
 \\a_v through the obstruction. 
 
 I his rather peculiar habit of roosting in the snow 
 which, however, is aK<> eoiiinmn to the IJlack-Cock, the 
 
PARTIAL MIGRATIONS. 7 
 
 Hazel-hen, the Ripa (a species of grouse, to be spoken of 
 presently), and other forest birds is, as will hereafter be 
 shown, often taken advantage of by the fowler in certain 
 parts of Scandinavia. 
 
 The fact of the Capercali thus burying itself in the 
 snow is perfectly well known to all the northern chasseurs. 
 More than once, indeed, when I have been traversing 
 the forest soon after daybreak, a whole pack of these 
 birds has suddenly risen near me from out of the snow. 
 And even in the middle of the day, single birds have 
 frequently flown up at my very feet ; but whether 
 these had been in the snow over-night, or had recently 
 dived into it, I cannot say. 
 
 When thus snugly buried in the snow, in fancied 
 security, it often falls a victim to the fox, or others of its 
 numerous enemies, who, guided by their unfailing scent, 
 find out its hiding-place and pounce upon it. 
 
 Though the Capercali comes under the category of 
 St&nd-Foglar,* it happens during certain years, espe- 
 cially in the northern portions of the peninsula, that 
 numbers of these birds strdcka, or partially migrate ; 
 so that districts where they previously abounded, become 
 almost denuded of them ; whilst in other districts where 
 they had before been very scarce, they suddenly appear 
 in large packs, consisting generally of males alone. This 
 will be better understood from the following quotations : 
 
 " One day in October, 1807, when I was doing duty 
 in the parish of Sveimevad, in the province of Nerike," 
 writes the Rev. J. "VVulf, " a peasant came to me and 
 
 * The learned in Sweden class the birds belonging to their fauna under 
 three several heads, viz.: 1. St&nd-Foglar, that is, such birds as remain 
 all the year round in the district where they are bred. 2. StrdcJc-Foglar, 
 or those that at times wander far away from the place of their birth, but 
 do not leave the peninsula. 3. Flytt-Foglar, or such as migrate to other 
 countries on tin- approach of winter. 
 
8 PARTIAL MIGRATION*. 
 
 reported, that an extraordinarily great number of Capereali 
 had for several consecutive days been seen in a certain 
 wooded eminence near the village, and that they every 
 morning alighted in a newly-sown rye-field close by, and 
 either devoured the young grain or trampled it under 
 foot. As. during my four years' residence in the parish, I 
 well know that in the isolated little wood in question, 
 which was not a (English) mile in length, and less than 
 half a one in breadth, there was seldom even a black-cock 
 to be seen, much less a Capereali, I considered the story 
 as fabulous, or at all events greatly exaggerated ; hut as 
 my informant persisted in his statement, I made up my 
 mind to visit the spot indicated the following morninir. 
 
 " But although I was there at dawn of day, I arrived 
 somewhat too late ; for the birds were already in motion, 
 and part of them had settled in the fields. l'>\ con- 
 cealing myself in a ditch, however, I fortunately succeeded 
 in killing one, which on inspection proved an old cock. 
 
 " I hastened now to the place pointed out by my 
 guide. A quarter of an hour had hardly elapsed before the 
 birds, a few at a time, returned and alighted close about 
 me. Being well out of sight, I was in no hurry to fire, 
 but took time to watch their proceedings. All remained 
 quite passive, and not one moved from the very sppt on 
 which it had settled ; neither could I observe that any of 
 them ate of the young rye. As the daylight increased, I 
 east ray eyes over the whole paek, which 1 judged to 
 number from seventy to eighty ; but amongst them 1 
 could not discover a single female, one and all hein^ 
 nnles a fact previously observed by the peasant. Seeing 
 at length that some few of the more distant birds wen- 
 taking wing fur tlie uooded bill in question, 1 thought 
 no time was to be lost, and therefore discharged my 
 unn into the nearest and densest mass, and with such 
 good effect that three more fell (had on the spot. 
 
PARTIAL MIGRATIONS. " 9 
 
 " The remainder now moved off, and in the same 
 direction their comrades had taken ; but still I perceived 
 they flew beyond the wooded hill. In anticipation of 
 their return, I remained in my hiding-place until broad 
 daylight, but saw no more of them. 
 
 " I now returned home for my dogs, and for several 
 hours carefully searched all the woods in the vicinity ; 
 though without avail, for not a single Capercali was to 
 be found anywhere. To judge from the quantity of 
 droppings on the wooded hill named, their numbers, 
 supposing they had only been there for a few days, as 
 stated, must have been very much greater than just men- 
 tioned. And though I renewed the search on the two 
 following days, as also a short time afterwards, it was 
 with no better success. The birds were never again seen 
 there, nor could I learn that they had been observed else- 
 where in the parish. During the succeeding spring, 
 moreover, not more Capercali were met with thereabouts 
 than usual. 
 
 " From their plumage, and the strength of their lower 
 mandibles, I came to the conclusion that the four Caper- 
 cali I had shot were all old birds, at least not bred that 
 year. Not one of them exceeded nine pounds in weight, 
 and they could not therefore have been natives of our 
 province, where, during the autumnal mouths, when birds 
 are in their best condition, they usually weigh ten, 
 and frequently eleven or twelve pounds. I therefore 
 considered them to be wanderers from Norrland the 
 northernmost of the main divisions of Sweden .where, as 
 known, the Capercali are smaller than those found in the 
 middle and southern parts of Sweden. 
 
 " So far as I can recollect," M. "VVulf goes on to say, 
 " there was nothing unusual in the weather, either in 
 regard to premature snow-storms, or early night frosts, 
 during this particular autumn, as compared with those 
 of former years." 
 
10 PARTIAL MIGRATIONS. 
 
 % 
 
 Again : " We had just crossed a morass on our way 
 from Quickjock to Arieplog," writes the llev. Petrus 
 Laestadius, the celebrated Lapland missionary, " when \\e 
 saw at a little distance a great many black-looking birds 
 perched in the trees. At first we thought thry were 
 crows; but on a nearer approach found them to be 
 Capercali, which had collected together in very unusual 
 numbers, like a flock of crows or jackdaws. ... In the 
 afternoon of the same day (Gth May), we returned by 
 the same route ; but when we came to our Capercali 
 region, not a single one of those we had observed in the 
 morning was to be seen. My companion, the catechist 
 Lars Pehrsson, an experienced Jdyare, said they were 
 Flytt-Foylar, or migratory birds, which do not remain in 
 one place. 
 
 " It is a remarkable circumstance with the Capercali," 
 the reverend gentleman goes on to say, " that it, as every 
 one hereabouts maintains, should ' flytta,' or migrate. 
 Instinct teaches it to take a certain course, and it there- 
 fore, for years together, almost disappears from the count i \ . 
 People assert that in misty weather it sometimes proceeds 
 right out to sea ; and when it becomes exhausted, falls 
 into the water and perishes. They also say that when it 
 flies westward, in the direction of the fjiills, one s soon 
 gets it back again; but if, on the contrary, it takes ;m 
 easterly course, it will never more return, and in conse- 
 quence there will be a great dearth of birds for a long 
 period to come." 
 
 Once. more: "With us," says M. Nordholm, in his 
 work published in the middle of the last centun , 
 treating of the methods resorted to in Joint land (a 
 portion of Norrland) for the capture of wild animals, 
 "both Capeivali and Black-Coek are \ery irregular. One 
 sometimes sees great numbers of these birds, but after a 
 -Imrt period they nearly all disappear, whilst at other times 
 
PARTIAL MIGRATIONS. 31 
 
 the reverse is the case. The people here have the saying, 
 that if there he a southerly wind on Michaelmas Day, the 
 birds from the south country will come to us in large 
 ' packs,' and face for the fjalls, so that during the winter 
 great captures will be made ; but if, on the contrary, the 
 wind on that day be from the north, not only the birds 
 then in the country, but also those on the fjalls, will fly 
 away to strange places, and the fowler in consequence will 
 reap but a sorry harvest. 
 
 " We ought to know the reason," this writer continues, 
 " why during certain years birds in our country appear in 
 such small numbers, whilst during others they are so 
 abundant. I will not go further back than the autumn 
 of 1745, when birds were exceedingly scarce in all their 
 usual haunts, but in the following year so very plentiful 
 as to fill all the woods, both great and small. Throughout 
 Jemtland every experienced fowler had a sledge-load to 
 sell. The same winter, or beginning of 1747, birds were 
 of so little value that a hazel-hen, or a ripa, was exchanged 
 on the market-place for a single fig ! The country people 
 had eaten so many birds as to be disgusted at the very 
 sight of them, and no one would buy game, because every 
 dealer who had taken birds to Stockholm for sale had 
 lost largely by the speculation. The succeeding winter, 
 that of 1747-S, not a fourth part of the captures were 
 made. My opinion in regard to the matter in question is, 
 that when birds appear in Norrland in unusual numbers, 
 they must have come from other countries from Norway, 
 Russia,* &c., for one then meets with individuals of an 
 altogether different size to ours. Many of the Capercali 
 
 ' The notion seems pretty generally entertained both in Sweden and 
 Norway, that some at least of the migratory Capercali in question come 
 from Siberia, where, 1 'alias tells us, a small variety of this bird is found, 
 at the lower Toonguska river, and to the Russians known by a name, 
 
12 I'AKTIAI. MM.KATIONS. 
 
 and Black-Cocks are very small and lean, and such the 
 fowlers call FI;ill- i'o<il<n-, or migratory birds. In seasons 
 when game is scarce none of these are to be seen." 
 
 These periodical wanderings of the Capercali are much 
 speculated upon by naturalists and others in Scandinavia, 
 a matter on which I myself am unable to throw any light ; 
 for during my sojourn in the northern forests I never 
 remember observing any very sensible increase or diminu- 
 tion in the number of these birds, at least not to an v 
 greater extent than might readily be acounted for by good 
 or bad seasons. 
 
 By some their migrations are attributed to extensive 
 fires in the forest, or to great droughts, which drive tin- 
 birds away from their usual breeding-grounds ; by other-, 
 again, to unusually heavy snow-storms, or extreme severity 
 of the weather, which causes them to retreat to more 
 sheltered situations. There are, however, those who 
 maintain that more males than females are always born, 
 and that the supernumeraries are therefore compelled to 
 seek for mates elsewhere.* 
 
 But be the causes of these partial migrations what 
 they may, the subject cannot but be of interest to the 
 
 implying Mountain Capercali ; and Stcller mentions a similar variety 
 met with near the mouth of the river Ud which flows into tin- S". :i of 
 Okhotsk :iii(l liy the Yakutos similarly denominated. 
 
 * " From experience I have found," MyS the author of 'Tidskrift for 
 n-e,' "that both Ca]K-ivali and I'.laek < Wk l,n>o.l- contain more male-, 
 limn females. If such is also tin- MM in Norrlaud, tin- initiations in 
 question are of fa>y explanation. Instinct drives tin- corks in exi 
 to seek for liens in other districts, tor ,-\ample, in Ncrikc and So.ler 
 Miaiiland, where, iiwiii^ to the increasing inimlMT of |.oaclicr>. (he cock- 
 are all destroyed 88 Soon us the pairing seas.. n coinineiices in (he spring. 
 In spite of tl.is, ..tl.er males make (heir appearance there the following 
 \,.:,i. It i- prolfal.le that nature in this wax pi ' >\ ides, from I he super 
 al.undanee of the iioitliern pr.'xinces, a c.iiiipen-at ion for the liad manage 
 in.-nt in (he south; otlmwi-e these- l.ird-. still not so uncommon lierc 
 would I"- \lermin.i- 
 
BEWILDKUMKNT. 13 
 
 owners of Capercali forests in Scotland, and I have there- 
 fore thought it right to enter into fuller details than I 
 otherwise should have done. 
 
 The Capercali is said at times to forflyga sig, that 
 is, to fly it knows not whither ; or rather with no fixed 
 destination. Hence it occasionally makes its appearance 
 in very singular localities. We read, for instance, that 
 "at Tistad, in Soclermanland, two Capercali cocks were 
 shot by the Baron Bengt Rosenhane, the proprietor 
 of that property, one on the roof of the mansion, and 
 the other in a high poplar tree close by. The por- 
 traits of both birds were taken and are still preserved 
 by the family." 
 
 Again : " The late Dr. Rislacki, an ardent sportsman 
 and naturalist, whilst residing as tutor at Jacobsberg, also 
 in Sodermanlaud, left the house early one spring morning 
 on a shooting excursion ; but it being then very misty, he 
 stood for a while speculating on the weather. Looking 
 upwards through the gloom, he espied, perched on the 
 chimney top, a large bird, which he took to be an eagle- 
 owl. He fired at once, and the quarry fell down the 
 chimney. It proved to be a male Capercali." 
 
 We also read of a clergyman in the same province, 
 who, looking one Sunday morning from his window, 
 whence he had a good view of the neighbouring church, 
 saw, through the mist, a black object wandering to and 
 fro on the roof of the sacred edifice. Feeling convinced 
 it could not. possibly be any one of the would-be hearers 
 of that day's sermon, he took his gun and shot the 
 stranger, who, as in the instance just related, proved to be 
 an old Capercali cock. 
 
 We arc furthermore told that, " at au estate in Wer- 
 meland, one of these birds was taken alive in a pig-stye, 
 whilst in the very act of fighting with the inmates." 
 
 These erratic wanderings of the Capercali have been 
 
Li BKWIUiKKMKNT. 
 
 much ventilated in Scandinavia ; but as they mostly 
 occur during the breeding season, and seem confined to 
 males alone, it appears to be the general opinion, that 
 they arise from the senses of the bird being bewildered by 
 disappointed affections. " Love," says the late Rev. C. U. 
 Ekstrom,* " has the same effect on this bird as on many 
 other animals, and sometimes leads to acts that seem so 
 anomalous as to partake of madness; and when this 
 passion, which always obscures the faculties, is mixed up 
 with stupidity, the effect is more apparent. So it happens 
 with Pclle (the nickname of the Capercali) : when he is 
 driven from a harem, where a more powerful Pasha 
 than himself is ruling, he seeks his fortune in other quar- 
 ters ; and if the atmosphere at the time be misty, be often 
 pursues a wrong course, and as a consequence is met with 
 in places, where one would no more dream of seeing him 
 than of seeing an ostrich." 
 
 The Capercali is of a pugnacious disposition. M . 
 Svederus tells us, that it is courageous " and has been 
 known to maintain long and bloody combats with the 
 eagle before becoming its prey ! " That it should strug- 
 gle violently when in the talons of " the king of the air," 
 I can well understand, ' but that it should maintain 
 
 * A naturalist and sportsman of the very first order, combining (jiAlii ies 
 seldom found united in the same individual, and rendering his remarks 
 infinitely more valuable than those of the generality of mere eloset naturalists, 
 whose ehiet' olijeet -eems to be to split hairs and invent ~ pee ies lor their 
 own glori Heat ion. Well might Bishop PontoppidaB, when speaking of 
 them, and complaining of their having made out no fewer than thirty- 
 six kinds of thrushes, exclaim: " They give themsehes a particular deal 
 of trouble to find out the characteristie marks of each kind of liird in his 
 
 generation ; yet I am of opinion that may, in this as in other (hiugs, 
 
 multiply species without oeeasion, and thereby emifu.se one's ideas, instead 
 of clearing up or establishing them ; fm- bet w. ,-n v.nie ,,f them the dif- 
 ference is BO small, that I look upon it t.. >.e rather aeeidcntal than speeilie." 
 
PUGNACIOUS DISPOSITION. 15 
 
 a " stand-up fight " with the eagle is quite beyond my 
 comprehension, the more so, because I have often known 
 it to be pursued and killed by hawks of the smallest size. 
 When domesticated, it is true, the Capercali can put on a 
 very bold countenance, but in its native wilds it would 
 seem shyness itself. 
 
 From some unexplained cause, however, there are 
 times, even when in a state of nature, that it loses its 
 habitual timidity, and becomes what in Sweden is called 
 Folk-ilsken, or viciously inclined towards people, actually 
 attacking those who come in its way. Of this fact more 
 than one instance is on record. 
 
 " During a number of years," says M. Adelberg, " an 
 old Capercali cock frequented the estate of Willinge, on 
 the Island of Wermdo, who, as often as he heard people 
 in the woods, had the temerity to alight on the ground, 
 and with continual flapping of the wings to peck at the 
 legs and feet of those who disturbed his domain." 
 
 M. Brehm mentions a somewhat similar incident. 
 " A male Capercali had its resorts in a wood a (German) 
 mile from Renthendorf, in the vicinity of a tolerably well 
 frequented road. This bird, as soon as it perceived any 
 one approaching, would fly towards him, furiously 
 attacking him with both beak and wings, and could with 
 difficulty be driven away. A Jagare succeeded in cap- 
 turing it, and carried it to a place two (German) miles 
 distant, but on the following day it had returned to its 
 old haunts. Another person afterwards caught it with 
 the intention of taking it to the " Ober-Ja,-ermeister." 
 
 *~J O 
 
 At first the bird remained quiet, but soon began to tear 
 and peck at him so effectually, that he was compelled to 
 restore it to liberty. After the lapse of some months, 
 however, it totally disappeared, having probably fallen 
 into the hands of a less timid birdcatcher." 
 
 Once more : " In the month of August," we are 
 
10 THE Bt)Y AM) CAPEKCAM. 
 
 informed by M. Roman, " a youth of about twelve years of 
 age, from Willingsberg, captured an old Capercali cock with 
 his hands. It occurred in the following manner : tin- boy, 
 who was catching crayfish in a stream, observed the bird 
 promenading amongst some heather on a little eminence 
 close by, and he immediately conceived the idea that he 
 would endeavour to make it his prize. For this purpose 
 he crept stealthily up the side of the knoll, but on reach- 
 ing the top, what was his surprise to find _ZV//V>, with 
 head and tail erect, and feathers ruffled, as if in great 
 anger, coming 'full tilt' against him" as seen in the 
 accompanying drawing by M. Korner. " lie nevertheless 
 mustered courage, and tranquilly awaited the onset of the 
 foe. The contest was severe, but in the end the youth 
 came off victorious, the Capercali for its temerity paying 
 the penalty of its life." * 
 
 The Capercali thus divesting itself of its natural 
 shyness, and fearlessly approaching people, has occasion- 
 ally given rise in Sweden to the notion that it is actually 
 "possessed." 
 
 "About this time last year," Lieutenant Jack relates, 
 " whilst the cottager Anders Pehrsson, of Bengtsbo, in 
 the province of Wcstmanland, was collecting brushwood 
 in the forest, a Capercali cock, without showing the 
 smallest apprehension, came and alighted on the ground 
 immediately near him. The old belief in Tru/t-Fof//"/; 
 or enchanted birds, once so common, and which is still 
 
 * May not tin- " ]>eo].!e-hatilii: " < 'aj.eirali s]>ken of al.ove l.e such as 
 have esea].e.l IV.. in eoiilineiiieiit ! <>r may they not have been sei/ed with 
 a ~|.e.-i.'s of mailing-, as \v..ul.l at times .teem to lie tlir ease uitli other 
 liirds ( In Seaiidina\ iali Adventures,'' for install, v, I have related that 
 
 o ic o.-.-asioii a goshawk furiously attaeke.l the lior.-es harnessed to a 
 
 gentleOUUl'ft OUriage j and nnlv r.-r.-ntU \ve read in the Kuirli^h pa|iers of 
 a |K.i,r :,'iil Keini; a-- ailed and most enielly maltreated al.oiit the face l.\ I 
 rook ! 
 

 * 
 
BEWITCHED BIRD. 17 
 
 retained by a portion of the peasantry, could not but 
 have its effect on the man from such clear and conclusive 
 evidence. With this crotchet in his head lie therefore 
 hastened to the klockare, or clerk of the parish, named 
 Pettersson who was also its oracle residing at a distance 
 of about an English mile from the spot, and related to 
 him what had happened. 
 
 " Pettersson, who professed not to have the most distant 
 apprehension of the ' troll ' and their emissaries, at once 
 put his gun in order, and accompanied by Pehrsson 
 repaired to the spot indicated, which the Capercali had 
 not yet quitted. The 'klockare' advanced to within 
 a few paces of the bird and pulled the trigger, but the 
 gun ' clicked.' It was cocked a second and a third time, 
 though with the same result. The flint is now hammered 
 and fire at length produced, but confined to a flash in the 
 pan. The ardour of the sportsman rose to the highest 
 pitch. How provoking ! neither pricker nor other im- 
 plement to clear the touchhole. These had been for-' 
 gotten in the hurry of departure from home. As a 
 substitute, a pointed piece of wood is had recourse to, but 
 it breaks short off in the touchhole and only makes mat- 
 ters worse. All this while the Capercali remains motion- 
 less, a quiet spectator of the enemy's proceedings. The 
 ' klockare,' on his part, gazes at the bird, and that with a 
 feeling somewhat akin to awe. He is on the point of 
 sharing his comrade's belief in fortrollning or enchant- 
 ment. Once more, however, he musters up courage, and 
 renewing his endeavours, finally succeeds in clearing 
 the touchhole; fresh priming is then put in the pan; 
 but when all is in readiness, and he is prepared to dis- 
 charge his piece, the bird, which hitherto had not budged 
 an inch from the spot, suddenly takes wing. Our Nimrod 
 is just about to give vent to his feelings, and pour maledic- 
 tions on his villanous weapon, when, to his joy, he sees the 
 
 c 
 
 
18 iJKWiTcim) BIRD. 
 
 bird alight on a tree within an easy distance. To place 
 the gun to his shoulder and fire is now the work of a 
 moment; and to the undisguised delight, not to say 
 astonishment, of both our doughty knights of the chase, 
 the old blunderbuss went off with a loud bang, and the 
 troll-bird gave up the ghost." 
 
 " Even during the following year," so we are further 
 informed by Lieutenant Jack, " fortune once more favoured 
 Pettersson and his wretched gun. One fine day a Caper- 
 eali cock came and perched on a wood-pile near to his 
 house ; and although many people were moving about, it 
 evinced no alarm whatever. Pettersson, on seeing the 
 bird, lost no time in loading his piece, the touchhole of 
 which, in consequence of the past year's misadventure, he 
 had caused to be considerably enlarged ; but in cocking 
 the gun the mainspring broke, thus rendering it impossible 
 to obtain fire in the usual manner. But Pettersson's clever- 
 ness overcame even this difficulty ; for, after an unsuccess- 
 ful attempt with flint and steel to ignite the powder in 
 the pan, he applied to it a live coal taken from the grate, 
 when the charge instantly exploded, and Pellc fell dead 
 to the ground." 
 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 Pairing-Grounds. Breading. -Habits. The Hirem Pugnacity. 
 Curious Crosses. A.nserine Predilections. Enemies. Value for the 
 Table. Domestication. Treatment when in Confinement. Naturali- 
 zation in Scotland. 
 
 r |^HE Capereali is a polygamist, and in the spring 
 of the year collects the hens about him by means 
 of his spel or love song. 
 
 The lek-tid; or pairing season, with these birds usually 
 commences towards the end of March or beginning of 
 April the time more or less depending on the mildness 
 or severity of the weather, the state of the snow, &c. 
 and continues until the middle of May, or it may be the 
 end of that month. The lek-stdlle, or locality where affairs 
 matrimonial are carried on, is commonly a wooded emi- 
 nence near a morass, tarn, or other opening in the forest ; 
 sometimes, however, though not frequently, " on a level 
 rock with fir trees growing in and about it." The " lek- 
 stalle" is generally of some extent, and the Capereali 
 resort to it year after year, unless the trees have been 
 felled, or the forest otherwise disturbed. 
 
 The oldest or strongest male (or males, as the case may 
 
 c 2 
 
20 
 
 mi: 
 
 be) is the first in the spring at the "lek-stiille," and in the 
 more northern forests, even when the snovf is deep on the 
 ground, he commences his spel either on the surface of 
 the snow on which one often sees the marks of his 
 trailing wings where he has paraded to and fro or 
 perched on the upper branch of a pine. 
 
 
 At such times his neck is stretched out, his wings 
 droop, his feathers are ruffled up, and his tail spread out 
 in the manner of a fan, as depicted in the illustration 
 sketched by M. Willie.lm von Wright.* 
 
 * Liko M. Kkstriiiii, 11 first das- naturalist and sportsman, and, us 
 I- ,iil.ji>-ts of natnr.il history, undonlitt dly the lir<t draughtsman at 
 piv-i-nt i-xi-tini.' in Sweden, although sinrr s,,im- vi'ars, it <,'ric\ cs iiu 1 t " 
 n .1 l..'d of -id 
 
PROCEEDINGS THEIIE. 21 
 
 The spel of the Capercali, which consists, so to say, 
 of three notes, is of a rather singular nature. An attempt, 
 though an imperfect one, has been made to imitate it by 
 the following words, viz. : First note, Pcllep ! Pellep ! 
 Pellep ! Second note, Klickop ! Third note, Hede ! 
 Hede!llede!Hede! The first note, Pellep, called 
 knappningen (pi. knappningar), is said to resemble the 
 sound of two dry sticks struck together. The second, 
 Klickop, named klunken, has been likened to a sort of 
 gulp in the throat, the noise made when the tongue is 
 smacked against the palate, or when a cork is drawn out 
 of a bottle. The third, Hede, termed sisningen, has been 
 compared with the sucking-in of the breath, as it were, 
 or the sound caused by sharpening an edged tool on a 
 whetstone. The giving utterance to these several notes 
 may altogether occupy from two to three minutes ; and, 
 provided the bird be not in any way disturbed, he almost 
 immediately afterwards commences repeating them, and 
 continues to do so almost without ceasing. 
 
 His spel is not loud, and, if there be wind stirring 
 at the time, cannot be heard, at least by the inexperi- 
 enced, at any considerable distance. In the most favour- 
 able weather, indeed, it is not audible at more than one 
 hundred and fifty to two hundred paces. 
 
 Between the kndppningar the first note of his spel - 
 there is usually at the commencement some little interval, 
 but presently these follow so close on each other as to be 
 all but continuous. Whilst the kndppningar lasts, the 
 bird is wide awake, and not {infrequently turns his head 
 from side to side, as if to look out for the enemy ; and 
 this, to a certain extent, is also the case when he sounds 
 his second note, klnnken ! But during his third and 
 last note, sisningen, his head, is thrown backwards, his 
 neck moves to and fro, wave fashion ; his expanded tail 
 stands at something like right angles to his body, and 
 
22 THE IIAKEM. 
 
 froth issues from his mouth.* He is worked up into such 
 an agony of passion, as to be all but unconscious of what 
 is passing around him. Many, indeed, assert he is then 
 both deaf and blind ;t and it is at this critical moment, 
 as will shortly be shown, that so many of these noble 
 birds fall to the gun. 
 
 The exertion during the spel has an extraordinary 
 physical effect upon the Capercali, as is evidenced by the 
 frequency find abundance of his droppings; and during 
 his last note, sisnlngen, when, as said, he is worked up 
 into a state of ecstasy, he trembles to such a degree that 
 even the pine, however large, on which he is perched, 
 sensibly vibrates to the touch ! 
 
 On hearing the spel of the cock, the hens assemble at 
 the " lek-stalle " from all parts of the surrounding dis- 
 trict, and alight either on the very tree where he is perched, 
 or other trees in the immediate vicinity, when they make 
 their presence known by their somewhat melancholy lut-lc- 
 ton, or call-note, resembling in degree the words Gock ! 
 Gock ! Gock ! or rather, perhaps, the croak of the raven. 
 
 A little before sunrise, the cock usually descends from 
 his perch and alights on some open spot in the forest close 
 by, where the hens (as seen in the accompanying drawing) 
 collect about him ; and here, during the intervals .of his 
 
 * In parts of Sweden the peasants entertain tin- very singular notion 
 that it in with this froth, which the hens pick up i'mm tin- ground, that 
 they become impregnated. 
 
 f It 18 the commonly received opinion, that during rimtn^BII the eye< of 
 the Capercali are altogether closed. But this is not the rase, it li.-tving 
 been uxcertaincd by ex|>erinients cm tamo birds that, though tln> glolir of 
 the eye is then covered with the nictitating memoi-aiie. ami as a eon-,. 
 ipi -iii-f the bird cannot see, yet tin- eyelashes themsrh es remain mean- 
 while altogether oprn. From tlie .same spasmodic allection its organs of 
 hearing are coiil r.n-te.1 ; whence it heroines deaf; often, indeed, to Mich a 
 degree that i I does not seem to take the slightest notice of even the repot t. 
 of the gun. 
 

THE HAREM. 2.3 
 
 spel, which he still continues, and whilst parading amongst 
 the ladies of his harem, he pairs with each in succession. 
 
 Immense excitement is then exhibited, not only by 
 the male, but also by the female. The latter may be seen, 
 with outstretched neck and hurried movements, flitting 
 round and round her lord, as if challenging his notice, till 
 at length, approaching more boldly, she nestles close 
 beside him and solicits attentions, which his gallantry 
 ultimately accords. Indeed, so absorbing is the love of 
 the female Capercali during the pairing season that hens, 
 whose mates have been shot, have been found lying on 
 the ground in a state of excitement, and at the same time 
 giving utterance to the plaintive call-note by which they 
 were wont to lure him to pairing ; and so abstracted, 
 moreover, as actually to allow themselves to be taken 
 by the naked hand. 
 
 Several cocks, old and young, not unfrequently con- 
 gregate at the same " lek-stalle ;" but so long as the old 
 birds live, the young, or those of the preceding season, 
 are not allowed to spel ; and should they venture so to 
 do, are pretty sure of getting what Brother Jonathan 
 calls "badly whipped." But when the old birds are shot, 
 the young ones, after the lapse of a day or two, com- 
 mence; and occasionally several may be heard at their 
 spel at the same time, and then, as M. Greiff says, " it 
 goes gloriously." 
 
 Early in the pairing season, when the male for the 
 most part is quite alone, he does not spel regularly or 
 with much animation, merely giving expression to a few 
 straggling notes ; but when at an after-period the females 
 make their appearance at the " lek-stalle," he " opens his 
 pipes," as Ir.is been quaintly observed, " in right good 
 earnest." " When the woodcock rodes* the frogs croak 
 
 ; This word " RODE," which is derived from the French verb RUDER, to 
 prowl about in search of jtrey at dusk, is not to be confounded with the 
 
26 CURIOUS CROSSES. 
 
 morning to cut wood in the forest. When arrived there, 
 they saw two Capercali cocks fighting desperately on a 
 rising ground. Nekher of the men having a gun or other 
 weapon, my servant at once sprang forward and threw 
 himself on the combatants ; but his comrade being 
 somewhat timid did not come to his aid, and he was 
 only able to retain one of the birds, which he brought 
 home to me." 
 
 When the pairing season is over, or even previously, 
 the females retire to their several breeding-grounds. 
 These comprise not only the great pine forests of the 
 lowlands, but those clothing the lower slopes of the fjalls. 
 We are told, indeed, by M. Barth, that " on two occa- 
 sions, during the autumn of 1862, he met with broods of 
 Capercali in small patches of willow bushes on the high 
 fjalls themselves, and at a considerable distance above 
 the last birch-tree." 
 
 The female makes her nest, which is a mere hole 
 scraped in the ground, under a tree or bush. The egu;s, 
 numbering from five or six to twelve or fifteen, according, 
 as it is believed, to the age of the bird, are of a dirty 
 yellow colour, marked with light-brown spots and blotches. 
 In length they are 2^ inches, and in thickness l inches. 
 
 The period of incubation is said to be a month. .The 
 young, usually hatched about the beginning of June, keep 
 with the mother until towards the approach of winter, or 
 even longer, but the cock separates from her at a much 
 earlier period. 
 
 In connection with the breeding habits of the Capercali, 
 I am reminded of a story told me by a friend, for the 
 authenticity of which lie vouched, namely, that several eggs 
 of this bird had been sat upon and hatched by a bod- 
 ridden old man. The wonder, however, ended not here; 
 for the chicks \\cre reared, and one, if not more, lived for 
 two years afterwards. And the story may be true, fora 
 
MAKING LOVE TO A GOOSE. 27 
 
 similar one, well verified, is told regarding the eggs of 
 the wild duck. 
 
 Capercali not very unfrequently pair with Black-Cock, 
 but of the produce of this connection, in. Sweden called 
 Rackel-Fogcl, more will be said in a future chapter. 
 
 Some curious crosses have also occurred between the 
 Capercali and other birds. M. Beckman tells us, for 
 instance, that he himself possessed three poults, the pro- 
 duce of a turkey hen by a Capercali cock. " The father of 
 the brood was captured, in the autumn, when between one 
 and two years old. The turkey hen, a young one, was kept 
 during the winter in a separate place from the turkey cock, 
 and had no opportunity of coming near him. In March and 
 April she was introduced to the Capercali, who, after several 
 days' courtship, was plainly seen to fulfil his matrimonial 
 duty towards his strange consort. In consequence, how- 
 ever, of the turkey lien's plainti.e cries, it was needful to 
 remove her, and to keep her away from him until the 
 following morning', when pairing once more took place 
 between them. 
 
 " This proceeding was repeated for about fourteen days, 
 when the Capercali, at the sight of a white goose, which 
 promenaded near his prison, would no longer acknowledge 
 his faithful spouse. The goose was therefore placed in 
 the coop in lieu of the turkey hen, but her loud hissings 
 testified to the displeasure she felt at the ardent caresses 
 of her admirer ; and he on his part w r as so affrighted, or 
 it may be disgusted, at his advances being thus rudely 
 repelled, that all further inclination, whether for the 
 goose or the turkey hen, was at an end ; and all subsequent 
 attempts to rekindle* his desires by again introducing to 
 him his quondam favourites and they were repeated the 
 following year proved equally unsuccessful. 
 
 " The eggs laid by the turkey hen on the occasion in 
 question were somewhat less and darker in colour than 
 
28 ENEMIES OF THE CAPERCALT. 
 
 those usually produced by that bird. Six of them were 
 placed in a nest along with seven legitimate turkey eggs, 
 and all were hatched ; hut the two broods were totally 
 dissimilar in appearance. Unfortunately, however, dur- 
 ing my absence from home, all the chicks, that claimed 
 the Capercali for father, died when going through their 
 first moult, being then of the size of the common 
 barn-door fowl." 
 
 The Capercali has many enemies, four-footed as well 
 as winged, independently of man. Though a large and 
 powerful bird, it not unfrequently falls a prey even to 
 the smaller species of the genus Palco. " Some weeks 
 before last Christmas," writes Major Matern, "I was 
 taking a stroll in a pasture field, thinly studded with 
 oak and birch trees, and adjacent to an extensive pine 
 wood. When looking up I observed in the distance 
 two birds, sometimes flying high and at others low, 
 and all the while fighting in the air. At last they 
 approached near to me, when they proved to be an un- 
 usually small hawk and an old Capercali cock, into the 
 back of which the former had fixed his talons, endeavour- 
 ing to deprive it of life. As yet, however, the hawk had 
 only succeeded, and that by picking at the wing-joints, in 
 compelling the Capercali to take to terra Jtn/m. where a 
 severe scuffle ensued between them. This was, however, 
 soon put an end to by my arrival at the scene of action. 
 The Capercali was entirely exhausted, and the little hawk 
 could only with difficulty disentangle itself from its coveted 
 prey, after which it perched on a fence in the vicinity. 
 The Capercali was an acceptable prize to me, and though 
 a good deal plucked about the neck and somewhat 
 \\oundedon the \\inus, was in other respects uninjured. 
 1 was enabled to carry it home alive." 
 
 In Scandinavia the Capercali is in considerable request 
 for the table. It is more palatable, however, during the 
 
REARING THE YOUNG. 29 
 
 autumnal months, when it lives for the most part on berries 
 and the like, than in the winter, when its food chiefly 
 consists of pine leaves, which give its flesh a somewhat 
 resinous flavour. In Wermeland and the adjacent country 
 it is a standing dish during the last-named season at the 
 houses of the gentry, who usually lay in an ample supply 
 of these birds at the setting-in of the frost. On the 
 occasion of births, marriages, and burials, with the 
 peasantry, the Capercali is looked upon as a needful 
 addition to the feast. With them it is eaten either simply 
 boiled, or first parboiled and afterwards roasted until hard 
 as a stone, in which state it will keep for weeks or months. 
 During my residence in Wermeland the price of a Caper- 
 cali cock was about one shilling sterling, and of a hen 
 sixpence, but since then these birds have probably become 
 much dearer. 
 
 The Capercali is easily domesticated, and if reared 
 from a chick becomes very tame. I have myself seen 
 more than one running at large in the poultry yard ; and 
 even if captured in the forest when full-grown, more 
 especially if in its first year, it soon becomes reconciled to 
 confinement. I speak from some experience, having had 
 many hundred in my possession. When throwing grain 
 to them in the aviary, where at times there were as many as 
 between twenty and thirty, a large portion of them would 
 collect about my feet, like so many barn-door fowls, and 
 some would even feed out of my hand. To a sportsman 
 it was a glorious sight ! 
 
 Certain people in Sweden have speculated on the 
 practicability of converting the Capercali into a useful 
 adjunct to the homestead. As regards England, no 
 point would be gained, even were the experiment to prove 
 successful ; but for the good reason given by M. Nord- 
 holm, as will be seen below, it might be worth trying 
 in Scandinavia. 
 
30 DOMESTICATION. 
 
 " Young Capercali lions," lie tells us, " may be cln -ated 
 into laying against their will. One may take e^s 1'nnn 
 them, leaving only two or three in the nest, and they 
 will daily lay others in their places ; so that from a 
 single nest as many as twenty eggs may be obtained. 
 This being the case," he goes on to say, " it does not 
 seem impossible, if these birds were tamed, to turn them 
 to the same account as common hens. They could be kept 
 on the produce of the forest alone, whereas the latter 
 during the winter eat up many sacks of barley and other 
 kinds of grain." 
 
 The Capercali breeds readily in confmemont, pro- 
 vided proper arrangements be made for the purpose. I 
 myself, it is true, never tried the experiment, considering 
 it less troublesome to procure the adult birds from the 
 forest than to rear them ; but many instances are related 
 showing the matter to be of easy accomplishment. 
 
 \Ve are told by the Director, M. af Uhr, for example, 
 
 that "at the smelting-works of , in the province of 
 
 Dalecarlia, the old birds in the winter time were kept 
 together in a very large loft, where they were fed with 
 grain, &c., and that early in the spring they were turned 
 into an inclosure, protected by a high fence, near the 
 house. In this inclosure were firs and pines, the com- 
 mon trees thereabouts. During the period of incubation 
 no one went near to the place except the individual 
 who fed them. 
 
 "Their food then consisted of barley and fresh sprigs of 
 the trees just mentioned. It was indispensable to let 
 them have full liberty, and to remain entirely undisturbed, 
 if the hens were to sit and hatch their young. So soon as 
 this had occurred and the brood were out, they were 
 removed to a roomy yard closely fenced in, so that the 
 young could not escape. The wings of the old birds 
 wore always clipped to prevent their flying away. I have 
 
TREATMENT IX CONFINEMENT. 31 
 
 seen several such broods, both of the Capercali and the 
 Black-Cock, each numbering eight to twelve. They were 
 so tame that, like common hens, they would run forward 
 when grain was thrown to them. They should always 
 have a good supply of sand and water." 
 
 When speaking of the rearing of the chicks, M. Greiff 
 says : " They are to be supplied with ant-eggs, hard-boiled 
 eggs chopped up and mixed with moistened barley-meal, 
 also pea-haulm and trefoil-grass. They must have plenty 
 of water, which should be so placed that they cannot 
 overturn the pan, for they suffer very much if they get 
 wet when young. Dry sand and mould they should never 
 be without ; when they get larger they eat with avidity 
 cabbage-leaves, strawberries, red whortleberries, and blea- 
 berries; and, when full-grown, barley and wheat. In the * 
 winter they should be provided with tender shoots of pine 
 and birch-buds. I have known many people who thought 
 they treated young birds well by giving them juniper- 
 berries, but they never resort to this kind of food except 
 in case of necessity." 
 
 Though the Capercali in a state of nature may be 
 considered a hardy bird, yet in confinement, especially if 
 recently captured, when it of course suffers from depri- 
 vation of liberty and change of diet, it can hardly be 
 said to support that character. With myself, in spite 
 of every precaution, they not unfrequently died, some 
 apparently from apoplexy, others from worms, others 
 again from diarrhoea ; but, although several medical men 
 dissected the bodies, no positive decision was arrived at 
 as to the cause of death. 
 
 When confined in coops, however, the mortality was 
 greater than in roomy aviaries ; but even in the latter, if 
 roofed in, they never throve well. The better plan is 
 to give them the run, in the daytime, of a small inclo- 
 sure netted over, so that they have the full benefit of air 
 
32 TREATMENT IN CONFINEMENT. 
 
 and sun; and, at nightfall, to shut them up in a close 
 shed, wherehy they are protected both from wind and 
 heavy rains, which are very injurious to them ; as also 
 from cats, owls, and other large vermin. Not that these 
 can ohtain access to the interior of a well-construct nl 
 coop or aviary ; but by their presence they so frighten the 
 birds as to cause them to fly against the bars of their 
 prison, and oftentimes to seriously injure themselves. 
 With me these nightly alarms were of frequent occurrence, 
 and generally attended with disastrous consequences. One 
 morning, indeed, we found two birds quite dead and 
 several others so much injured that they survived a few 
 days only. 
 
 The aviary, it is proper to remark, should be located 
 in a dry and airy situation, though not exposed to cutting 
 winds, which birds detest of all things. The site is of 
 more consequence than may be generally supposed ; for, 
 if low and damp, disease and mortality are frequent ; but 
 if elevated and dry, the birds commonly remain healthy. 
 The Earl of Orkney, whose aviaries were particularly 
 well situated, assured me that out of twelve brace of 
 Capercali he never lost a single bird from causes con- 
 nected with the locality. 
 
 To those who keep Capercali in confinement, the fol- 
 lowing directions as to their treatment may be found 
 useful, being the result of much experience : 
 
 First. If the birds be recently captured, suffer no one 
 but the keeper to go near them. 
 
 Secondly. Always approach them cautiously, so as not 
 to create sudden alarm. 
 
 Thirdly. Whilst near them be as quiet as possible, and 
 retire slowly. 
 
 Fourthly. The site where they are kept should be dry 
 and airy, and a portion of the space allotted to them 
 should be protected from falling weather. 
 
NATURALIZATION IN SCOTLAND. 33 
 
 Fifthly. They will eat nearly all kinds of grain, par- 
 ticularly wheat, barley, and also white peas, of which they 
 are specially fond. 
 
 Sixthly. They should be constantly provided with fresh 
 sprigs or boughs of the Scotch fir. Give them occasionally 
 green food, such as grass-sods, berries, cabbage-leaves, 
 &c. ; but should their " droppings " appear washy, desist 
 altogether for a time. They eat heather. 
 
 Seventhly. Do not overfeed them. Fifty birds die from 
 repletion to one from starvation. 
 
 Eighthly. They must be constantly supplied with fresh 
 water, especially in the summer time. 
 
 Ninthly. It is highly important that they should be well 
 provided with coarse sand and grit (small gravel), as also 
 with a large heap of fine sand in which to dust themselves. 
 
 Tenthly. If any bird appears to mope, or to be sickly, 
 remove it at once from the others, more particularly if 
 the place be confined. The healthy birds will otherwise 
 molest it, and prevent it from feeding. 
 
 Eleventhly. In the spring of the year, as the pairing 
 season approaches, the several males should be separated ; 
 for, being then very quarrelsome, they may otherwise 
 injure or even destroy each other. 
 
 To proceed. It is fortunate for the sporting world 
 that the Capercali, after the lapse of more than a century, 
 is once more included in the British Fauna, and I feel 
 proud in having been a contributor in a small degree to 
 so desirable an event. It had long been my anxious de- 
 sire that a proper attempt should be made to naturalize 
 those birds with us, never doubting of success, provided 
 the experiment was made on a sufficiently large scale, and 
 not in dribblets, as had previously been the case. Years 
 ago, indeed, I volunteered my services to more than one 
 influential proprietor in Scotland, amongst others to the 
 late Marquis of Htintly ; but from imagining " his woods 
 
 D 
 
It NATURALIZATION IN SCOTLAND. 
 
 were too open to afford the Capercali adequate protection," 
 his Lordship declined my offer. 
 
 For a long while no one would move in the matter, 
 hut at length, in the autumn of 1836, the late Sir 
 Thomas Fowell liuxton, then recently returned from Tay- 
 mouth Castle, where he had heen much struck with the 
 great capabilities of the woods for the natnrali/ation of 
 the Capercali, took up the affair in good earnest, and, as 
 with everything else in which his energetic mind was 
 engaged, with the determination of carrying it through if 
 possible. " Influenced hy the desire, in which I am sure 
 you will concur," so he wrote to me, "to introduce these 
 noble birds into Scotland, coupled with that of making 
 Lord Breadalbane some return for his recent kindness to 
 me, I request you to procure for his Lordship, at whatever 
 cost, the requisite number." He at the same time placed 
 his head keeper at my disposal no slight sacrifice for a 
 Norfolk game preserver. It was, indeed, an onerous com- 
 mission, as prior to this time it had been a matter of dilli- 
 culty to procure even a brace of living Capercali in Swe- 
 den ; but by distributing placards throughout the country 
 offering ample rewards, and by instructing the peasants 
 how to knot their snares so as not to kill the birds, my 
 object was at length gained, and within a few months of 
 the receipt of the Baronet's letter, twenty-nine Capercali, 
 followed up shortly afterwards by twenty more, were on 
 their way from Sweden to Taymouth Castle, and with the 
 exception of a single one killed by accident, all reached 
 their destination in safety. 
 
 The arrival of this magnificent collection in Scotland 
 created quite a sensation; everyone- was delighted that 
 matters had thus far gone well, and no one more so than 
 Sir Fowell, who addressed to me a letter on the occasion, 
 somewhat ton complimentary lor publication. 
 
 -\-ain : In September J^:i7. not \.-r\ lonii' after the 
 
NATURALIZATION IN SCOTLAND. 35 
 
 arrival of the first batch of twenty-nine, he wrote me as 
 follows : " I have just returned from Taymouth, where I 
 have been reminded of you very frequently by the Capereali. 
 I saw eighteen of them in excellent health and plumage a 
 few days ago ; the other ten, six hens and four cocks, were 
 turned out, and there is reason to hope they are doing 
 well so that, thanks to your energy in collecting them, 
 Larry's care in bringing them over, and Lord Breadal- 
 bane's anxiety for their welfare, our experiment is likely, 
 I trust, to succeed ; and Scotland to be restocked with this 
 noble bird. They are greatly admired by every one, and 
 very deep interest is felt about them." . . . . " Nothing 
 can surpass the woods into which they are to be turned 
 out. and the protection they will receive," the writer goes 
 on to say ; " and as Lord Breadalbane's territory is so 
 large, I hope they will not be disposed to leave such 
 excellent quarters." 
 
 Sir Fowell's anticipations as to the success of the 
 experiment, owing to the good management of Lord 
 Breadalbane, were fully realized, as will be seen by the 
 accompanying note from his Lordship to myself, dated 
 llth October 1841, that is some five years after the 
 introduction of the birds in Scotland. 
 
 " I have great pleasure in informing you that the Ca- 
 pereali have thriven most excellently. The experiment of 
 putting the eggs under the Grey-Hen was attended with 
 perfect success, and there are now a goodly number of 
 these birds hereabouts." 
 
 It is very satisfactory to add that the Capereali have 
 subsequently nourished in the Highlands in an extraor- 
 dinary manner. Less than four years ago, indeed, Lord 
 Breadalbane himself told me he imagined there were then 
 fully one thousand of these birds on the Taymouth pro- 
 perty. His head keeper, moreover, in a letter to a friend 
 estimated them at double that number. 
 
36 NATURALIZATION IN SCOTLAND. 
 
 Being desirous, when last in England, to learn how 
 the Capercali were getting on in Scotland, as also if 
 they had in any way changed their ordinary habits, I 
 applied to Lord Breadalbane for information on the sub- 
 ject, which he kindly promised to give me after communi- 
 cating with his keepers ; but before receiving a reply to 
 my inquiries, he was unhappily seized with the malady 
 which proved fatal. 
 
 Sir Alexander Campbell, a near relative of Lord 
 Breadalbane, however, told me that the Capercali were 
 then as common about Taymouth Castle as the Black- 
 Cock, but that it was quite impossible to estimate their 
 number. That they had spread from Taymouth over all 
 the more wooded parts of the Highlands as far as 
 Aberdeen. That they at times took long flights, he 
 himself having repeatedly seen them cross from one hill- 
 side to another, a distance, perhaps, of a couple of miles. 
 That they feed freely on the larch. That in the autumn 
 they appear to confine themselves to certain zones, the 
 places where they had previously been abundant being 
 then all but deserted by them. That in the winter the 
 males and females keep for the most part separate 1 , tin- 
 latter chiefly resorting to localities near the water, and 
 being very tame;* that the cocks are then "packed," 
 and that he has often seen twenty and upwards together, 
 and in the course of a single day as many perhaps as eighty. 
 That hybrids between the Capercali and the Black-Cock 
 an- common, but (heu parentage uncertain. 
 
 * Lady Brewlalbane hcnelf Mured UK- that when tiikini; an aii -ini; in 
 In-r carriage on the banks of Loch Tay, she lias repeatedly drive n under 
 the very trees in which tlie Cajiereali liens were pen-lie. I, ; ,nd that without 
 their tiikinv' the .-li^'hte-t notice. 
 
J. U o{f. ilrl. 
 
 To/atr fag' S7. 
 
 lilt I \l Mil AM I.tK. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 Shooting Capercali at the Pairing-Ground. To the Pointer. Tragical 
 Event. Swedish Criminal Law. To the " Fogel-Hund." Adventure 
 with a Bear. Good Sport. How to make a Bag. 
 
 Capercali, owing to its great size and eatable 
 qualities, being in every sense of the word "a 
 great acquisition to the larder," various are the expe- 
 dients resorted to in Scandinavia to effect its capture. 
 
 Many fall to the gun, and, for the most part, in the 
 pairing season; at which time, though contrary to law, 
 thousands of these noble birds (chiefly males) are merci- 
 lessly slaughtered. Any lump of a fellow, indeed, who is 
 able to pull a trigger can then knock them down in the 
 way I am now about to describe. 
 
 The whereabouts of the Lek-stdlle, of which mention 
 Avas made in the last chapter, having been ascertained, 
 the gunner for a sportsman he can hardly be called 
 proceeds to the spot either over-night (in which case he 
 bivouacks in its vicinity), or at a very early hour in the 
 morning. "He should be there," we are told, "by the 
 first dawn of day, when the Woodcock begins to rode, 
 
ttS SHOOTING AT THE PAIRING-GROUND. 
 
 and the shrill notes of the Woodlark (Alauda arlorea, 
 Linn.) hence called the Tjddfr-klockan, or the Caper- 
 cali-watch are heard in the forest." 
 
 Here the man listens in profound silence until he 
 hears the spel of the cock, then, for the most part, 
 perched on or near to the top of a pine. Sheltering 
 himself as much as possible hehind trees, and 'other 
 cover, lie stealthily approaches the bird ; but, owing to 
 imperfect daylight and the thickness of the wood, he is 
 often unable to see it until close upon it. So long, how- 
 ever, as the first and second notes, knSfpnmgen and 
 Itltntkci), last, he must remain stationary, and, if in an 
 exposed situation, immovable as a statue. But when the 
 bird's third note, sisnlngen, commences, which, as said, 
 continues only a very short time and in the while the 
 bird is all but blind and deaf he takes three to four 
 steps, or rather strides, in advance (as shown in the 
 accompanying illustration by J. Wolf), when he again 
 halts. Should all remain perfectly quiet, however, the 
 bird almost immediately recommences its spel, and, when 
 it once more comes to sisiii/tt/cn, the man, as before, 
 moves forward several steps; and, by thus alternately 
 halting and advancing, he at length arrives within gun- 
 shot of the Capercali, whose fate is then soon sealed. 
 
 The Capercali during its spel is very watchful ; and 
 the fowler must, therefore, be exceedingly guarded in his 
 movements whilst thus stealing on it; and, at such times 
 as the bird is heard, although not seen, he should of all 
 things avoid looking about him. Want of caution on the 
 part of the fowler in this matter bus saved the lives o|' 
 many Capereali. Its eye, indeed, is said to be so piercing 
 as more readily to discover the face and hands of the man, 
 if they he uncovered, than his person ; and some, therefore, 
 deem it dvisahlc, not only to \\ear ylo\es, but to hold 
 (l<-,\ ,1 the head. 
 
SHOOTING AT THE PAIRING-GROUND. 39 
 
 The fowler should also be careful never to advance 
 until the sisningen has actually commenced, for an old 
 Capercali cock that has previously heen persecuted will, 
 perhaps, when one imagines it is on the very point of 
 beginning the last-named note, suddenly stop in its spel ; 
 and, if one then advances, will most assuredly take wing. 
 When again the man halts after sisningen, it should be in 
 an easy position ; so that, however long he may have to 
 wait before the bird re-commences its spel, it will not be 
 needful for him to change it for another. 
 
 During the early part of the spring, when the cock 
 carries on his spel quite alone, he runs the greatest risk of 
 his life ; but, when at an after-period he is joined by the 
 liens, they act the part of his guardian angels. On the 
 least appearance of peril, they, to put him on his guard, 
 utter a peculiar kind of cackle; and, should not this 
 suffice to attract his attention, one or other of them will 
 straight ways fly past the tree on which he is perched, and 
 at times so near to him as apparently to strike him with 
 the tip of her wing, which unmistakable hint he cannot 
 but comprehend, and, as a consequence, moves off at once 
 " in the wake " of his kind monitress. 
 
 Happily but few hens, comparatively speaking, are 
 shot at the Lck-stdlle, partly because they are more wary 
 than the cock, but chiefly, I take it, owing to the fowler 
 having other and better game in view. Indeed, were a 
 proportionate slaughter to take place amongst them, the 
 breed, in parts of Scandinavia, must soon become extinct. 
 As it is, the cocks are so ruthlessly shot down during the 
 pairing season that a large portion of the liens are unable 
 to find mates; and hence the number of barren birds 
 (Gall-Honor') one meets with in the forest. Were people 
 to refrain from killing the cocks until the spring is well 
 advanced, and pniring for the most part over, no great 
 harm would be done, and they still might have ample 
 
40 SHOOTING AT THE PAIKING-GKOUND. 
 
 amusement ; for the cocks, especially the young ones, 
 continue, as said, to spel until the middle of May, or it 
 may he even longer. 
 
 The munher of Capercali of the cocks I speak that 
 a man may thus kill at the Lek-stalle within a given time 
 depends greatly on circumstances. If, for instance, the 
 weather he hoisterous, or there be a crust on the sn<>\\. 
 Mhieh in the more northern parts of Scandinavia often 
 remains on the ground until late in the spring, it may 
 happen that even the most experienced chasseur will 
 hardly kill a single bird in a week ; but, under favourable 
 circumstances, on the contrary, a good deal may be done. 
 I myself have known more than one man to shoot 
 from five to six of these birds in the course of the morn- 
 ing and evening of the same day, but one or two is a 
 more usual number. A peasant in the interior, how- 
 ever, who knows what he is about, and devotes much of 
 his time to the purpose, as many do, will probably kill 
 from fifteen to twenty cocks in the course of the spring. 
 I was, indeed,- assured by an acquaintance of mine, who 
 resided in the heart of the Wermeland Finn Forests, that 
 one particular spring he shot no less than twenty-uine. 
 This, in a country where nearly every one carries a mm, 
 will give some idea of the havoc that is thus annually 
 made amongst these noble birds. 
 
 In the northern parts of Scandinavia, the Capercali is 
 generally shot at the Lek-stiille with a small pea-rifle; 
 but in the south the shot-gun is almost universally used 
 for the purpose. 
 
 Though the Capercali is so large a bird as to he 
 thought impossible to miss, it ne\ertlieless not seldom 
 escapes the fowler, even though provided with a shot- 
 gun. Several causes contribute to this. In the fir-t 
 place, il i-, u-nally \ery dark, when one lires ; secondly, it 
 is not al\va\v that an unobstructed vie\v of the bird can be 
 
BISHOP TEGNER. 41 
 
 obtained; and, lastly, "a good dose" is required to bring 
 it to the ground. 
 
 Accidents, and those of a serious nature^sometimes 
 occur at the Lek-sldlle ; for, when at early dawn the 
 fowler is stealing on the Capercali in a bent position, a 
 brother sportsman similarly engaged may take him for a 
 bear or other wild beast, and send a ball into bis body, 
 many instances of which are on record. 
 
 In connection with this subject I subjoin some lines by 
 the late Bishop Tegner, the great northern bard : * 
 
 Green hunter ! load 
 
 Your rifle now : 
 Your stealthy road 
 Winds o'er the mountain's brow 
 
 To yonder .swamps. 
 
 Yet is it time : night's starry lamps 
 
 Smile on the earth ; young love lies warm 
 
 Cradled in Spring's fond arm. 
 
 Hush! hush! hush! 
 
 Birds, like joy, are full of fear, 
 
 Wakeful love can danger hear : 
 
 Creeping, slow, 
 
 Softly go : 
 Hark ! they are stirring in the hush. 
 
 See, how the night 
 
 Fades, dies away 
 
 In morning grey ; 
 
 While streaks of liijlit 
 
 O 
 
 Land and sea are calling up ; 
 
 Day is red on the hill-top : 
 
 But underneath, 
 
 The dales, the groves, are dark as death. 
 
 "' From " Specimens of German and Swedish Poetry." Translated by 
 .1. K. D. Bethune. Published by John Murray. 1848. 
 
42 JJISHOP TEGNfcU. 
 
 Seest thou yonder pine clad isle 
 Dimly smile. 
 In tin- light : 
 
 Now tin- tiff tops :irc fiiintly bright 
 III tin- twilight cold anil clear : 
 I'.iril.- tu-d:iy art- pairing there. 
 
 Hark ! how their tender lay 
 Salutes the day, 
 
 Salutes the mate, already seen 
 
 Perched on the branches green ; 
 
 How lovingly the strain 
 
 Pours forth, to gain 
 
 'The liasht'ul bride, as coy as though 
 She the ecmrtshi|t did not know. 
 
 Hark ! how in murmurs sweet, 
 
 They the old tele repeat ; 
 
 Love, which must eternal l>e. 
 
 Kndlcss truth and constancy ; 
 
 All that fondest longing feels, 
 
 All that brightest liojje reveals : 
 
 There is sorrow's gentle sigh. 
 
 There is joy's exulting cry. 
 
 Mingling i" <>ne; 
 
 And not a tone 
 
 I >i~eurdaiit from a single liusli or t i 
 All is delii-ions harmony. 
 
 How elofpient tlioii art, 
 Kternal voice of Natun-'.- heart 
 
 Thou holy HIIIIK-, 
 Kver fhaiiging. still the s;inn | 
 
 Life's einlless spring, 
 
 Soul of e\.-ry living thing, 
 
 Height of joy and depth of pain 
 
 Known in Heaven, or felt on earth ; 
 
 |.,,\,. ' |,,ve' no s..ng t.. which m\ hi-art gi\<-s l-irlh 
 
 the uilil joy of thy tuniiiltous strain. 
 
MSHOP TEGNEll. 43 
 
 Louder swell the notes 
 
 Gushing from their throats, 
 
 Murmuring, thrilling through the grove : 
 
 ?ongs of rage as well as love, 
 
 Love and rage and rivalry. 
 
 Chased must the hated rival he 
 
 O'er hill and dale, far from the trysting tree. 
 
 What can assuage 
 
 Their jealous rage 1 
 
 War, and warlike songs. 
 
 The prize, the struggle, is the same 
 
 As before Troy, whose deeds of fame 
 
 In many a battle-song a7 - e shown : 
 
 To the forest strife belongs 
 
 Rightly an Iliad of its own. 
 
 The squadrons stand aside, 
 
 While Paris forth is gone 
 
 With Menelans to contend alone, 
 
 And battle for the beauteous bride. 
 
 There Helen sits, not upon Ilion's wall. 
 
 But on a pine-tree tall ; 
 
 Thence she beholds the strife, 
 
 I 'fstined to l>e the conqueror's wife. 
 
 With fierce delight 
 
 The Greek and Trojan fight ; 
 
 They clap their wings, 
 
 With eager springs 
 
 ISreast against breast they rise ; 
 
 And the red ring swells round their fiery eyes. 
 
 < 'law and crooked beak 
 
 Their hate and rage bespeak. 
 
 Feathers fly ; the life blood drops, 
 
 Spattering the green grass tups ; 
 
 Till, weary of the fight, 
 
 Paris turns to flight. 
 
 But ah ' a Pandarus is there, 
 
 Already plans his treacherous snare, 
 
 His ho\v already on the Spartan bends, 
 
 While he struts proudly through his Grecian friends. 
 
44 BISHOP 
 
 The victor's song 
 Hounds now : he will not triuiiijili lmi{. 
 
 He boasts of deeds of glory dour 
 
 For his dear love, while in the tone 
 
 The songster's rage is still expressed : 
 
 But, in his loving breast, 
 
 Uiige cannot hist : 
 
 Already is it past. 
 
 I lurk ! hw the melody outpouring 
 
 Seems to decay, 
 
 And melts away, 
 
 Sweetly for love imploring ; 
 
 And, in complaining longing sighs, 
 
 Softly dies. 
 
 Hunter ! be quick, observe the tone; 
 
 Steal along, 
 
 While swells the song, 
 
 , Sight and hearing then are gone : 
 
 But, when he holds his warbling breath, 
 
 Crouch down, as low, as still as death. 
 
 Heed not that the swamp is deep, 
 
 Through the marshes you must creep ; 
 
 If the victor you would win, 
 
 Get your rifle's range within. 
 
 Fire! 
 
 Hushed is the song, dispersed the choir, 
 And in the warbler's heart the lead. 
 
 But he died without a Jiang, 
 
 Fondest loved, and sweetest sun:.', 
 
 Happy den.l ! 
 
 Many Capercali are also shot during the autumn to 
 the Stand- lliunl, or pointer, in the midland mid southern 
 parts of Scandinavia, and in \\hat we in England should 
 call a sportsmanlike manner. In the far north that 
 description of d>ir is hardly known, even by name. 
 
THE POINTER. 45 
 
 At the season in question, when these birds are much 
 on the ground, and usually met with in the more open 
 parts of the forest, near water, and where berries abound, 
 the pointer is very available. But he should be steady, 
 under perfect command, and not too wide a ranger. He 
 ought, moreover, to be a good roader that is, draw well 
 on game ; for though at times the Capercali lies close to 
 the pointer, yet at others it not only runs far ahead, but 
 quickly, in which case it is desirable that the sportsman 
 be as near to it as possible when it takes wing, more 
 especially in thick cover. 
 
 Pointers are not unfrequently met with in Sweden 
 which, when ranging far ahead, will, on finding game, 
 leave it undisturbed, and, hastening back to their master, 
 intimate to him by their gestures that their search has 
 proved successful, and afterwards lead him up to the 
 quarry. A dog so trained, or self-taught called rapportor, 
 or reporter is invaluable in \vood-shooting. 
 
 Such a one I myself recently possessed. His instinct, 
 indeed, was extraordinary ; for if, when hunting at a 
 distance from me in the open country, he found birds, he, 
 instead of returning to me, would mount a rock or other 
 eminence, and commence barking loudly to attract my 
 attention, not ceasing until such time as he noticed that 
 I was making towards him, when he would at once return 
 to his point. 
 
 In shooting Capercali to the pointer I was not very 
 fortunate, never having bagged more than four or five in 
 any one day ; but then it was rarely I went in search of 
 those birds in August or the early part of September, the 
 only time the pointer can be used to advantage ; and I 
 never shot, moreover, in forests, where they either abounded 
 or were preserved. 
 
 But some of my friends and acquaintances have been 
 much more successful than myself. Captain B., a country- 
 
46 TRAGICAL EVENT. 
 
 man, told mo that, when in Norway some years ago, 
 he and a friend thus bagged in a ie\y days nineteen 
 and a half brace of those birds. 
 
 When shooting Capercali, or, indeed, any other kind 
 of game in cover, with a pointer, it was my custom to 
 hunt him with a bell about his neck, which I found an 
 immense advantage ; for if the bell suddenly ceased 
 ringing, I was pretty sure, on proceeding to the spot, to 
 find the dog at a point. It might be supposed the bell 
 would alarm the birds, but this did not appear to be 
 the case, probably because they were accustomed to the 
 sound of it, as one or more of a herd of cattle pasturing 
 in the northern forests is almost always provided with 
 that appendage. 
 
 As regards the country about Ronnurn the place of 
 my late residence the best Capercali shooting was on the 
 hills of Hunnebcrg* and Halleberg. But these being 
 lloyal domains and strictly preserved, it was only once 
 in a time, by the courtesy of M. Sandelhjelrn, the late 
 Governor of the province of Wcnersborg, that I obtained 
 access to them. On these occasions I was always accom- 
 panied, agreeably to rule, by a keeper, and more than 
 once by an individual named Mork, who some years 
 subsequently met with a very sad fate. 
 
 He had been missing from home for some time, and 
 after several days' search by a large body of men, called 
 out by the authorities for the purpose, his mangled 
 remains were at length found under a heap of brushwood, 
 evidently cast over them by his murderer. A peasant 
 
 * Or mountain of the J/i'im. It may IK- desei -\ in;,' t' notice, thai 
 tin- remembrance of the d'oiha is preserved in the S\vedi>h name- of (lali-r 
 Gijtltluiul, \Vealer-<i'<itlJ<ui'l, OotUand, Qttkt rixer, A-c. ; and I think Sweden 
 i- tin' milv rimntrv in Hiiro) M- that can -lio\\ localities named after (hat 
 >nr.- MI powerful nation. The Swedish monarch, it nia\ lie added. ;-lill 
 
 the title ,.f lli. ' Kill'.: "f the Uotll-. 
 
THE FOG-EL-UUN1). 47 
 
 whom poor Mork had shortly before prosecuted, either 
 under the game laws or for making free with timber, and 
 who had been heard to vow vengeance against him, was 
 at once arrested, and the proofs of his guilt being strong, 
 was at the subsequent trial condemned to lose his head. As, 
 however, the evidence on which he was convicted was 
 only circumstantial, which by the Swedish law (in capital 
 cases, at least) is insufficient, unless the culprit himself 
 admits his guilt, which this man refused to do, the sentence 
 could not be carried out. But he was detained in prison 
 for several years, during which no exertions were spared 
 by the clergy and others to induce him to confess the 
 crime with which he was charged, but altogether unavail- 
 ingly. At length, however, whether owing to doubts about 
 his guilt or other cause I know not, he was restored to 
 liberty, and is now, I am told, alive and flourishing. 
 
 During the autumn the Foyel-JIund, literally " bird- 
 dog," is, for Capercali shooting, in much greater request 
 than the pointer. His forte, after flushing the bird, is to 
 " challenge " to it when " treed," whereby the fowler is 
 enabled to ascertain its w r hereabouts. The best dogs are 
 said to come from Lapland, such as were used by me in 
 bear-shooting, and of which several are depicted in botli 
 my former works. Generally, however, the Stofvare, or 
 hare-dog, for the most part a hybrid kind of harrier, is 
 used for the purpose ; often, indeed, any kind of mongrel 
 which is well trained answers well enough. 
 
 Swedish sportsmen, when speaking of the Fogel- 
 Ilund, tell us: "He should not run hare, at least to 
 any distance. The smaller he is the better, for if large 
 the Capercali is apt to be alarmed and take wing ; and 
 if he be party-coloured it is an advantage, as dogs so 
 marked attract the special attention of the bird. He 
 should have a good nose, so as to be enabled to Avind 
 the quarry from a distance; and when it flies, whether 
 
4S THE FOGEL-HUND. 
 
 from off the ground or from tree to tree, he must not 
 bark until it perches, and then only occasionally ; and 
 always from the same side of the tree ; he should not he 
 allowed to run barking and yelping round about the tree. 
 and least of all to gnaw and scratch the stem witli his teeth 
 and claws, as in that case the bird becomes frightened 
 and moves off." 
 
 When the Capercali is "treed" by a well-t rained 
 dog and it seldom flies far after being flushed from off 
 the ground unless it sees the fowler it often remains quite 
 passive, and looks down with curiosity rather than fear on 
 the enemy beneath. In the meanwhile the man stealthily 
 makes his way towards the tree beneath which the dog 
 is challenging ; and as the attention of the bird is in 
 great degree taken up by the dog, the man is frequently 
 enabled to get within gun-shot before it becomes a ware of 
 his presence. But even when one is close to the tree-- 
 supposing it is an umbrageous pine it is not always 
 easy to discover the bird. In this case it is best, in 1 In- 
 first instance, to follow Avith the eye the stem of the tree 
 from the ground upwards, and afterwards to peer nmonu-t 
 the branches. It happens at 1 lines, nevertheless, that 
 one never discovers it until it takes \\ing. 
 
 In the early part of the autumn, cocks ;md hens, \\lien 
 "treed," sit equally well to the Pogcl-lluml, but as 
 the season advances, the cocks become so excessively wild 
 as usually to fly as soon as the dog begins to challenge. 
 This is by no means the case with the hens, who will 
 often remain in the tree until a person approaches quite 
 close to them. 
 
 lYom the large size of the Capcivali one mii;ht sup- 
 pose it would be an easy shot, and such is the case if it be 
 Unshed from otf the ground and that the cover be pretty 
 open ; but when it dips down unexpectedly from the (lines 
 nearly to the -round, as frequently happens, it is often 
 
ADVENTURE WITH A BEAR. 49 
 
 all but out of shot, or concealed by the foliage, before 
 one can take a proper aim. Such at least has been my 
 experience. 
 
 When the Capercali are young, No. 4 or 5 shot, or even 
 smaller, answers perfectly well, but later in the year much 
 larger shot is requisite, as regards the old cocks. 
 
 During the autumn, the proper season for the pur- 
 pose, circumstances prevented me from killing more than 
 an odd Capercali to the Fogel-Hund, under which cate- 
 gory came my own bear-dogs ; but in the winter, when 
 the snow lay deep on the ground, and whilst searching 
 for bears, I have shot a good many of those birds ; One 
 particular year, indeed, between forty and fifty, and of 
 these five in one day; for when the dogs found and 
 " treed " a Capercali, I not unfrequently substituted 
 small shot for ball, and stole upon the bird. 
 
 On one occasion, however, this change of missiles was 
 attended with inconvenient consequences. Accompanied 
 by a peasant, I was traversing a very wild part of the Dale- 
 carlian forests, distant probably ten to fifteen miles from 
 the nearest habitation, when our dog suddenly challenged 
 loudly in a dense brake a little ahead of us. If dogs fall 
 in with a wild beast, I should remark, their bay is always 
 louder and deeper than usual ; but the dog in question 
 being all but a stranger to me, I was not well acquainted 
 with his voice ; and as we had recently flushed several 
 Capercali, I imagined it to be one of them, or a Hazel- 
 Hen, that occupied his attention. Leaving, therefore, my 
 man stationary, I made stealthily towards the dog, but 
 being equipped with Skidor, or snow-skates,* and as the 
 cover was very thick and the trees and bushes loaded with 
 
 * Implements ten to twelve feet in length, bv about three inches in 
 breadth, described and depicted both in ''Field Sports of the North 
 of Europe" and " Scandinavian Adventures. ' 
 
 E 
 
5 ADVENTURE WITH A BEAR. 
 
 snow, I hud considerable difficulty in forcing my way 
 through it. At last, however, I sighted the dog; but 
 instead of being at a bird, as I had imagined, I found him 
 savagely baying at a huge bear, then not more than- 
 twelve to fourteen paces distant from me. The beast was 
 standing on all fours ; but, owing to the denseness of the 
 brake and the stem of a large pine intervening, I saw 
 little more of the brute than head and shoulders. Had I 
 now had wit enough to put balls of which I always carried 
 several loose in my waistcoat-pocket into my gun, every- 
 thing would, no doubt, have ended well; but thinking that if 
 I delayed at all the bear would move off, I at once levelled 
 at the root of its ear, which was fully exposed to my view, 
 and fired. On receiving my shot the beast fell like a sack 
 to the ground, but in a second or two it was again on its 
 legs, and whilst retreating received the contents of my 
 second barrel in its hind quarters, which however seemed 
 to take no more effect than if discharged against a brick 
 wall. Had I been on fool \\licn it fell to my first barrel, 
 I should at once have closed with it, and most likely put 
 an end to it with the second one. But, hampered as I 
 was with " Skidor," which implements are all but un- 
 manageable in a tangled brake, it was impossible to 
 advance except at a snail's pace. So mortified I have 
 seldom felt in my life to lose so great a prize within my 
 grasp, so to say, and that altogether through my own 
 stupidity ! Our only consolation was that the bear, which 
 proved to be a female, left her baby-cub behind, which we 
 carried alive to our quarters, where, houever, owing to 
 want of proper treatment, it died some days afterwards. 
 
 It would be a Ion:,' story were I to narrate the several 
 chases we subsequently had after the old bear, which, to 
 judge by the quantity of blood left at her several halting- 
 places, must have been severely wounded. Suffice it to 
 say that, ovvinir to the lateness of the season and the very 
 
GOOD SPORT. 51 
 
 unfavourable state of the snow which at one time, from 
 the effect of thaws, was a perfect mash, and at another 
 so hard frozen that the track of the beast was imper- 
 ceptible she finally made good her retreat. 
 
 It was said, however, that during the following summer 
 her doom was sealed in a steel trap, and that on being 
 skinned a number of my shots were found embedded in 
 the skin or flesh about the side of her head, the point at 
 which my first barrel was directed. The bear in question 
 was one of the very few that, once on foot, escaped from 
 me during my sojourn in the northern forests. 
 
 Though I myself have shot but few Capercali with the 
 Fogel-Hund, there is no doubt that with its aid great 
 execution may be done in the early part of the season ; for 
 the poults, when " treed," then sit so close as to be easily 
 approachable. Of the number that may thus be shot in a 
 good line of country, some idea may be formed from a 
 statement, apparently a truthful one, that recently ap- 
 peared in a Swedish periodical. 
 
 The writer, a government official, who signs himself 
 A. M. 0., was, in the autumn of 1864, with a companion 
 on a tour of inspection of some extensive royal forests, 
 covering 600,000 to 700,000 acres, in Jockmock and 
 Arvidjaur Lapland, where game is supposed to be more 
 abundant than elsewhere in Scandinavia, and from whence 
 Stockholm and other large towns are chiefly supplied in 
 the winter. These gentlemen had a pointer of their own, 
 and the use of a Fogel-Hund, named Pompe, by all 
 accounts perfection itself, which they had borrowed from 
 a " squatter." They would appear to have shot only oc- 
 casionally, when off duty. A. M. 0. gives us in detail 
 several of their best days' performances which were, 
 indeed, extraordinary and sums up by saying that, 
 " between the 29th August and 15th September, himself 
 and friend bagged no fewer than 128 Capercali;" and there 
 
 E 2 
 
52 HOW TO MAKE A BAG. 
 
 can be no doubt, from the season of the year, these were 
 in general well-grown birds. The same writer tells us 
 besides that " a shot-gun \vas previously unknown in 
 those parts, and the peasants looked on with admiration 
 and astonishment when a bird was brought down on the 
 wing ; " and still further, that the Capercali, from being 
 little molested, were so very tame as hardly to get out 
 of the way of the fowlers. 
 
 When, however, the autumn is far advanced, and the 
 Capercali have become exceedingly wild, the better plan 
 to circumvent them is without any dog, unless it be 
 a retriever, or one that " keeps to heel ;" for these birds 
 will then oftentimes permit a man to approach within 
 gun-shot ; not always the case when they are beset by the 
 Fogel-Hund. 
 
 If there be two or three " guns," and they form a line, 
 with beaters between them, the probability of making a 
 "bag" is of course much greater than when one is entirely 
 alone, because the bird, whether flushed from off the ground 
 or from a tree, is then very apt to fly within range of one 
 or other of the company. But in the event of there being 
 several sportsmen, the " line " to enable it to hold a 
 straight course must " dress " to some one in particular, 
 either to the man in the centre or to the person at the 
 extremity of one of the wings. But whilst thus traversing 
 the forest, no more noise must be made than an occasional 
 low challenge responded to by all, thus enabling each man 
 to keep his proper place. 
 
 But Capercali shooting in the manner spoken of, cither 
 with or without a dog, was never a very favourite amuse- 
 ment of mine; for though one occasionally meets witli 
 tolerable sport, yet it happens not seldom that, owing to 
 the immensity of the northern forests, and the uncertainty 
 of the whereabouts of the birds, you may wander a whole 
 day without obtaining a shiLrle shot. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Stalking Capercali. Northern Forests. Shooting by "Lack." The 
 "Stick-Nat." The " Kasse." -The "Lam." The " Fall-Stock." The 
 " Flaka." The " Bloss." The " Bloss ach Haf." The " Bulvan." 
 
 stalk Capercali with a rifle in winter a not unusual 
 pursuit with the peasants in the primeval forests 
 of the northern parts of Scandinavia is a much more 
 exciting 'affair than pursuing them in the way spoken of 
 in the last chapter. 
 
 At the season in question the cocks are mostly in 
 packs, and though I myself have never seen more than 
 fifteen or sixteen together, yet old chasseurs have assured 
 me that in their younger days, when game by all accounts 
 was more plentiful than at present, they have known 
 these birds to assemble in far greater numbers. Hens 
 are seldom seen in these packs, but would appear to keep 
 almost entirely by themselves. 
 
 The favourite resorts, during the winter, of these packs 
 of Capercali cocks are the borders of the numerous lakes 
 and morasses studding the face of the northern forests, 
 and when the snow lies deep on the ground and the trees 
 
54 CAPKRCALI STALKING. 
 
 are mantled in white, the birds are generally to be seen 
 perched on the upper branches of the Scotch fir, the leaves 
 of which then constitute their chief nourishment. 
 
 A large pack of Capercali thus feeding, with their 
 dark colour beautifully contrasting with that of the snow- 
 clad pines, is one of the most striking and interesting 
 of sights, of which the reader may form some idea 
 from the annexed illustration kindly executed for this 
 work by my talented friend, Colonel Frits von Daniel, 
 Aide-de-Camp to the King of Sweden. 
 
 The great difficulty is to find the " pack," unless 
 one has previous information regarding its whereabouts. 
 Not unfrequently, indeed, a man may wander for a day 
 or two in the forest, and in the while go over an im- 
 mense extent of country, without meeting with more 
 than an odd bird ; such at least has been my experience. 
 If a "pack" be found, however, the sportsman ma\ 
 generally manage to follow it for the whole day, or it may 
 be for several days together. 
 
 The larger the " pack," the better ; as well because the 
 birds are then more discernible at a distance, as that, 
 when disturbed, they seldom take wing all at one time, 
 and hence the gunner is usually enabled to observe tin- 
 direction taken by one or other of them; and where 
 it alights, or in the near vicinity, he is pretty sure to 
 find its comrades. But if, on the contrary, the "pack" 
 be small and the distance great, one may readily pass the 
 birds unobserved; or should all take \\ing at once 
 when the eye is not on them, it may happen thai they 
 are lost altogether. 
 
 Speaking generally, the longer one pursues a "pack" 
 of Capercali, the more approachable the birds become; 
 partly, no doubt, from getting aeeuslonied to the report of 
 the gun, but chiefly, I take it, o\ving to their being 
 jireventcd from eating their fill. Towards evening, 
 
CAPKRCAL1 STALKING. 55 
 
 indeed, should the "pack" have heen followed the whole 
 day, their flight is usually not extended to any distance. 
 
 One's sport when thus stalking Capercali depends 
 much on the state of the snow. Should this be loose 
 under foot, and one's movements in consequence con- 
 ducted in silence, and if there be much snow in the 
 trees, whereby the sight of the birds is obstructed, it is not 
 very difficult to approach them within rifle-range. But 
 if, on the contrary, there be a crust on the surface of the 
 snow as after rain, or a partial thaw followed by 
 frost, is always the case and if there be little or no snow 
 in the trees, it is far from easy to get near them. At 
 such times, indeed, from their vision being but little 
 impeded, and from their hearing the snow crackle under 
 the feet, the birds are constantly on the alert, and it is 
 rather by accident than otherwise that one succeeds in 
 obtaining a shot. 
 
 The weather has also much to do with this sport. If 
 it be calm, the atmosphere thick, and a little snow falling, 
 the chances of success are greatly increased ; for the 
 Capercali then sit on the pines, with their feathers ruffled 
 up, and looking for all the world like so many turkey- 
 cocks ; and even when disturbed they seldom fly far. 
 But if, on the other hand, the cold is intense, or if it 
 blows hard, the birds are frequently on the ground, 
 buried beneath the snow, or so shrouded amongst the 
 lower or more umbrageous parts of the trees, as not to 
 be easily seen ; and when they do take wing, they 
 frequently fly a very long way. 
 
 Some management is requisite in stalking the 
 Capercali in the winter time, as, from their usually 
 frequenting the more open parts of the forest, suitable 
 cover is not always at hand to enable one to stalk them to 
 advantage. And it is more especially difficult to get within 
 .range of a large pack ; for let the uniu-r take what 
 
56 CAPKKCALI STALKING. 
 
 direction he will, the eye of one or other of the birds- 
 scattered as they usually are is pretty sure to he upon 
 liirn. We are told, however, that should a man at such 
 times he robed in white an expedient never adopted by 
 myself the Capercali will allow him to approach much 
 nearer than if in his usual dress. 
 
 In following this amusement, one should be provided 
 with a rifle that shoots accurately at from a hundred to a 
 hundred and fifty yards, as it is not always easy to tret 
 within a shorter distance of the Capercali ; and the 
 smaller the ball the better, for if at all large it is apt 
 greatly to disfigure the bird. If near the Capercali when 
 you lire, and that the ball goes wide of the mark, the 
 bird almost invariably takes wing at once; but if, on tin- 
 contrary, the distance be considerable say one hundred 
 and fifty to two hundred yards it will often remain mi 
 its perch until you have " emptied a powder-horn." 
 Owing to want of accuracy in my rifle, I have fired in 
 quick succession from eight to ten shots at the same 
 bird, without its altering its position in the least; and il 
 has only taken wing at last when the ball has scraped 
 some feathers from its body. 
 
 When within range of the Capercali, one of course rests 
 the rifle against a tree or a stone, if such be at hand ; 
 but, failing other support, it is a good plan to lie on the 
 back, and fire from the upraised knee, which forms an 
 admirable rest for the rifle. 
 
 To the distant looker-on it is interesting to observe 
 a Capercali brought down \\ith a rifle-ball. One instant 
 the noble bird is seen perched on the pinnacle of a pine; 
 and the next, before the report of the piece is heard, it is 
 tumbling headlong to the ground. 
 
 Occasionally it happens that the Capercali when sin it 
 makes, in its fall, a lodgment amount tin- branches; in 
 which case, unless the t'm\ ler is willing to relinquish lii>. 
 
CAFERCALI STALKING. 57 
 
 prize, he must either climb the tree or cut it down ; an 
 expedient to which I myself once had to resort, and in 
 that case the tree, a Scotch fir, was of such huge 
 dimensions that my man was employed for fully half an 
 hour in felling it. 
 
 From the early part of November (by which time the 
 ground is xisually covered with snow, at least in the northern 
 parts of the Peninsula) to the middle or latter end of 
 February is the best time to stalk the Capercali. As the 
 spring draws near the birds become shy, partly owing 
 to there being less snow in the trees, and partly to the 
 approach of the pairing season. 
 
 Early in the winter, before much snow has fallen, a 
 man may follow the Capercali on foot ; but when the snow 
 lies deep on the ground, Skidor or SkarMgar* are abso- 
 lutely necessary. When at all near to the birds, however, 
 it is in most cases desirable to divest -oneself of these 
 implements, and to make further advances on foot ; a 
 somewhat wearisome operation when the snow is three or 
 four feet in depth. 
 
 Though, owing to a very bad rifle, my own performances 
 when thus stalking the Capercali were small for on no 
 one day did I ever bag more than three of those birds 
 yet others have been much more successful. 
 
 * Skarbagar are frames of open wicker-woi'k, of a roundish or oval shape, 
 about fifteen to eighteen inches in length, and twelve in breadth, described 
 and depicted in " Field Sports of the North of Europe." These implements 
 are of imperfect construction, but possess the great advantage of being 
 easily made and as easily repaired. In the Northern forests, when the 
 snow lies deep, one often sees horses provided with Skarb&gar, which con- 
 sist of circular iron rings, ten to twelve inches in diameter, across which 
 :uv several transverse bars of the same metal; they are fastened to the 
 fetlock with leathern thongs. Thus equipped, the horses necessarily 
 straddle a little in their gait, but are then enabled to traverse the forest in 
 all directions, let the snow be ever so deep. 
 
~> s FOREST SCENERY. 
 
 I was assured, indeed, by Jan Finne, of whom so 
 much mention was made in my former works, but who 
 (as well as M. Falk and the rest of my old comrades) is 
 now in his grave, that he once thus shot no less than six 
 Capercali cocks in a single day, und these out of a pack 
 numbering twenty-six at the commencement of the winter, 
 but of which at its conclusion he only left one. This man, 
 like most of the northern peasants, shot with a rifle car- 
 rying a ball but little larger than a marrow-fat pea ; but 
 even with this weapon he frequently made in my presence 
 what might be looked upon as long shots. 
 
 A peasant near Hjerpledan, on the Norwegian frontier, 
 informed me, furthermore, that in his younger days he had 
 known a pack of Capercali to consist of fully two hundred ; 
 that he himself and a comrade often went in pursuit of 
 these birds, and in the course of the winter killed about 
 forty ; but in spite of this slaughter, he went on to say, 
 the pack was apparently little reduce'l in number. And 
 this I can well believe, as from the vast extent of country 
 the pack was driven over in its course, it must necessarily 
 have had frequent accessions from other packs or addition 
 made by single birds. 
 
 To stalk Capercali in the manner described I hold to 
 be, in a small way, one of the noblest of sports. The 
 scenery alone affords ample compensation for one's exer- 
 tions. The savage grandeur of the northern forests, their 
 vastness, and their solitude, can only be duly appreciated 
 by those who like myself have wandered in their wilds. 
 Mountain, rock, and glen, are all deeply covered with 
 the melancholy-looking pine, which may be seen waving 
 in endless succession as far as the sight can reach. " In 
 vain," says a contemporary writer, " does the eye. darting 
 between their tall, straight forms, rising in stately dignity, 
 and in their green, unehanirhii: beauty, endeavour to pe- 
 netrate the dark extent, and to catch some traces nf eivi- 
 
FOREST SCENERY. 59 
 
 lization ; and equally in vain does the sun attempt with 
 Ids rays to pierce through their waving tops and illumine 
 the gloom below." Amongst this luxurious foliage, crags 
 of the most picturesque description often present them- 
 selves to the view ; whilst the surface of the ground is 
 strewed in every direction with large and broken fragments 
 of rock. Many of these immense masses have doubtless 
 been detached from the neighbouring crags ; but others 
 again are lying loose and disjointed, in such situations 
 that they could only have found their way there owing to 
 some extraordinary convulsion of nature. Though the 
 wild forest scene is at all times sufficiently monotonous, 
 the landscape is often relieved by some of the numerous 
 tarns and lakes, often beautifully studded with islands, 
 that cover the face of the country ; whilst streams, even 
 if iinseen, may at times be heard gurgling through some 
 deep and lonely deil. 
 
 In calm weather a solemn and death-like stillness 
 often reigns in these desolate regions ; but during storms, 
 the crash and noise amongst the trees is sometimes tre- 
 mendous. Vast numbers of pines, which for ages, per- 
 haps, have set the elements at defiance, are then either 
 uprooted or rent in twain by the force of the blast. In 
 such situations where the trees are only slightly embedded 
 in the soil, the fall of one often causes the destruction of 
 all around it, so that it is not unusual to see the trunks of 
 thirty or forty lying in immediate succession. Were not 
 the numerous morasses, which intersect the country, and 
 the broken nature of the ground sufficient obstacles, this 
 cause alone would prevent the Scandinavian forests from 
 being traversable in any other manner than on foot, the 
 number of prostrate pines rendering it almost impossible 
 to proceed on horseback. 
 
 But how very different the scene in the winter time. 
 " Beautiful as is the forest in the spring," says the 
 
60 SHOOTING BY LACK. 
 
 lamented Inglis, " when the trees unfold their virgin 
 blossoms beautiful as it is in summer, when the wander- 
 ing sunbeams, falling through the foliage, chequer the 
 mossy carpet beneath beautiful as it is in the autumn 
 when the painted leaves hang frail it is more beautiful 
 still when the tall pines and gnarled oaks stand in the 
 deep silence of a winter noon, their long arms and fan- 
 tastic branches heaped with the feathered burthen, ' that 
 has never caught one stain of earth.' Then, too, the 
 grey rocks, picturesque even in their nakedness, assume a 
 thousand forms more curious still when dashed with the 
 recent offering." 
 
 To proceed. In the early part of August, when 
 the young Capercali are still small, say the size of the 
 Black-Cock, numbers are shot by Luck, that is by the 
 fowler imitating the call-note of the mother or chicks, as 
 the case may be, and thus enticing the birds within reach 
 of the murderous gun. 
 
 For this kind of " Jagt " for sport it can hardly be 
 called the Fogel-llund, as ranging wider and making 
 more disturbance in the forest, is preferred to the pointer. 
 When this dog has found and scattered the birds, he 
 is called " to heel," and coupled up, and unless thoroughly 
 under command, muzzled as well, to prevent his barking. 
 The fowler then conceals himself either amongst the 
 bushes or within a small " screen " that he constructs out 
 of boughs. Here he remains in perfect silence for nearly 
 an hour, the time depending on the age of the poults, for 
 the older they are the longer lie must wait before he com- 
 mences luckning. Many details might be uiven as to his 
 subsequent proceedings; but as this barbarous system of 
 shooting is little likely to find favour with the reader,- it is 
 sufficient to say that, if all goes well, both the old hen and 
 her progeny are, one after the other, attracted to the 
 ambush, and should the unner be deadly inclined, the 
 
TIIK STICK-NAT. 61 
 
 whole of them are shot. But the man must be very 
 careful, we are told, not to pick up any of the birds 
 until the butchery is fully accomplished, for should 
 he prematurely leave his place of concealment, the still 
 surviving birds would become aware of his presence and 
 might not afterwards respond to his call-note. 
 
 When, however, the fowler wishes by Luck to take the 
 Capercali, or other of the large forest game, alive, he pro- 
 vides himself with a so-called Stick-Nat,* in principle 
 the same as the fisherman's common flue-net, that is, 
 the birds are not driven into it par force, but make 
 prisoners of themselves. 
 
 This net, in its original state, is usually sixty to seventy 
 fathoms in length, and twenty to thirty inches in depth, 
 with the meshes some three inches square; and generally 
 each of its sides is provided with a " walling." The 
 Telnar, answering to our cork and lead lines, consist 
 of stout packthread, but instead of being fastened to the 
 net itself, they are merely run through its outer meshes, 
 and hence the net travels on them in like manner as a 
 curtain on a brass rod. Short sticks, previously blackened 
 by fire and sharpened at the lower end, for more ready 
 insertion in the ground, are fixed cross-wise to the net, 
 or rather to the telnar, ten to twelve feet apart. The 
 telnar are about one-third shorter than the net itself, and 
 consequently there is a considerable quantity of loose 
 netting called Los-Gam. On the net being set, this loose 
 netting is drawn up in folds to the several cross-sticks 
 mentioned, and when the Capercali runs into the net, the 
 Los- Gam forms a sort of bag about the bird, making 
 escape next to impossible. The net should be dyed either 
 green or grey. 
 
 ; Made from very strong linen thread, the meshes being quadrangular 
 (not rhomboidal, as with fish nets). 
 
62 THE KASSE. 
 
 The fowler's proceedings in this case are very similar 
 to those adopted by him when shooting by Lack. When 
 the brood has been flushed, he sets his net as near as 
 may be in the midst of the scattered birds, in a quad- 
 rangular form, and then conceals himself within the 
 little enclosure, as represented in the annexed illustra- 
 tion. After a while he commences liu-kitimj, and should 
 matters be well managed, the whole or greater part of 
 the brood will soon be within the toils. The old hen is 
 seldom made captive by this means, for instead of keeping 
 to the ground, as the chicks usually do, she for the most 
 part continues flying from tree to tree so long as the Incli- 
 ning lasts. Should it so happen that she at such times 
 alights either behind or at the side of him, so that he 
 cannot shoot her without altering his position in the 
 brake, and thereby run the risk of being discovered, it is 
 better for him to remain still and allow her to fake 
 another flight. 
 
 ^ . " 
 
 
 TIIK K \"> 
 
 A second very simple kind of m v t for taking tin' Caper- 
 cali alive is named the "AWsr," signifying a basket; but 
 unlike tin- device just described which is only available 
 during the autumn this not can be used at any season 
 of the year. 
 
 It is about thirtx inches s.juare and made of twisted 
 silk, with meshes M , lar^re as readily to admit the head 
 
THE SNARE. 
 
 63 
 
 of the bird. If there be snow in the forest, the net should 
 be white, but if the ground be bare, green or some other 
 dark colour. 
 
 The Kasse is hung across a cattle-path or other by- 
 way, the four corners being secured to the adjoining 
 bushes, or to pine twigs, inserted in the ground, for the 
 purpose, by means of woollen threads of just sufficient 
 strength to retain it in its position. A stout silk 
 line is passed through the outermost meshes of the 
 net, both ends being fastened to a sapling at the edge of 
 the path-way. 
 
 When now the Capercali gets his head entangled in 
 the meshes, and meets with resistance, he rushes forward, 
 when the woollen threads give way, the net is drawn 
 together purse-form, and the bird lies helpless and with 
 his wings so closely pressed together that he can neither 
 injure himself, nor destroy the net. 
 
 THE CAl'ERC'AU SXARK. 
 
 During the autumn many Capercali are also taken in 
 
 snares. A common way of setting them is as follows: 
 
 Two stout sticks, forked at the upper end, some 
 
64 THE L.\M. 
 
 eighteen inches in length, are inserted upright in the 
 ground on either side of a pathway or other favourahle 
 locality, and across these, again, a third stick is placed, 
 to which, as seen above, the snares are fastened. Over 
 this so-called Stallning, or stand, several pine boughs are 
 placed, as well to conceal the stand as to protect the 
 snares from falling weather. 
 
 These snares one or more in number, according to 
 the breadth of the pathway or opening are sometimes 
 made of twisted horse-hair, but more commonly of wire 
 that has been passed through the fire for the purpose of 
 discolourment, and also to render it more ductile. The 
 snare or snares should hang about three inches from the 
 ground ; and to retain them in their place, they art- 
 secured with blades of grass, or something similar, to 
 the overhanging pine branches. 
 
 Numbers of Capercali are also captured during the 
 autumn in traps, which, though in principle all pretty 
 much the same, go under different denominations. 
 
 - L 
 
 T1IK t,AM. 
 
 The device, here represented as "//////v/J," or set, is 
 thus constructed: 
 
 A A is a stake, or polo, about four foot long, placed 
 lengthwise on tin- ground, \\horo it is secured by wooden 
 
THE PALL-STOCK. 
 
 65 
 
 pegs. B B, the " drop," consists of two somewhat stouter 
 and longer poles, connected at both ends by cross pieces. 
 These poles, it will be observed, are several inches 
 apart ; so that, on falling to the ground, there will be just 
 sufficient space between them for the fixed pole A A. 
 L is a post at the lower end of the " drop," B B, to keep 
 it in its place ; and D, an upright pole at its higher end, 
 to prevent the " drop," when descending, from swerving 
 to the right or left. C C are stones laid on the " drop " 
 B B, to accelerate its fall; E, the "gillring" apparatus 
 well known to gardeners and boys as " the figure of 
 4 trap;"* and F, the " giller-pinne" a stick extending 
 nearly the whole length of the "Lam." 
 
 When now the Capercali attempts to pass through the 
 opening, he must of necessity touch the giller-pinne F ; 
 when the " drop " B B, being released, falls, and the bird 
 is crushed between it and the fixed pole A A. 
 
 THE FALL-STOCK. 
 
 This trap also shown when " yillrad " differs but 
 little in construction from the Lam. 
 
 * See " Scandinavian Adventures," where this method of setting a 
 trap is depicted on a much larger scale than is the ease in the present 
 drawing. 
 
('('> THE Fl.AKA. 
 
 It consists of two poles, each about four feet in length. 
 The smaller, A A, is secured lengthwise to the ground ; 
 whilst the other, B B, the " drop," is either in itself so 
 heavy as to kill the bird in its descent, or is made so 
 by being loaded with stones. C is a post at the outer 
 end of B B, to keep it in its proper position ; and D D 
 two uprights at its foremost end, to ensure its falling 
 directly on to the pole A A. 
 
 
 
 
 THE Kl. VK \. 
 
 This engine, likewise represented as " yillr<i<l" 
 consists of six to eight thick pieces of wood about four 
 feet in length, and connected together at their foremost 
 ends by a cross piece. Near to this there is an aperture, 
 through which passes a stout stake firmly fixed in tin- 
 ground, and inclining somewhat backward, which not 
 only keeps the " Flulcn" 1 in its place \\hen set, but causes 
 it to fall in a perpendicular direction. 
 
 This trap is ' -illrad" in like manner as the /,// and 
 the J'lill-Klnck, and has this advantage over them, that 
 neither birds nor beasts of prey can readily gain access to 
 I IK- captured game, an evil to which they arc very liable. 
 
HOW TO SNARE THE CAPERCALI. 67 
 
 From the construction of the Flaka, it must necessarily 
 be placed on level ground. 
 
 The snares and traps described, and the kind used, 
 depend on the nature of the ground, and are set in such 
 parts of the forest as are known to be the favourite resorts 
 of the Capercali ; as, for instance, in cattle and by-paths, 
 between trees but little apart, in narrow passes amongst 
 rocks, and on knolls and eminences abounding with 
 berries ; as also near to sand-holes and other cavities ; as 
 to such situations birds are in the habit of resorting, 
 either for shelter in bad weather, or for the purpose of 
 " balling," i.e., dusting themselves. 
 
 Cowberries and other berries, to which the Capercali 
 are partial, must always be scattered under and about the 
 traps and snares ; and, unless the locality be such as to 
 render the expedient needless, a " Mis-Hag" or low 
 fence, composed of twigs of the spruce-pine, should be 
 constructed on either side of the pathway, in which 
 these devices are set, to lead the birds into the toils. 
 
 The proper time to bring the devices in question into 
 use and the fowler, to make it remunerative, should 
 have " at least one hundred traps and snares " is the 
 early part of October. The woods are then pretty clear 
 from cattle, and the night frosts have set in ; and, as 
 the greater part of the berries have by this time fallen 
 to the ground, the birds are more readily attracted by 
 those placed as lure by the fowler. 
 
 The duration of the trapping season depends much on 
 the weather ; for it is at an end as soon as snow falls in 
 any quantity, because the traps and snares are thereby 
 smothered, so to say ; and because birds, from being 
 unable to find sustenance on the ground, confine them- 
 selves, for the most part, to the trees. 
 
 " This system of trapping," M. Ekstrom remarks, 
 " does not form a part of the calling of (lie (rue sportsman 
 
 F 2 
 
03 rut' ni.oss. 
 
 who on the contrary should refrain from following it. 
 lie ought not, nevertheless, to be altogether in ignorance 
 as to the manner in which it is carried on." 
 
 Tin: i 
 
 In parts of Scandinavia, more especially in the 
 provinces of Snialand and "VVestergot bland, the Capercali, 
 as also the Black-Cock, are not unfn'<|iicntl\, when 
 roosting in the trees at night, shot by the aid of "Moss,"* 
 or by means of torchlight. 
 
 * The i'ovs for -.priii-iii-; tisli, as shown in " Scandinavian Adventure*," 
 
 f chips of ivsini'il- w 1 pl.-iced in a sort of JIMII cradle at the 
 
 i of the Inijit ; lint tlmt used liy tin- fowler is composed of several Innj; 
 
 Mrips of I. insiTt<-d in .-in iron n\i^. ,,r it ni.-i\ !>.- of :i sin^li- jiin I 
 
 \Miod i-li'ft latliwisi- ( witliin :i few inches of the hand fust. Seoteh lir is 
 preferred for the purpose, Imt it must lie |x-rferily dry and of all inllain 
 - nature. If the /i/,,.in lie :i nall\ UOIM! one', it throws out a splendid 
 ; and whi-thcr it illumines the forc-st or tin- lake, the effect on a dark 
 niillit is strikinijly 1-eautiful. 
 
MODE OF USING IT. 69 
 
 There are always two men on these nocturnal expe- 
 ditions; one carries the gun and the other the " bloss." 
 Starting after dark, they explore the part of the forest 
 where the birds have at dusk been heard to "tree "for 
 the night, or where there is reason to believe they are 
 roosting. The gunner goes in advance, and is followed at 
 a little distance by his companion with the " bloss," which 
 should be held aloft, so as to throw a steady and bright 
 light amongst the upper branches of the surrounding pines. 
 Both men keep a sharp look-out ; and when they discover 
 the Capercali, which are said to remain stupidly gazing 
 at the fire beneath, the gunner shoots them at his leisure. 
 It is asserted, indeed, that if he commences with the 
 undermost bird, he may kill the whole pack in succession ; 
 if, on the contrary, he first shoots the uppermost, the pro- 
 bability is that the rest will instantly take wing. 
 
 But even when the whereabouts of the Capercali have 
 been previously ascertained, it happens that, owing to the 
 darkness of the night, the men go astray. To prevent 
 this mishap they sometimes mark the direction in which 
 the birds are known to roost by a prostrate tree, or by a 
 tree felled for the purpose. And when, at night, they 
 betake themselves to the forest, they, instead of a single 
 "bloss," make use of two, which are placed at either end 
 of a long pole. The man carrying this pole goes a cer- 
 tain distance in advance of the gunner, who remains at 
 the tree in question to keep it and the two lights in an 
 exact line with each other. A halt is then called and the 
 gunner rejoins his companion ; and thus they proceed, 
 alternately advancing and halting, until they have reached 
 the part of the forest where the birds are known or 
 believed to be " treed," when they commence searching 
 for them in the manner already described. By the 
 adoption of this ingenious contrivance it seldom happens 
 that the fowlers go very wide of their mark. 
 
70 THE BLOSS OCII liAF. 
 
 Another very destructive plan of capturing the Caper- 
 cali and the Black-Cock is hy the aid of "Bloss och ILnjT 
 that is, hy torch-light and a sort of landing-net. 
 
 As said in the first chapter, the Capercali not unfre- 
 quently passes the night huried in the snow. Of a cold 
 winter evening, therefore for on such more especially 
 they seek this warm shelter the fowlers (for there are 
 always two) proceed to that part of the forest where 
 the hirds are known to resort, and carefully watch their 
 movements; as beneath the trees on which the Caper- 
 cali were last seen perched, or in the near vicinity, they 
 are pretty sure to make their couch. When it has become 
 dark, the men set off on skidor, that, their movements 
 may be conducted more silently. One carries the JUuxn 
 and the other the JluJ or landing-net, which is provided 
 with a very long handle. When they arrive at the sus- 
 pected place they narrowly scan the surface of the snow, 
 and so soon as they discover the slightest indentation 
 or depression therein the only evidence, as already 
 said, of the presence of the birds the Jluf is at once 
 placed over the spot, and pressed down as hard as 
 possible, to prevent the captive bird from creeping be- 
 neath it and from fluttering, thereby alarming others of 
 the _//(,/ that may be lying thereabout. 
 
 But it is only in Dalecarlia and certain other parts of 
 Scandinavia, I believe, that this plan of taking the forest 
 birds is resorted to, which perhaps is as well; for we are 
 told that, in districts where game is plentiful, two men 
 have been known thus to capture from twenty to thirty 
 Capercali and I Mack-Cock in t lie course of a single evening. 
 We are further informed that a certain individual was 
 in the habit of taking e\ery year by this means upwards 
 of a hundred of these birds. 
 
 This method of fowling has, however, many advanta. 
 It 8 unattended with danger of any kind, is not cruel, 
 
THE BULVAN. 71 
 
 and permits the fowler, should he be mercifully inclined, 
 to spare the hens and afterwards restore them to liberty. 
 By this device, moreover, one very great inconvenience 
 attendant on traps and snares the loss of a large number 
 of the captures being carried off by birds and beasts of 
 prey is obviated. 
 
 In parts of Sweden the Capercali are said to be shot in 
 winter to the "Bulcan," that is, a stuffed or artificial bird, 
 placed on a tree-top or in some commanding situation 
 within gun-shot of the fowler's ambush. But from what 
 I know of the habits of these birds I cannot imagine that 
 this device, which answers admirably for Black-Cock, as 
 I shall presently have occasion to show, can serve to 
 beguile many of the former birds. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 Tin- Ulack-Cock. Barren Hens. Habits. Food. IN -sorts. - -Sti.rwcil in. 
 Monitory BmK ( 'n\\*,- ,,f Migration. Tln> hiiritii; SCMSOM. The 
 S|H'l df the Black-Cock, Combative Propensities. Cross Breeding. 
 In Confinement. 
 
 nPHERE was a fair sprinkling of Black-Cock, or Black- 
 -*- Grouse (Orre, S\v.; Aarfuyl, Nor\v.; Telrao I'crdrir, 
 Linn.), near to Ronnum, both in the forest and on the 
 open moorlands. 
 
 This hird has a wide geographical range, extending 
 from Scandinavia, Russia, and Siberia, in the north, to the 
 southern slopes of the Pyrenees in the south, and is 
 much more generally distributed over Central Europe 
 where it inhabits both mountainous and marshy countries 
 than the Capercali, being found, locally, in Germany, 
 France, Holland, and the British Isles. 
 
 As regards the Scandinavian Peninsula, the Black- 
 Cock is much more abundant, and more widely spread, 
 than the Capercali. In almost all places, indeed, where 
 there arc woods or moorlands, it is found. Its northern 
 limits, however, are not so extended as those of the 
 Capercali; but it certainly u;oes as hi-h up as M uonin- 
 ni-ka, in Lapland, about llic (N ; fur t hough I myself 
 
o 
 
 
 
 

THE BLACK-COCK AND GUEY-HEN. 73 
 
 did not see it there, I learned that it occasionally visited 
 that part of the country. It is scarce in Denmark, and 
 is there confined to certain districts. 
 
 The Black-Cock is too well known to require a minute 
 description. It may, therefore, be sufficient to say that 
 the male and the female, as seen in the accompanying 
 drawing, differ widely in plumage ; that of the male, as 
 the name denotes, heing black, whilst the female, on 
 the contrary, is dark brown, whence her designation 
 with us of Grey-Hen. The male is also very much 
 larger than the female. 
 
 The idea is very generally entertained in the more 
 northern parts of Norway, that there is a second kind of 
 Black-Cock, grey in colour, and less in size than the com- 
 mon Black-Cock, and which is there called the Half -Owe, 
 or half Black-Cock. It is further said that this bird is 
 not unfrequently found amongst the game sent during 
 the winter from the mountainous districts to Drontheim. 
 M. Boie, when in Upper Ilerjeadalen, a portion of Norr- 
 land (the northernmost main division of Sweden) also 
 heard speak of a lesser kind of Black-Cock inhabiting the 
 copse wood on the upper slopes of the Fjalls. 
 
 The sight of the Black-Cock is reputed to be very 
 piercing, and its senses of hearing and seeing exquisite, 
 surpassing those of any of its congeners. Its flight, though 
 somewhat noisy, is lighter than that of the Capercali, and 
 it may often be seen flying both high in the air and to a 
 longdistance. Northern ornithologists tell us "it is a 
 wild, shy, and crafty bird." To judge of its proceedings 
 during the pairing season, it is certainly of a most pugna- 
 cious and savage disposition. 
 
 Accidental varieties are not unfrequent amongst these 
 birds. Several males beautifully variegated with white have 
 come under my own observation, and one of them is now 
 in the collection of a friend in this country. 
 
74 HABITS. 
 
 Nilsson makes mention of three other varieties, hut as 
 a scientific description would weary the reader, I sh.-ill 
 content myself with saying that two of them are now in 
 the Stockholm Museum. 
 
 Sterile females, which have assumed in degree the 
 plumage of the other sex, are also occasionally met with. 
 That represented in the annexed illustration, and now 
 preserved in the Lund Museum, is not only of a much 
 darker colour than the common Grey-Hen, but her tail is 
 forked in the same manner as that of the cock. 
 
 During spring and summer, the Black -Cock feeds on 
 birch-buds, tender leaves, plants, heather, and berries, 
 such as the red whortleberry, the blcaberry, &c., and on 
 insects and larvae; as also, when procurable, on grain, 
 more especially oats, in fields of which, prior to their bein^ 
 cut, I have seen and shot a good many of these birds. In 
 potato fields, moreover, I have now and then met with and 
 killed them; but whether they were there for the purpose 
 of feeding or taking shelter, I cannot exactly say. In 
 the winter time, however, it subsists almost wholly on 
 birch-buds and juniper berries, the latter of which are 
 always obtainable, however deep the snow may be on 
 the ground. 
 
 Water is indispensable to the Black-Cock; and it is, 
 in fact, not without example that the want of it during 
 certain years has, in some districts, visibly diminished 
 their numbers. In dry summers, moreover, one al\va\s 
 finds these birds unusually numerous about springs and 
 near the shores of lakes, rivulets, and water-course-.. 
 
 Their chief resort, in Scandinavia at least, an 1 pine 
 woods interspersed with deciduous trees, more especially 
 the birch. The deep recesses of the forest, which are the 
 favourite haunts of the Capeicali, this bird would seem 
 to shun, keeping, on the contrary, more to the confines of 
 the \\oods and to the bord< rs of the numerous and exten- 
 
w 
 
 w 
 
SNOWED-IN. 75 
 
 sive morasses, with which the northern wilderness is 
 studded. During the summer and autumnal months, 
 however, one meets with them on open moorlands, where, 
 indeed, very many breed. 
 
 In summer and early autumn they are found alone or 
 in families ; hut as the season advances they congregate, 
 and during winter, when the snow is deep, may oftentimes 
 be seen in packs of forty to fifty, roaming the country in 
 search of food. 
 
 Unlike the Capercali, which mostly roosts in trees, the 
 Black-Cock almost invariably passes the night on the 
 ground ; and in the winter, more especially if the cold 
 be intense, it not seldom buries itself in the snow. 
 
 Mlsson would seem to impugn the well-known fact, 
 that the Black-Cock, of its own free will and accord, thus 
 embeds itself in the snow ; for he says : " I have at times 
 observed that towards evening this bird has made a hollow 
 in the snow, and lain still there, allowing itself to be 
 covered with the falling flakes. I have often flushed it 
 when lying thus nedsnoud, or snowed-in, so that only the 
 head remained uncovered." 
 
 All this is a mystery to me, for when the Black-Cock 
 is desirous of the shelter afforded by the snow which 
 may be the case not only on the approach of evening, but 
 in the daytime instead of waiting to be " nedsnoad," a 
 somewhat tedious and uncertain process, it makes a 
 regular burrow for itself in the snow, the depth depend- 
 . iug, it is generally believed, on the mildness or severity 
 of the weather. 
 
 That a bird may be accidentally nedsnoad which, 
 sorely against niy inclination, has more than once hap- 
 pened to myself when bivouacking in the forest I can 
 well understand ; but that it should of its own free will, and 
 for the sake of keeping itself warm, undergo the slow and 
 disagreeable operation in question, is more than 1 can 
 
76 MIGRATORY BIRDS. 
 
 credit. And that the head of the bird, as Nilsson states, 
 should at sucli times be above the surface of the snow, 
 also seems to me very strange. Scores of times, when 
 crossing glades and other openings in the forest, where 
 the surface of the snow, to the casual observer at least. 
 appeared to be smooth as glass, one or more Black-Cocks 
 have suddenly emerged from beneath the snow almost at 
 my feet ; and when, expecting every moment others to 
 follow, I have carefully looked about me, I never could 
 discover anything beyond the slightest indentation in the 
 snow where the bird had burrowed, the hole itself being 
 filled up by the sides collapsing ; and yet, perhaps within 
 the next minute, half a score more Black-Cocks would 
 fly up all around me. That their heads were above the 
 surface previously to their leaving the snow I hold to be 
 utterly impossible, nor can I conceive that even their 
 beaks protruded, as others will have it. If air be needful 
 to birds when thus embedded in the snow, their breath, 
 no doubt, forms an almost imperceptible orifice, through 
 which they are enabled to respire. 
 
 The fact of birds thus burrowing into the snow has 
 been known from time immemorial. Nor did it escape 
 the notice of the learned Bishop Pontoppidan, who, 
 though he at times deals somewhat in the marvellous, is 
 generally pretty correct in the main. 
 
 " In the winter time," so he writes in his usual quaint 
 way, " the Black-Grouse take care of themselves in this 
 manner: they first fill their craw with as much food as 
 it will hold, so that it hangs like a l>air under their necks, 
 whereby they are provided with something to live on for 
 sometime; then they'll drop themselves down into the 
 soft snow, and don't stay in their first hole, but undermine 
 and burrow in the snow some fathoms from it; and there 
 they make a small opening lor their bills, and thus lie 
 warm and enmfoi-lable." 
 
CAUSE OF MIGRATION. 77 
 
 Though the Black-Cock, like the Capercali, is looked 
 upon as a SUind-fogel, or stationary bird, yet, as with the 
 latter, it not unfrequently wanders away, for a while at 
 least, from its native home, of which there are many 
 instances recorded. 
 
 " If I mistake not greatly," writes the Chamberlain 
 M. G. A. Schmiterlow, of Olstorp, in the province of 
 Ostergothland, " there have been strdckande partially 
 migratory Black-Cocks in this part of the country. A 
 large pack, from thirty to fifty in number, of these birds 
 were recently seen hereabouts, but all at once lost sight 
 of. They arrived, as it seemed to me, in the beginning or 
 middle of. December, and departed again soon after Christ- 
 mas. My first reason for supposing they were not bred 
 in the country was that when the attempt was made to 
 drive them towards the Bulcan or artificial decoy bird 
 they could not be induced to go near it, but held their 
 own course, backwards and forwards, a thing that hardly 
 ever occurs at this kind of Jagt. Subsequently they 
 disappeared altogether, and, as it would seem, took all the 
 Black-Cocks in the district along with them, for during 
 the remainder of the winter those birds were hardly ever 
 seen. In the autumn of 1830, to the best of my recollec- 
 tion, a similarly large pack also made its appearance in 
 this vicinity, but vanished again in the month of January, 
 1831, and so far as I am aware, without having been seen 
 by any one elsewhere in the district." 
 
 Again : " It has been clearly ascertained," says M. 
 Brummer, "that the Black-Cock is a Flytt-fogel (migratory 
 bird), though not in all years, so far as we know, for certain. 
 But it is only the males that leave, the females, unless 
 too much disturbed, commonly remaining in the same 
 locality. About the period of migration, say the end of 
 October or beginning of November, all the males in the 
 southern country collect and fly away to the north. One 
 
7 s THE PAIRING SEASON. 
 
 can see several hundreds depart together, in case a westerly 
 or south-westerly storm sets in." 
 
 Once more : " When packs of these birds are seen 
 high in the air," writes Dr. Odman, " directing their 
 course towards the SkdrgArd (the belt of islands girding 
 in places the Swedish coast), the common people say : 
 6la>i(lniit(/('H drager Orrarne till siff, that is, the inha- 
 bitants of the Island of Olaud draw to themselves the 
 Black-Cocks. 
 
 The partial migrations of these birds have created 
 considerable interest amongst naturalists and others, and 
 many are the speculations hazarded as to their cause. 
 They can hardly be attributable to heavy snow storms, 
 great droughts, or extensive fires in the forest, alleged by 
 some as the reason why the Capercali sometimes desert 
 the forests of the far north ; but more likely on the grounds 
 assumed by M. Ekstrorn, who says : 
 
 "These autumnal migrations, which occur immediately 
 after the birds have packed in October, are probably for 
 the purpose of seeking distant districts where the birch- 
 tree abounds, as its buds then constitute their principal 
 nourishment. Their migrations in the spring, again, are 
 a natural consequence of the desire felt by them to 
 propagate their species, which causes them to return to 
 their own pairing-grounds." 
 
 The Black-Cock is polygamous, and in the pairing 
 season, as with the Capercali, has its "lek-stiille," or 
 pairing-ground. A morass, a "clearing" in the forest, or it 
 may be the frozen surface of a lake, is usually selected, 
 and to the self-same locality, unless subject to unusual 
 disturbance, the birds resort for years together. 
 
 The pairing season with the Black-Cock takes place 
 somewhat earlier than with the Capercali ; in the more 
 central and soul hern portion of the peninsula it usually 
 about tlie middle <>!' March, or perhaps some- 
 
THE BLACK-COCK'S SPEL. 79 
 
 what later, and continues until the end of May. But in 
 the far north, where the snow often covers the ground 
 until the spring is far advanced, it naturally both begins 
 and terminates somewhat later. 
 
 The birds repair over night to the vicinity of the " lek- 
 stalle," where they assemble even before the first dawn of 
 day. One and all make their appearance at nearly the 
 same time. The number depends, of course, on their 
 abundance or scarcity in the neighbouring country. At 
 some pairing-grounds one sees, perhaps, less than half a 
 score, whilst at others there may be forty or fifty, or even 
 more. The hens are probably fully as numerous as the 
 cocks, but are less noticeable from keeping more in the 
 trees, and amongst the bushes. 
 
 The spel of the Black-Cock consists of two notes, or 
 rathdr succession of sounds, called in Swedish kuttra and 
 bldsa, the first being a sort of loud cooing, and the latter 
 a kind of hissing noise.* The spel of the Capercali, as 
 said, can only be heard at a comparatively short distance; 
 but that of the Black-Cock is, in clear and calm weather, 
 audible a mile or more off. Some imagine that the bird, 
 during his spel, is incapable of hearing, and hence the 
 saying, Dof som en Orre i spelet, or " Deaf as a Black- 
 Cock during his spel." But this is not the case, for though, 
 when engaged in courting the ladies of his seraglio, he is 
 
 " When the Black-Cock is provoked, or affrighted, it has a third note : 
 Krukokarn, which by the poacher in Swedish Kryp-skytt (literally, 
 creeping shooter) is interpreted as " crooked fellow," and expressly 
 intended for himself. 
 
 In parts of Sweden the spel of the Black-Cock is looked on in the 
 light of a barometer. When, for instance, his spel is heard at an unusual 
 season of the year, or time of day, a heavy downfall of rain or snow may 
 be expected ; and if in the immediate vicinity of a village, a storm of wind 
 is at hand. If, again, he is heard to spel from the top of a pine, fine 
 weather may be anticipated ; but foul, if amongst the branches. 
 
80 COMBATIVE PROPENSITIES. 
 
 less on his guard than at other times ; still, even then, 
 if he were incautiously approached hy the fowler, he 
 would soon let it be known that he was in full possession 
 of his auditory organs. 
 
 So soon as the birds have alighted at the pairing 
 ground, the old cocks begin to "kuttra" and " blasa," 
 and to make love to the hens, to which the latter are 
 nothing loth ; or to give chase to rivals. Whilst the cock 
 is thus parading to and fro, with his neck stretched out, 
 his wings trailing on the ground, and his expanded tail 
 raised nearly at right angles to his body, he frequently 
 vaults high in the air, and in the while so "slews" his body 
 round that on alighting again his head is turned in an 
 opposite direction. At such times the young cocks keep 
 at a respectful distance from the old ones, and "kuttra" 
 and "bl;\sa," fighting the while amongst themselves.* 
 
 Desperate combats between the cocks are frequent at 
 the " lek-stalle." They not only savagely charge each 
 other, but make such effectual use of both bills and claxvs 
 that the feathers fly in every direction. The victory 
 usually rests with the bird that succeeds in getting sure 
 hold of the head of his antagonist, whom he then drags 
 about the arena until fairly tired out, and who, when 
 released, is pretty sure to take wing and fly away. 
 
 Battles royal between the congregated cocks are also 
 not uncommon, and one may sometimes see several 
 engaged in a regular melee, tumbling over one another. 
 
 * Some will have it that, at the pairing ground, there is one old cock 
 
 in particular, culled the Spel-orrr, ho takes command i.\.-r tlic rest, and 
 who may readily be known liy l>einj; the lir.>t to arrive at the lek, and to 
 "ojH'ii the l>all." Thin liird, they sny, should not l>e killed, us in lh.it case 
 the total dlsjicrsion of the lek would prolial.lv !>< (lie immediate consequence. 
 I'.ut others laugh at this notion, and >hoot the first cock thnt happens to 
 in their u.n 
 
PAIRING. 81 
 
 Whilst the cocks are thus indulging in their comba- 
 tive propensities, the hens run to and fro with drooping 
 wings, and uttering a dolorous cry, nek, lick, ack, da, 
 expressive of their anxiety for an embrace. Actual pairing, 
 however, would not seem to take place so much at the 
 "lek-stalle" itself as amongst the surrounding bushes. 
 
 More than one ornithologist tells us that the hens 
 never solicit the favours of the cocks ; but the reverse is 
 the fact, as clearly evidenced by what came under the 
 personal observation of M. Hultman, the owner of the 
 estate of Hycketofta, situated in a wooded district. This 
 gentleman " possessed a tame Black-Cock which had the 
 run of a closely-fenced garden near the house, and at a 
 very early hour in the morning was accustomed to com- 
 mence his spel. When this had continued for a short 
 time, several hens, often as many as four or five, would 
 come flying to him in the garden from the neighbouring 
 forest, with all of whom in succession he regularly paired, 
 as witnessed by M. Hultman from his bedroom window. 
 When, however, the people of the house were up and 
 moving, the hens would fly back to the woods, though 
 always to return on the following morning." 
 
 To continue. Matters thus proceed until sunrise> 
 when the birds fly up into the neighbouring trees, where, 
 for a time, the cocks are silent, as if resting from their 
 labours. But presently they descend once more to the 
 ground, and for a short period the game goes on as 
 merrily as ever.* 
 
 The lek over, the birds separate, each cock accompanied 
 by the ladies of his harem. f 
 
 * The spel before sunrise is called Morgon-spel, or morning spel ; that 
 after the sun has risen, Sol-spel, or Sun spel ; whilst that in the afternoon 
 for when the season is advanced, the Black-Cock occasionally " opens his 
 pipes" is termed QuaU-spef, or evening spel. 
 
 t In districts where these birds are so shot down that only a few stragglers 
 
 G 
 
82 BREEDING. 
 
 The pairing season ended, the liens separate, and retire 
 to their respective breeding-grounds, which may either 
 be in the more open part of the forest, or on far distant 
 moorlands. 
 
 The nest of the Grey-lien is a very simple affair, being 
 a mere hole she herself scratches in the ground under a 
 bush or tussock. Her eggs are from six to twelve in 
 number,* in colour yellowish-whitr, thickly sprinkled 
 with small rust-red spots and blotches, which, towards 
 the thicker end, are somewhat larger; in length they 
 are two inches and one-sixteenth, and in thickness one 
 inch and one-sixteenth. The period of incubation, accord- 
 ing to some, is three weeks; but others say a month. It 
 is said that if the old bird, whilst sitting, lias occasion to 
 leave the nest, she covers the eggs over with moss. 
 
 " Fourteen days after the chicks are hatched," so we 
 are told by Ekstrom, " they leave the nest and follow their 
 mother; but it is not until they are seven weeks old 
 that they begin to fly up into the trees and to perch on 
 the branches." 
 
 Hybrids between the Black-Cock and the Capercali 
 called Hackel-Fogel are not of uncommon occurrence. 
 The Black-Cock has also been known to pair with the 
 Ripa, a species of grouse, as already said. But of tlu-M- 
 hybrids more hereafter. 
 
 It is even on record that the Black-Cock has occa- 
 sionally formed still stranger alliances. We are told, 
 for instance, that -M. Skogberg, having purchased one of 
 
 remain, no regular lek is In-Ill l>v tlirm ; but every eoek *i/>nift-orrr. 
 railed spels for himself, most commonly from the top of a lofty pine, or, it 
 may be, from a naked me k. 1 1. -re the hen- re-ort to him, and when his 
 sjiel is over, he distributes lii.s favours amongst them. 
 
 * Nordhohn tells us the hens, during their lirst year, lay eleven eggs, 
 and that afterwards the number diminishes so that in old MX''- they only 
 
 hiv five. 
 
CURIOUS CROSSES. 83 
 
 these birds from a Finn, confined it in a roomy coop, 
 and that some days afterwards he introduced to it a 
 common speckled hen in the hopes of obtaining a 
 breed between them. At first the Black-Cock evinced 
 great displeasure, for he not only gave the stranger a most 
 ungracious reception, but actually maltreated her. By 
 degrees, however, his dislike diminished, and at length he 
 received in good part his allotted partner, and pairing 
 took place between them. When she had laid ten eggs, 
 and shown an inclination to " sit," the Black-Cock was 
 removed from the coop, and she was placed on the eggs, 
 and in due -time seven chicks were produced. At first 
 these had a difficulty to walk, and their legs were there- 
 fore bathed with brandy ; but afterwards they throve 
 well and grew rapidly. When full feathered, they most 
 resembled the mother in colour, all being speckled ; their 
 tails were also of the same shape as hers, but their feet and 
 legs most resembled those of their father. The heads of 
 all were provided with a broad comb. They were females, 
 and proved good "laying hens." 
 
 Again : " People of undoubted veracity have assured 
 me," writes the late Cornet Carl Geijer, " that about fifty 
 years ago M. Vigelius, a clergyman in Werrneland, had a 
 Black-Cock which paired with a common hen. The chicks 
 bore as much resemblance to the father as to the mother. 
 They were of both sexes, and attained to maturity ; but it 
 was said never propagated their species." 
 
 We read further : " That M. Hultinan endeavoured to 
 obtain a cross between the Black-Cock and the common 
 hen. At first the experiment was unsuccessful ; but at 
 length he procured a hen that had long been without a 
 mate, and was so impassioned, that even if a person 
 pointed his finger at her she would appear as if prepared 
 to receive the attentions of the cock. With this bird the 
 Black-Cock paired, and her eggs were placed under another 
 
 G 2 
 
M IN CONFINEMENT. 
 
 hen, which hatched them ; but the chicks only survived 
 for three days." 
 
 The Black-Cock is easily domesticated, and if reared 
 from a chick, or taken when young, soon becomes quite 
 tame more so even than the Capercali. We read of one, 
 indeed, that was accustomed to sit on the shoulder of his 
 owner and accompany him over the estate ; and if it then 
 happened that other Black-Cocks were seen in the distance, 
 it would leave its perch and fly to them, though always 
 to return after the visit was paid. 
 
 At different times I myself have had great numbers 
 of these birds in confinement; but during- the pairing 
 seasons the males gave me much trouble, .being then so 
 quarrelsome that, to prevent casualties, I was always 
 obliged to separate them. 
 
 In the rural districts of Sweden one often sees a caged 
 Black-Cock at the houses of the gentry, this bird being 
 greatly admired by every one, both for his beauty and for 
 his spel, or song, which, though perhaps anything but 
 musical, is still wild and pleasing, and, during the pairing 
 season, almost continual. 
 
 When confined in a coop, or aviary, its treatment is 
 very similar to that of the Capercali. It eats freely almost 
 all kinds of grain, and most of the forest berries, especially 
 the juniper : of the Knopp, or incipient bud, of the birch- 
 tree it is also very fond. Water and sand, both coarse 
 and fine, it should never be without. 
 
 The Black-Cock is said to breed readily in confine- 
 ment ; but I myself never tried the experiment, thinking 
 it less troublesome to procure young birds from the 
 forest in the autumn. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Shooting Black-Cock at the Pairing-Ground With a Pointer With a 
 Fogel-Hund. Capture by Nets. Artificial Decoy Birds. Stalking 
 on Foot In a Sledge. Traps and Snares. The Orre-Tratt. The 
 Orrt'-Bemie. 
 
 Black-Cock is a favourite dish at the tables of the 
 upper classes in Scandinavia, and the consumption of 
 these birds is therefore great. About the year 1760 it was 
 calculated, on pretty sure data, that from sixty to eighty 
 thousand annually found their way to the Stockholm 
 market, and that at least two hundred thousand more 
 were consumed elsewhere in Sweden. If the consumption 
 Avas so considerable in those days, what must it be at 
 present, when wealth and luxury have so increased ? 
 
 This bird being so highly prized, various expedients 
 are adopted to obtain it. Very many are shot, and a 
 large portion at the " lek-stiille," or pairing- ground, 
 spoken of in the last chapter. This, as said, is usually 
 situated on a morass, or other opening in the forest, or 
 it may be on the surface of a frozen lake ; and here 
 the fowler constructs for himself a Skjut-koja literally 
 
80 SHOOTING AT THE LEK. 
 
 shooting-hut or " screen," in which to conceal himself, 
 as seen in the accompanying drawing. 
 
 This "screen" generally consists of from the to six 
 spruce-pine boughs, which, after being pointed at the 
 ends, are stuck slantingly in the ground opposite to each 
 other, so that the tops meet, and thus form a sort of roof; 
 or it may be of a small square inclosure fenced in by pine 
 branches laid lengthwise on each other to a height 
 sufficient to conceal the man when seated within it. Such 
 a "screen" has the advantage of being easy to construct, 
 and of not being liable to be blown away. 
 
 If, however, one has complete control over the spot, 
 and that the soil be wet, the better plan, we are told, is 
 to sink a large tub some four feet in the ground, and 
 afterwards to roof it over with turf, leaving, of course, an 
 aperture for the admission of the fowler, as also several 
 loopholes through which he may lire, so that when 
 bushes are placed around the tub, the casual observer 
 would suppose it was merely a little eminence. But let 
 the "koja" be constructed in what way it may, it should 
 be in readiness during the preceding summer, so that the 
 birds may become accustomed to the sight of it. 
 
 When the pairing season has arrived, the fowler 
 proceeds to his ambush at a very early hour in the 
 morning, whilst it is still quite dark ; and there lie 
 patiently awaits the coining of the birds. These usually 
 make their appearance at the very first dawn of day, 
 and for the most part simultaneously ; and immediately 
 afterwards commence carrying on love all'airs in the 
 manner recently mentioned. The cocks " spel " with 
 might and main, and either engage in fierce battle* 
 with rivals, or pay their addresses to the hens, who are 
 not backward in meeting the advances of their lovers. 
 
 So soon, however, as one or other of the hirds approach 
 siilliciently m-ar to the man's place of concealment, he 
 
SHOOTING AT THE LEK. 87 
 
 fires, and as the distance is usually short, commonly with 
 deadly effect. Many of the birds, the hens especially, 
 now take wing, though to return shortly afterwards ; but 
 the cocks, a portion of them at least, are generally so 
 engaged in hostilities with each other as to pay little 
 attention to the shot, and continue to kuttra and blasa, 
 and fight amongst themselves as bravely as ever. 
 
 The savage disposition the cocks display in their 
 combats almost exceeds credence. " I have myself," says 
 Ekstrom, " seen a recently-shot Black-Cock, whilst 
 fluttering in the agonies of death, furiously fallen upon 
 by a comrade, who continued to revenge himself on the 
 corpse of his late rival until I had reloaded, when I killed 
 him likewise." 
 
 And M. Wilhelm von Wright, when describing his 
 own experiences at the Orre-Lck, testifies to the same 
 effect. " They seldom fly up at the shot," he says, " but, 
 on the contrary, fiercely attack their late associate, who 
 in his lifetime perhaps had been their great persecutor, 
 until a fresh discharge from the koja hits one of the 
 revengeful assailants." 
 
 If the fowler on these occasions be an adept in 
 imitating the " spel " of the cock, or the call-note of the 
 hen, it is a great advantage, as he may then often succeed 
 in luring both the one and the other to within gunshot. 
 Often, indeed, in the grey of the morning, the birds 
 will of themselves approach immediately near to the 
 " screen," or it may be actually alight on it ; in which 
 case it happens that the man, through an opening left for 
 the purpose, pulls the bird by its legs into his ambush, 
 and is thus saved the waste of powder and lead. 
 
 Under favourable circumstances several shots are 
 usually obtainable in the course of the morning, and when 
 the cocks are engaged in a general battle, two or more 
 are often killed at a single discharge. But the great 
 
SHOOTING AT THE LKK. 
 
 barbarity of tbe sport if such it can be called consists 
 jn this : that the wounded must remain on the ground 
 along with the slain until the massacre is entirely over; 
 for should the fowler previously leave his place of con- 
 cealment, the rest of the birds would, in all probability, 
 desert the " lek-stalle," at least for that day. 
 
 Pontoppidan, in his peculiar way, thus describes the 
 proceedings of both fowler and birds at the pairing- 
 ground: "The most convenient time for shooting the 
 Black-Grouse," says the good Bishop, " is in the spring 
 of the year, at early sunrising, for then the bird lies on 
 the smooth ground, from whence it is called Leey-cultl ; for 
 it is the nature of it, at that season, to be quite heedless 
 through its amorous disposition, and with its eyes shut it 
 lies crowing and chirping for the hen. These commonly 
 lie three or four, or more, together, so that there is a good 
 mark to aim at. If the cock falls, then all the hens fly 
 away; but if he stands still crowing, and appears to lie 
 stupid, as is sometimes the case, they shoot again. '*- 
 (English Translation, p. 69.) 
 
 Accidents, though rare, occur now and then at the 
 Black-Cock lek. We read, for instance, "thai a A "/,'//>./#//, 
 or poacher, heard one evening a Black-Cock ' spel,' and 
 crept, like a snake in the grass, towards it. Alt lieu gh 
 it was then getting dark, he presently discovered \\Imt 
 he took to be the red comb of the bird, and immediately 
 levelled his gun and fired. But at the instant there arose 
 a cry of distress; and on hastening to the spot he found 
 to his dismay that, instead of a Black-Cock, he had hit a 
 brother poacher, bent on the same errand as himself. 
 The sufferer wore dark blue gaiters, which, agreeably to 
 the fashion of the country, were secured to his legs by red 
 garters tied in large bows; and no wonder, therefore, that 
 our friend mistook all this finery for the Black-Cock's comb, 
 fortunately fur the sulfeier, he wa- standing someu hat 
 
TO THE POINTER. 89 
 
 sideways to the misdoer, or, in spite of his rein deer- skin, 
 breeches, he might have been seriously hurt ; as it was, 
 he escaped with a few well-deserved shots in the bend of 
 one of his knees." 
 
 Many Black-Cocks are also shot to the Stand-IIimd, or 
 pointer, in the central and southern portion of the 
 peninsula, for in the far north that dog is little available, 
 owing to the extent and denseness of the forests. 
 
 In certain localities in Sweden, and the same is no 
 doubt the case in Norway, very good Black-Cock shooting 
 may be had with the pointer. M. Greiff tells us, for 
 instance, that at Ivafveliis, the seat of the Baron von 
 Essen, upwards of a hundred of those birds have been 
 shot in a single day ; and in other quarters I have known 
 considerable slaughter to be committed. 
 
 At times I have myself been tolerably succesful. 
 One day, when crossing the country at haphazard, so 
 to say, I bagged fourteen and a half brace of Black- 
 Cock, and on the following afternoon the morning 
 having proved an entire failure seventeen and a half 
 brace ; and this, be it remembered, was in the middle of 
 September, when the poults were full grown, and hardly 
 to be distinguished from their parents. These were some- 
 what exceptional days ; but on tolerably good ground I 
 could always pretty well calculate on bagging from three 
 or four to eight or ten brace of the birds in question. I 
 am, however, speaking of the olden times, when game of 
 every description in Sweden was, by all accounts, much 
 more abundant than at present. 
 
 But as compared with the great extent of country a 
 man usually goes over when Black-Cock shooting, the 
 number of birds he meets is usually miserably few. This 
 is, no doubt, greatly owing to the multitude of sportsmen, 
 almost every one nowadays carrying a gun ; but chiefly, 
 I consider, to the vermin, both winged and four-footed, 
 
90 TO THE POINTER. 
 
 which s\varin everywhere. Excepting foxes, indeed, 
 which are sought after solely for their skins, hardly any 
 one would seem to make the least exertion to destroy 
 noxious animals. 
 
 "\Vhrn thus shooting Black-Cock with the pointer in 
 the more open country, one not unfrequently falls in with 
 partridges, ducks, snipes, &c., and when on the confines 
 of the great woods, with Capercali also, of which birds I 
 have at times shot several. On one occasion, out of a 
 family of five, I bagged four in less than an hour, 
 and this late in the season, when the poults were 
 full grown. 
 
 But far fewer Black-Cock are shot to the pointer 
 than to the 'Fogel-Hiuid ' described when speaking of the 
 Capercali partly because the pointer is all but unknown 
 in the far north, but principally because very many of the 
 peasants, from one end of Scandinavia to the other, 
 possess a cur of some kind that will " tree " a bird ; and 
 as these men not only shoot pretty well, but spend much 
 time in the pursuit of game, the slaughter committed 
 by them amongst the Black-Cock, and other forest 
 birds, is very great. More than one chasseur has 
 assured me, indeed, that on excursions of a day or two, 
 he has not unfrequently filled a sack with the spoil. 
 And this I can well believe, because in the early part of 
 the season the poults often sit so close as to be with 
 difficulty driven, by the dog at least, from their porch of 
 which a notable example is given by .M . \\illielm von 
 Wright, who says : 
 
 "On one occasion we heard the dog nhalln x/nnil, 
 that is, challenge from one and the same spot, on the 
 opposite side of a lake near our house. This was between 
 ten and eleven o'clock in the morning, but no one thought 
 it worth his \\hile goini; up to him. As, however, the dog 
 OO&tintted to hark, my lather, who supposed it to be a 
 
TO THE FOGEL-HUND. 91 
 
 squirrel that he had ' treed,' ordered a servant of ours to 
 row across the lake and shoot the animal, otherwise it was 
 feared the dog would remain there the whole night. But 
 how astonished were we when the man returned to find 
 that, instead of a squirrel, he had shot a half-grown Black- 
 Cock, which had sat to the dog for about six hours." 
 
 As, however, the manner in which the Black-Cock is 
 shot to the " Fogel-Hund " is very similar to that usual 
 with the Capercali, I shall refrain from troubling the 
 reader with further details on the subject. 
 
 In the early part of t! e season many Black-Cock also 
 fall to the gun by "Lack," or by the fowler imitating the 
 call-note of the old bird, or of the poults, as the case may 
 require, which brings them within reach of his piece. 
 But as operations are conducted in a very similar manner 
 as with the Capercali (see page 60), it would only be 
 waste of time were I to enter into particulars ; suffice it 
 to say, that, with the Black-Cock, it is not needful for the 
 man to wait so long after flushing the brood as with the 
 Capercali ; and that he should avoid concealing himself 
 in too thick cover, because the Grey-Hen, unlike the 
 Capercali hen, which generally flies from tree to tree, 
 almost invariably keeps to the ground when making her 
 approaches towards the ambush. 
 
 In early autumn, moreover, the Stick-Nat, spoken of 
 at page 61, is frequently used by the fowler to circumvent 
 the Black-Cock. But, as Ekstrom is even more versed in 
 poaching matters than myself, it may be best to quote 
 what he says on the subject : 
 
 "When the 'pack' is flushed and dispersed by the 
 dog, the jagare, alter waiting a while, begins to ' lacka,' 
 and continues so doing until the old bird responds, and 
 thus makes known to him her whereabouts. In all 
 silence he then places four ' Stick-Nat ' between her and 
 himself, and after retiring about one hundred paces begins 
 
92 THE STICK-NAT. 
 
 again to ' lacka.' The old hen rarely takes wing on these 
 occasions, and whilst running towards the man, is pretty 
 certain to get enveloped in the folds of the net, of which 
 fact he is surely made aware, either by her call-note 
 suddenly ceasing, or by her responding to his ' lack ' from 
 the same spot. 
 
 " When the old bird is made captive, she is placed by 
 the fowler in a small coop, constructed of hazel or other 
 wands ; and after he has arranged the nets in the form of 
 a little square, and placed the coop in the middle of it, 
 he once more conceals himself, and begins to ' lacka.' 
 Though the bird is now a prisoner, she seldom allows 
 much time to elapse before responding to the man, and 
 if he has sufficient patience, will not cease doing so 
 until the whole of her progeny are likewise captured. 
 If the fowler be mercifully inclined," Ekstrom goes 
 on to say, " he will release the old hen and two of the 
 poults, in which case he will be certain the following year 
 to find a brood in the same locality." 
 
 During the winter, again, the Black-Cock is frequently 
 shot whilst embedded in the snow ; for the gunner, observ- 
 ing a slight depression in the latter, and it may be a little 
 discoloration also, occasioned by the bird lying but a 
 little beneath the surface, aims at the spot, and often 
 with deadly effect. I was assured by my chasseur, Dig, 
 that he had thus killed very many Black-Cork. 
 
 Though I myself never shot these birds when beneath 
 the snow, yet I have not unfrequently done so just 
 as they have emerged from it; for, warned by the 
 sudden apparition of one or other of the "pack" that 
 has llo\vn up near me, and expecting others to follow, I 
 have divested my i;mi of its ease, and knocked o\ er tin- 
 next that made its appearance. Most commonly, how- 
 ev r. the whole of the "pack" had taken wing before I 
 a- in readiness to tire. 
 
THE BULVAN. 93 
 
 When the snow lies deep on the ground in winter, 
 many Black-Cock are taken in the night time, by 
 torch-light, and by means of a sort of landing net ; but 
 as this method of capture has been described when 
 speaking of the Capercali (see page 70), I will not weary 
 the reader by repeating the story. 
 
 A very common plan of shooting the Black-Cock in 
 the winter time is with the aid of a "Btilvan," or artificial 
 decoy bird.* This is affixed to the top of a long and 
 slender pole or of two poles tied together which is then 
 hoisted a little above the top of a birch-tree, standing on 
 an eminence, that it may be seen from a distance. The 
 fowler then conceals himself in a " screen," constructed of 
 a few fir boughs previously prepared for the purpose. 
 Here he patiently awaits the coming of the birds, and 
 when, attracted by the " Bulvan," or driven towards it by 
 people patrolling the surrounding country for the purpose, 
 they alight in the tree on which the decoy is placed, or 
 on those in the immediate vicinity, one or other of them 
 usually meets its doom. 
 
 At times two or three individuals take part in this 
 amusement, and if there be several wooded knolls in the 
 same locality, each may be occupied to advantage by a 
 jjigare and his " Bulvan," for as the birds, when alarmed 
 at the shot, keep flying from one " Bulvan " to the other, 
 
 * A stuffed Black-Cock is the best for the purpose ; but, in lieu 
 thereof, an imitation one may be made out of an old hat, or piece of dark- 
 coloured cloth. Two small patches of red cloth, one on each side of the head, 
 represent the combs over the eyes, and two others of white stuff the white 
 spots on the bird's shoulders. The tail of a veritable Black-cock is usually 
 affixed to the " Bulvan," but should not this be procurable, one made of 
 black cloth, and lined with white, can be substituted in its stead. Legs 
 arc not iv<|uired, the stick to which the "Bulvan" is fastened supplying 
 their place. At times, however, the " Bulvan" is carved out of a piece of 
 wood, and at'trrwards painted. 
 
94 THE BULVAX. 
 
 they are pretty sure to be killed soouer or later. On 
 these occasions, the fowler should be provided with at 
 least one double gun, and if with two it is an advantage, 
 for the birds often visit the " Bulvan " in sucli quick 
 succession that, in the interim, there is not time to reload. 
 And should the cold be extreme, it is needful to keep the 
 gun covered as much as possible, for it then shoots with 
 less force than usual. 
 
 The best season for the " Bulvan " is towards the end 
 of November, when the leaf has fallen, the night frosts 
 have set in, and the ground is covered with snow. But 
 this amusement cannot be followed to advantage excepting 
 in districts abounding with deciduous trees, more espe- 
 cially the birch, as it is on its buds that the Black-Cock 
 chiefly subsists during the winter. 
 
 Calm and moderate weather are the most favourable 
 for the sport, as, if it should blow hard, or if there should 
 be a downfall of rain and snow, the birds will not readily 
 approach the "Bulvan." Early in the morning, when 
 they are hungry, is the best timo, as in the middle of the 
 day they are mostly on the ground. But, however 
 favourable the weather may be, or good the fowler's 
 arrangements, all goes wrong so soon as the goshawk, 
 the Black-Cock's great enemy, makes his appearance ; 
 for he not only pounces on the "Bulvan," and probably 
 rends it, but his mere presence scares away for that 
 day at least all the birds thereabouts. It is true the 
 man often revenges himself by shooting the depredator, 
 though this is poor compensation for returning home 
 with an empty bag. 
 
 Shooting Black-Cock in the manner described is very 
 destructive. M. Greiff informs us, that "the great hunter, 
 Baron Ungcrn von Sternberg, was every year accustomed 
 thus to kill on his estate of N;is nearly one hundred of 
 those birds. AVe are also told by M. ^Maxmontan, that 
 
STALKING ON FOOT. 95 
 
 " during the autumn of 1827, on the estate of Buckila, 
 in the parish of Piikkis, Finland, he himself shot in a 
 very short time nearly fifty Black-Cock with the aid of 
 the "Bulvan;" and one morning in the year 1840 no 
 fewer than sixteen of those birds. 
 
 If this amusement were pursued with moderation and 
 judgment, and the hens wholly or for -the most part 
 spared, no very great havoc would be clone ; but such 
 forbearance would not seem to be practised in all parts of 
 the country. 
 
 " The common people hereabouts," says M. Hallongren, 
 writing from Eskiistuna, " have within the past few years 
 learned to shoot the Black-Cock to the ' Bulvan,' and now 
 carry this murderous practice so far as to exceed all due 
 bounds. The peasants, the labourers, and the soldiers, 
 from the commencement of November to the end of 
 March, neglect their usual avocations, and when the 
 weather permits, they, in conjunction with their sons and 
 servants, pursue the pastime without cessation. Lads, so 
 soon as they can carry and fire a gun, form shooting clubs 
 amongst themselves, solely for this kind of 'jagt,' and 
 making a common purse, kill cocks and hens indis- 
 criminately : in a word, everything that comes in their 
 way." 
 
 The Black-Cock is often " stalked " in the winter 
 time, and in much the same way as the Capercali. In 
 the early part of that season this may be done on foot, 
 but at a later period, when the , snow is deep, either 
 Skidor, or Skarbagar, are indispensable. 
 
 During the winter, as said, these birds usually congre- 
 gate ; and " packs " of from ten to fifty, or more, are 
 then frequently met with ; not, however, consisting of 
 cocks alone, as with the Capercali, but of a proportionate 
 number of hens. These "packs" mostly keep to the 
 more open parts of the forest, and to birchen and aspen 
 
9<> IN A SLEDGK. 
 
 groves, bordering on the cultivated country, where they 
 find abundance of their favourite food. 
 
 " Of a cold and clear winter's morning, when the trees, 
 from the hoar frost, seem to be even thicker than when 
 covered with leaves," says M. Wilhelm von Wright, 
 whose description is true to the life, and to whom I am 
 indebted for the accompanying very beautiful illustration, 
 "a large 'pack' of Black-Cock, perched on the trees, tin- 
 whole of them in motion, and their attitudes varying, is a 
 most beautiful sight, and one that gives life and animation 
 to the otherwise desolate face of nature. At the very 
 slightest movement of the birds, the rime falls from the 
 boughs, and the rays .of the sun seem to the eye like so 
 many minute silver spangles." 
 
 The difficulty of finding a "pack" of Black-Cock in 
 the winter time is not usually very great, their haunts 
 being for the most part known to the peasantry and 
 others, and as, when pursued or shot at, their flight is com- 
 monly short ; the nearest of the " pack," indeed, seldom 
 flying farther than to the most distant. And this con- 
 tinues the whole day, unless some untoward circumstance, 
 such as the suddon appearance of the Black-Cock's mortal 
 enemy, the goshawk, in which case they all instantly 
 take wing and move off elsewhere. 
 
 The better plan of "stalking" the Black-Cock in 
 winter would seem to be with a horse and sledge. 
 But this can only be accomplished when there is com- 
 paratively little sno\v on the Around, for when it lies 
 deep, as is usually the case as the season advances, the 
 woods arc not travcrsablc for man or beast until the feet 
 be provided with implements of some kind or other. 
 
 "The sledge used for the purpose," M. Wilhelm von 
 AVrii;-lit tells us, "should be provided \\ilh broad runners, 
 to prevent it sinking deep in the snow, and \\\\\\JjiH(rni' 
 or uprights between the runners and the body of the 
 


IN A SLEDGE. 97 
 
 sledge of sufficient height to allow of one's driving over 
 sticks, stones, &c., that lie in the way, as also with a 
 so-called Skjnt-stallning, or shooting-stand, constructed on 
 the ladder principle, so as to allow of its being elevated or 
 depressed at pleasure, on which to rest the gun when one 
 is about to tiro. The fowler," he further says, " should 
 be furnished with two rifles and a common fowling-piece 
 with a second rifle, because if the distance he con- 
 siderable, it may happen that he gets more than one shot 
 from the same spot, often, indeed, at the same bird ; and 
 with a common gun that he may not only be able to secure 
 wounded birds, but shoot others that chance to fly past 
 him. If a man he well acquainted with the country, he 
 need not trouble himself to drive too much in the woods, 
 where he is frequently obliged to clear away with his 
 axe such bushes as will not yield to the pressure of the 
 sledge. A horse accustomed to the forest tracks can find 
 his way, even when these are covered with snow and 
 invisible to the human eye ; and if the reins be dropped 
 on Ids neck, and he be allowed to take his own course, he 
 will most assuredly hit on the right one. A steady horse, 
 and one that will stand fire, is essential. My father had 
 one that was trained to the sport, and had grown grey 
 in the service, and displayed such wonderful sagacity, that 
 when he had approached to within rifle-range of a ' pack ' 
 of Black-Cock he would, of his own accord, come to a 
 halt, thereby giving his master to understand it was now 
 time for him to play his part. 
 
 "When thus stalking the Black-Cock," M. Wilhelm 
 von Wright remarks in conclusion, " one almost always gets 
 within shot of them, whereas if on foot, or on Skidor, 
 the attempt often proves unsuccessful. This system of 
 shooting is, besides, attended with very little labour, for, 
 excepting to pick up the slain, or to drive the birds from 
 places where they cannot be followed to more accessible 
 
 H 
 
C8 
 
 THE ORUE-TRATT. 
 
 localities, the fowler has little or no occasion to leave 
 his vehicle." 
 
 When the weather is favourable, and provided the 
 rifle be held straight, when stalking Black-Cock, whether 
 on foot or in a sledge, one may pretty well calculate 
 on making a fair " bag." I myself, it is true, was never 
 very successful, owing to a miserable rifle; but I have 
 known others to do considerable execution. One of my 
 own men, indeed, assured me that with a pea-rifle he luul 
 thus shot nine birds in one day. 
 
 Numbers of Black-Cock are likewise taken in traps 
 and snares of various kinds. Some of the devices are 
 similar to those used for the capture of the Capercali, 
 which have been already described ; but others are 
 differently constructed, and of these I shall now speak. 
 
 FIG. 2. 
 
 Tin firM iii order. :is regards ingenuity at least, is 
 called the <>, K'-Tmlt or JUaek-Coek funnel represented 
 
THE OKRE-TRATT. 09 
 
 above as " gUlrad," or set. All the wood of which this 
 trap is constructed and the remark equally applies to 
 other traps should be unbarked, as otherwise the birds 
 will not approach it, at least not for a long time. 
 
 A A (see figures 1, 2, and 3) are some thirty 
 stout stakes, about nine feet in length, fixed in the 
 ground in a circular form, and constituting, in fact, the 
 Tratt, or funnel, the diameter of which at the bottom is 
 some eighteen inches, and at the top forty-two inches. 
 B B, withy bands, knitting the stakes, A A, firmly 
 together, and keeping them at an equal distance apart. 
 C C, a stout pole in the centre of the Tratt. D D, the 
 so-called "Giller," or balance-pin, a perfectly smooth and 
 straight stick, of about three feet in length, affixed cross- 
 wise, by the hank E (see figure 3), to the upper part of 
 C C. F, a Gran-ruska, or top of a young spruce pine, 
 secured in a reversed position to C C. And G, a small 
 unthrashed sheaf of grain, tied to the top of C C, to 
 entice the birds into the toils. 
 
 Figure 4 shows the so-called Stand, which, as seen in 
 the drawing, is in immediate contiguity to the Tratt itself. 
 This stand consists of two stout poles H H fixed upright 
 in the ground at about ten feet apart; and K, a third 
 pole, resting horizontally, in notches, at the upper ends 
 of II II, and nearly on a line with, and at a very short 
 distance from, the balance-pin, D D ; and G G, grain 
 sheafs tied to the tops of the poles, H H. 
 
 When now the Black-Cock espies the oat sheaves, G G, 
 and makes towards them, it in the first instance visually 
 alights on the horizontal pole, K (see figure 4), where for 
 a while it amuses itself by feeding on the grain so tempt- 
 ingly placed over its head ; presently, however, it is 
 attracted to the sheaf on the Tratt itself, and proceeding 
 to the end of the pole, it hops from thence to the balance- 
 pin, 1) D, which, giving way beneath its weight, it lulls 
 
 n 2 
 
100 THE OKKE-TUATT. 
 
 helplessly to the bottom of the Trad, from whence escape 
 is next to impossible ; for though the reversed branches of 
 the " Gran-ruska " offer little or no resistance to the bird in 
 its descent, they effectually prevent it from leaving its 
 prison-house. 
 
 As will be readily understood, the balance-pin, D D, 
 when relieved from the weight of the bird, at once resumes 
 its horizontal position, and other birds, therefore, unde- 
 terred by the fate of their comrade, who, moreover, is all 
 but hidden from sight by the " Gran-ruska," afterwards 
 take the same leap, and share in its captivity. This is a 
 great advantage. With most traps one is obliged to remove 
 each prisoner before another can be made, but in so 
 doing runs the risk of scaring all the birds that happen 
 to be in the vicinity. But not so with the Onv-Tratt, for 
 without going near it, one continues catching bird after 
 bird so long as daylight lasts. 
 
 With this device, however, everything depends on the 
 proper arrangement of the balance-pin, D D, and on its 
 relative position to the horizontal pole, K; for if the 
 distance or height between the two be too great, the bird, 
 in hopping from the one to the other, is apt to spread its 
 wings, in which case it does not follow the balance-pin 
 when the latter gives way beneath its feet. K, on 
 the contrary, the distance or height be too little, the bird 
 does not fall sufficiently heavily on to the balance-pin as 
 to cause its fall to the bottom of the Trait, and it there- 
 fore flies up again and makes its eM-ape. 
 
 The best localities in which to construct the O.-re-Tratt 
 are, we are told, where groves of birch and elder abound, as 
 such are the great resorts of the Blaek-Cock in the winter 
 time; and if there he oat stubbles in the vicinity it is an 
 advantage, because the birds, having been accustomed to 
 the same kind of food, will the more readily approach 
 the ^heaves placed to tempt them. 
 
THK ORHE-BENNE. 
 
 101 
 
 The Orre-Tratt ought to be in readiness before the frost 
 sets in, and is most successful when the ground is covered 
 with snow. It should be examined every evening at 
 dusk, as foxes are in the habit of prowling about localities 
 frequented by birds. If, however, a common gun of the 
 mere sight of which Revnard is said to have the greatest 
 
 ^J V -} 
 
 dread be placed in some exposed situation near to the 
 trap, these animals may, in most instances, be kept at a 
 distance. 
 
 Another very simple device to capture the Black- 
 Cock in winter is called the " Orre-Senne ;" but its use 
 is chiefly confined to the more northern parts of Scan- 
 dinavia and to Finland. A is an unbarked stick, some 
 three feet in length, secured cross-wise to the crown of a 
 birch-tree, standing in some commanding situation ; C C, 
 small wooden pins, about nine inches long, inserted, fork- 
 fashion, in both ends of A ; B B, stout horse-hair snares, 
 placed between C C, in which are slight notches to retain 
 them in proper position ; and D D, small bunches of birch 
 twigs, rich in buds, to allure the birds. 
 
 When now the Black-Cock descries the dainty fare set 
 before him, he alights on the tree, and seeing no other 
 
102 THE ORRE-BENNE. 
 
 means of obtaining access to the berries than by the cross- 
 stick A, he hops on to it, and inserting his head in the 
 snare B, presently pays the penalty with his life. 
 
 >(r\ tf*\ 
 I \' ,\.i 
 
 A second kind of " Orre-Benne," depicted above, is, 
 according to Nordholm, much used in Norrland and the 
 adjacent country. It consists of a thin board of from 
 four to six feet in length, by eighteen inches in breadth, 
 to which are affixed several hazel wands bent bow-fashion, 
 and within which are set stout horse-hair snares. " This 
 device," he tells us, " is fastened horizontally to the top 
 of a Gar-Tall, that is, a fir-tree neither green nor dry, and 
 birds flock to it as ravens do to carrion." 
 
.til 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The Rackel-Fogel. Not a Separate Species. The Learned at Fault. 
 Plumage of these Birds. Their Parentage. Opinions differ. The 
 Rackel-Fogel in Confinement. -Their Habits. Pugnacity of the 
 Males. Their Spel. 
 
 HYBRIDS between the Capercali and the Black-Cock 
 called in Sweden Rachel- Foyel are not so very 
 uncommon in Scandinavia. The accompanying illustration 
 by the late M. Korner, taken from specimens in the Lund 
 Museum, gives a very good idea of the general appearance 
 of these birds. 
 
 The existence of the Rackel-Pogel as hybrids has been 
 perfectly well known in the peninsula for a very long 
 time. Some years ago, however, Russian and German 
 naturalists, thinking they had made a discovery, elevated 
 this bird into a separate species, to which they gave the 
 name of Tctrao intcrmedius, and afterwards Tctrao medhts; 
 but since then they have, I believe, found out and rectified 
 their error. 
 
 The plumage of the Eacl'd-ILanc the male is said 
 to vary considerably in different individuals. According 
 
10J, 
 
 Till III PLUM AUK. 
 
 to the lato M. Fulk, indeed, " out of twenty 
 Jfamir not two are alike." The dress of those that have 
 come under my own observation has been somewhat 
 similar to that of the Blaek-Cock ; but their tails, though 
 slightly cloven, were not forked as with that bird. The 
 usual length of the " Rackel-IIane " is about two feet 
 three inches, and the expanse of its wings three feet three 
 inches ; weight from five to six pounds. 
 
 The Hackel-lIdiM the female is considerably smaller 
 than the male, her length not much exceeding one foot 
 nine inches. Her plumage also differs widely from his, 
 for in general appearance she is not very unlike the Grey- 
 Hen, and, when young at least, is undoubtedly often 
 mistaken for her. 
 
 rVI'KKCAI.I HKX. 
 
 IIM'KH. HoNA. 
 
 (.KKV HIS. 
 
 Independently of difference in si/e and plumule, the 
 " Rackel-Ilona " may be readily distinguished both from 
 the Capercali hen and the (J rev- 1 1 en by the form of her 
 tail, which, when somewhat spread, is as seen in the 
 subjoined drawing (for which I am indebted to .M. .Malm, 
 the talented curator of the (jothenhur; M useiim) nearly 
 square, instead of rounded like that of the Capercali hen. 
 or slightly forked as in the ca-e with the (irey-Ilen; as 
 also by the white points of the under coverts 
 
THEIR PARKNTAGE. 105 
 
 more elongated than in the Capercali hen, but less so 
 than in the Grey-Hen. 
 
 The parentage of the " Ilackel-Fogel " has long been 
 a mooted question with great authorities in Sweden, and 
 I am not quite sure that it is even yet settled. Some 
 contend, and among the rest the late M. Falk, that there 
 are two kinds of these birds in Scandinavia, one being the 
 offspring of the Black-Cock and Capercali hen, and the 
 other of the Capercali cock and Grey-Hen. Nilsson and 
 others, on the contrary, roundly assert that one and all of 
 the " llackel-Fogel " claim the Black-Cock for father, and 
 the Capercali hen for mother. The professor says, in 
 addition, that the several specimens seen by M. Talk, and 
 from which, in part at least, that gentleman formed his 
 judgment, were really not " llackel-Eogel," but sterile 
 Capercali hens (similar to the one depicted at page 3 
 of this volume), which had assumed the plumage of young 
 Capercali cocks. 
 
 One reason for Nilsson assuming the paternity of the 
 " Ilackel-Eogel " to rest solely with the Black-Cock is, 
 that although the latter has been seen on different occa- 
 sions to pair with the Capercali hen,* no one can 
 
 * "One morning, in the year IH2S," says the Knsign Herkepa, "I 
 was at an ' Orre-Lek' iu the parish of Laiiipis, in Finland, and had already 
 shot two Black-Cock when a Capercali hen alighted OH the ground about 
 ninety juices from my ' screen.' She was immediately surrounded by the 
 cocks, who, to my great surprise, one after the other regularly paired with 
 her, while the other cocks, six to seven in number although there were 
 several hens present engaged in a general battle amongst themselves. As 
 it was then full daylight, and the Oapercali hen a considerable distance 
 from me, I did not care to disturb the Lek by firing at her, and hud 
 therefore ample opportunity of convincing myself of her identity. And it 
 was little likely I could be mistaken, as the C'apercali hen has not only a 
 longer neck than the Grey-Hen, but is much larger than even the Black- 
 Cock himself. Two mornings subsequently, and at the same Lek,'' the 
 Knsign goes on to say, " a Capereali hen probably the one seen by myself 
 
106 THEIR, PARENTAGE. 
 
 testify to the like fact as regards the Capercali cock and 
 the Grey-Hen ; and a second reason is, that in districts 
 where the Caporcali cocks are all but extirpated at the 
 Lek, the Rackel-Fogel are greatly on the increase, the 
 inference to be drawn from which is that the Capercali 
 hens, being thus deprived of their conjugal rites, submit, 
 from necessity rather than choice, to the embraces of the 
 Black-Cock. 
 
 On the first of Nilsson's objections too much stress 
 ought not, perhaps, to be laid, for we must take into 
 consideration that the Black-Cock always carries on love 
 affairs in the open, and exposed to the view of every one, 
 whilst the Capercali, on the contrary, holds his Lek in 
 the depths of the forest, where his pairing once in a time 
 with the Grey-Hen may possibly escape observation. 
 
 The professor's second reason, again, founded on the 
 assumption that in districts where the Capercali cocks arc 
 so mercilessly shot down, the " Rackel-Fogel " are greatly 
 on the increase, would seem to be invalidated by M. Falk, 
 who says : 
 
 " It is a well-known fact, that fifty years ago and 
 we need not go farther back when the Wermeland 
 forests abounded with Capercali, the ' Rackel-Fogel ' were 
 found in about the same numbers as at present." 
 A?ain : " I know of several instances in which these birds 
 
 O 
 
 have been met with in well-preserved districts full of 
 Capercali." . . . Furthermore : " Some years since, 
 when little or no protection was afforded to the Capercali 
 cocks at the Lek, and when they, from the constant 
 warfare carried on against them, were all but exterminated, 
 
 together witli :i I'.hiek I'oek tlmt \v;is |,eivhed on her l.;i.-k, smilingly in 
 the :iet ol' i,;iirin_'. were killed I iv a IM-USHI! :it one .-md the same shot. 
 Tin- < ':i|>re.ili hen \\el._died >i\ ]M.iiii.l* and ;i half: the ISlaek Coek three 
 
THEIR PARENTAGE. 107 
 
 not a single ' Rackel-Fogel,' so far as I could learn, was 
 cither seen or shot. If, therefore, the popular belief of 
 the Black-Cock being the father of all the ' Rackel-Fogel ' 
 were well founded, the latter ought to have been numerous; 
 but the contrary was the case. 
 
 " Every one who is accustomed to shoot Capercali at 
 the Lek," M. Ealk goes on to say, " must have remarked, 
 that so long as an old cock remained alive, the young ones 
 dare not go near the hens ; but must watch his proceedings 
 from a respectful distance. It is these young cocks, 
 irritated as they are by unsatisfied desires, that propagate 
 the greater part of our ' Rackel-Fogel,' and it is to this 
 cause, and not to the want of Capercali cocks, as now 
 assumed, that their origin is owing." 
 
 And to support his position that a portion at least of 
 the Rackel-Fogel owe their existence to the Capercali cock, 
 M. Falk adds : " Every jagare in our fatherland is fully 
 aware that Eackel-Fogel are hybrids between the Capercali 
 and the Black-Cock. In what I am about to state it is 
 not my purpose in the slightest degree to call this fact in 
 question, but only to gainsay what I consider the too hastily 
 formed opinion as to their all having the Black-Cock for 
 father and the Capercali hen for mother. I contend, on 
 the contrary, that the very reverse is the case, excepting 
 in some rare instances. In this matter the experience of 
 both old and young sportsmen agree. The size and 
 colour of the greater part of the Rackel-Fogel, moreover, 
 are not consistent with their being hybrids between the 
 Black-Cock and the Capercali hen, because amongst 
 animals the young in general take after the father. Now 
 the " Rackel-Hane," which has the Capercali cock for 
 father, is nearly as large as a young Capercali cock, say 
 from six and a half to seven pounds in weight, and would 
 resemble him in appearance, if he had a green breast, a 
 round tail, and a yellow bill ; whilst the offspring of the 
 
308 TIIEIK HAI:I;NTA<;K. 
 
 Black-Cock and tlie Capercali hen bears a greater resem- 
 blance to the father, the tail being similar to his, and the 
 size intermediate between both parents. 
 
 " But more direct evidence can be adduced as to the 
 Capercali cock being the father of many of the Ilackel- 
 Fogel. In the year 1830 M. Holm fell in with a brood 
 of Black-Cock, amongst which were two of these hybrid-. 
 The one, a female apparently, was shot at the time; the 
 other, a male, was seen in the same brood in the autumn 
 of that year, and was killed in the following spring. It 
 was stuffed by myself, and its father was beyond doubt a 
 Capercali cock. The above brood of Black-Cock was met 
 with in one of .M. Holm's well-preserved districts, where 
 many old Capercali cocks were left unmolested in 1830. 
 M. AVilhelm von Wright also speaks of a Rackel-1 Iain- 
 being found amongst a brood of Black-Cock; and says, 
 moreover, that the Kackel-Fogel for the most part keep 
 company with the latter in the winter time. .My expe- 
 rience is the same. They follow the Black-Cock as well 
 to the Lek as at other periods of the year, and it is very 
 seldom indeed that they are met with amount the 
 Capercali, for the reason, probably, that they thrive best 
 amongst those with whom they have been brought up. 
 
 Itackel-Fo-el," M. Falk continues, "are scarce in 
 Wcrmeland. During the thirty years that. 1 have given 
 my attention to the subject I have only been able to 
 collect six males for the purpose of preserving, and to 
 hear of two more which I \\a- unable to obtain. Five of 
 the six had the Capercali cock for father, and only one 
 the Black-Cock. The last-named hybrids are much the 
 most rare, ami at the present moment I know not of a 
 single specimen, the one I stulfed having been sent, if I 
 remember right, to < iermany. 
 
 All this." says M. Falk, in conclusion, "gives more 
 probability to my opinion, that the most part of our 
 
THEIR PARENTAGE. 109 
 
 Ilackel-Fogel are hybrids between tbe Capercali cock and 
 tbe Grey-Hen ; whereas in support of the old theory, that 
 they are all the produce of the Black-Cock and the 
 Capercali hen, we have no other evidence than loose 
 guesses and vague surmises." 
 
 The late M. Grill, another high authority on sporting 
 and matters relating to natural history, takes the same view 
 of the subject as M. Talk. "There are," he says, "two kinds 
 of Backel-Foijel, differine; in their nature and habits. The 
 
 O * O 
 
 one kind confines itself to the great woods, and the spel 
 or love song of the male in part resembles that of the 
 Capercali ; his first and second notes, kndppningar and 
 klunken, being somewhat similar to those of that bird, 
 though more modulated ; but instead of sisningen, the 
 third and last note of the Capercali, he utters a sound 
 called raclda,* which is not unlike the grunting of a pig. 
 This kind of Rackel-Hane is about the neck more like the 
 Capercali cock, and may be approached at the Lek in the 
 same manner as that bird, or even with greater facility, 
 because of his continuing to raclda for a longer time than 
 the slsnlngcn of the Capercali lasts. The other kind of 
 llackel-Hane is about the neck more like the Black-Cock, 
 and in the spring resorts to the pairing-ground of the 
 latter, where, by his jealous and useless pursuit of the 
 cocks, he usually spoils the Lek." 
 
 So much for the controversy in regard to the hybrids 
 in question, a subject on which I, for my part, am unable 
 to throw any light whatever ; for though I have seen a 
 good many specimens reputed to be Rackel-Fogel, I have 
 only killed a single male, and that in a densely-wooded 
 country, where both Capercali and Black-Cock were pretty 
 numerous the former, if anything, the most so. It is 
 
 * From the verb rackla, to hawk, or foive a\> phlegm with ;i imisc. ;md 
 , probably, the Swedish ilfsi{*n;ition of" I!,-\c]<rl 1 l;nu-." 
 
110 IN CAPTIVITY. 
 
 possible, however, that from similarity of appearance 
 between the Grey-Hen and the Rackel-Hona, especially 
 in the early part of the season, when the plumage of the 
 poults is not properly developed, I may occasionally have 
 killed a Rackel-Hona without being aware of its identity. 
 
 Owing to the scarcity of the Rackel-Fogel, their habits, 
 when in a wild state, are but little known. But Professor 
 Nilsson, in the second edition of his valuable work on the 
 Scandinavian Fauna, has favoured us with some observa- 
 tions on a Eackel-Hane that he had in confinement f6r a 
 considerable time. 
 
 " He is more dull than lively. For the most part he 
 will sit for a whole day on his perch in a passive attitude, 
 with his tail hanging down, his feathers somewhat ruffled, 
 and his eyes closed. He is, nevertheless, wild and shy. 
 Towards people who approach his coop, he evinces more 
 shyness than malice ; but to small animals and birds that 
 come near him, or attempt to purloin his food, he dis- 
 plays an exceedingly angry and spiteful temper. About 
 March, when he puts on his beautiful summer plumage, 
 he is more vicious than usual. Towards the end of that 
 month, or early in April, when fine weather sets in, he 
 commences his spel. In this, however, he never 
 indulges at an early hour in the morning, but only in 1 he- 
 day time, both before and after noon. His moulting 
 commences about July, and continues for a long period. 
 His food consists of red whortleberries and other forest 
 berries, when obtainable; but he is also fond of apples 
 chopped up small, cabbages, and various vegetables, as 
 well as of barley and the seeds of the spruce pine." 
 
 The llackel-Fogel are not believed to breed amongst 
 themselves. This may, indeed, be interred from the 
 Rackel-Hane not having a Lek of his own, but always 
 n-Mirting to those of the Capercali and the Black-Cock, 
 where, however. <>\\ini: to liis ferocity and quarrelsome 
 
THEIR SPEL. Ill 
 
 disposition, he is anything but a welcome guest. When 
 he alights at the Black-Cock Lek he attacks and disperses 
 the congregated males ; and at the Lek of the Capercali 
 he never remains stationary, but keeps flying from tree to 
 tree in chase of the bird that is holding his spel. Hence 
 the saying amongst sportsmen : " There is no order at 
 the Lek so long as the Rackel-Hane is there, and the first 
 endeavour is therefore to shoot him." 
 
 The spel of the Rackel-Hane is described by some as 
 " between that of the Black-Cock and the Capercali cock;" 
 but others, again, and M. Grill among the rest, speak of 
 it very differently, as just shown. The call-note of the 
 Rackel-Hona, which occasionally makes her appearance 
 at the Capercali Lek, has not been fully identified. The 
 Count Corfitz Beckfriis, however, seems fully convinced he 
 heard it on one occasion, and says : " Though weaker 
 than that of the Capercali lien, it is stronger than that of 
 the Grey-Hen, but it is impossible to say which of the 
 two it most resembled." 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 The Hitzel-Hen. Widely diffused. I >i scri]itioii. Accidental Varieties. 
 
 Haunts and Food. Breeding. Domestication. Naturalization 
 
 in England. The most delicious of Northern (KUDU Birds. The 
 
 Pointer. The Fogel-Hund. Saga, -ity of the Dog. The Hjerp I'ipa. 
 
 Till) is and Snares. 
 
 r |MIE Ha/cl-Hen, Hazel-Grouse, or Cielinotte 
 -*- Sw. and Norw.; Tetrao Jionasia, Linn.; 
 Jlui'opaa, Auct.), was scarce in my neighbourhood, which 
 is also the case throughout the southern portion of Scan- 
 dinavia, where it is confined to a fo\v distrk-ts far distant 
 from each other. In the extreme south of Sweden, 
 indeed, there are none, which may be attributed to extir- 
 pation in former times. In all the northern parts of the 
 peninsula, however, as lii^h up certainly as Muonioniska 
 in Lapland, lat. 68, theM- birds are emnpnratively 
 abundant; and though found on the I'jall sides, they do 
 not go so high up, it is said, as the Capereali and the 
 Black-Cock. 
 
 The lla/.el-lleu dwells in many eminlries. hein^ met 
 

GEOGRAPHICAL RANGK. 113 
 
 with in Russia, (including Finland * ), ic. Poland, and in 
 Siberia ; as also in Germany, France, Switzerland, Holland, 
 and elsewhere in Continental Europe. " It goes as low 
 down in the south," so my friend, Mr. George Chichester 
 Oxenden, writes me, " as Carniola and Istria, where 
 I have found them freely, in both pine woods and hazel 
 copse." Dr. Latham states, indeed, that " these birds are 
 so numerous in a small island in the Gulf of Genoa that 
 the name ' Gelinotte Island' has been applied to it;" hut 
 it is almost everywhere a local bird, and pretty much con- 
 fined to wild and mountainous districts. Singularly 
 enough, the Hazel-Hen is not included in the Fauna of 
 Denmark, but Kjserbolling entertains the idea that it is 
 an inhabitant of Holstein, a former dependency of that 
 kingdom, but of which it was recently so shamefully 
 despoiled by Prussia and Austria. 
 
 The Hazel-Hen. is perhaps the handsomest of the 
 grouse family ; but it is needless for me to speak of its 
 plumage, as the annexed illustration, by the late M. Korner, 
 will give a far better idea of these birds than can be 
 expressed in writing. I may mention, however, that it 
 measures fourteen to fifteen inches in length, and nineteen 
 to twenty from tip to tip of wing. But though its length 
 and alar expanse are greater than those of the partridge, 
 it strikes me that its hody is somewhat less than that of 
 the latter. In the more southern portion of the peninsula 
 it is said to attain a somewhat greater size than in the 
 
 O 
 
 far north, where its plumage is of a clearer colour, inclin- 
 
 * M. Wilhelm von Wright mentions that on his father's estate alone, 
 in Finland, some three hundred Hazel- Hens were killed annually. And, 
 further, that " the Finns entertain the very singular notion that, at the 
 < Yea t inn, this bird was the largest of the feathered tribe ; but that year by year 
 it lias decreased in size, and will continue to do so until ;it last it will 
 become so very diminutive as to be able to fly through the eye of a needle; 
 and when that happens the world will come to an end." 
 
 1 
 
Ill ACCIDENTAL VARIETIES. 
 
 ing to bluish-grey; while in the south it is more brown. 
 The male is rather larger than the female ; but with th:it 
 exception, the only material dilFerenee between the sexes 
 is that the male has a black mark under the throat, and 
 a white one on the cheek, extending from the base of the 
 bill to a little beyond the eye ; whereas the throat of the 
 female is whitish with grey-brown and smaller black spots, 
 and the angular mark between the bill and the eye is 
 reddish-brown. 
 
 Accidental varieties are occasionally met with . Js ilsson 
 speaks of an individual of a faded colour, in which the 
 portion of the plumage that is usually black was brown ; 
 and M. "\Vilhelm von Wright of others as being " almost 
 white, though more commonly greyish-white, with taint 
 approximation to the usual colour ;" such a one, he tells 
 us, he himself shot when residing in Finland, on the 
 12th September, 1824. 
 
 The flight of the Hazel-Hen is very noisy, but short 
 withal, seldom extending beyond a couple of hundred 
 yards. During both summer and winter it is mostly on 
 the ground, but when flushed invariably takes refuge in 
 a tree, rarely on its top, however, as some tell us, but 
 generally about halfway up, and amongst the most leafy 
 of the branches. 
 
 Where these birds roost during summer and autumn I 
 know not, but in the winter time there is reason to believe 
 they often pass the night in the snow. 
 
 In Finland, M. Wilhelm von Wright tells us, the 
 Hazel- II en is found in larger or smaller packs, according 
 to their greater or less abundance in the district. It 
 is not for me, of course, to question the accuracy of so 
 good an observer; but, singularly enough, I myself ne\<T 
 saw or heard of more than a single family in company. 
 Sweden, however, is not Finland, and the habits of 
 mav varv in dHFerenl countries. 
 
HAUNTS AN]) FOOD. 115 
 
 In Scandinavia the Hazel-Hen is classed as a Stand- 
 Fogel, or stationary bird, and beyond doubt it is about 
 the most so of the genus Tetrao. The Capercali and the 
 Black- Cock, as shown, occasionally migrate, for a time at 
 least, from the locality where they were bred ; but not 
 so with the Hazel-Hen, which would seem pretty much 
 to confine itself to one district. Such at least is the 
 result of my experience, which has been considerable ; for 
 when roaming the forest, a day seldom passed that we 
 did not meet with some of these birds. 
 
 The favourite haunts of the Hazel-Hen are hilly and 
 wooded districts. In the open country it is never found, 
 but it somewhat varies its srround according to the season 
 
 O O 
 
 of the year. During summer and autumn one often 
 observes these birds in young woods consisting chiefly 
 of deciduous trees ; but when the leaves begin to fall, they 
 retire to the great pine forests, for the reasoh, as 
 some suppose, that they may be the less exposed to the 
 attacks of birds of prey. 
 
 Its food in the autumn consists of worms, larvae, and 
 the various berries with which the Scandinavian forests 
 abound ; but in the winter, when the snow lies deep on 
 the ground, it subsists chiefly on the tender tops of the 
 birch and the alder, especially the latter. I have then 
 also found in their crops the stalks and tops of the 
 bleaberry. 
 
 The Hazel-Hen unlike its congeners, the Capercali 
 and the Black-Cock, both of which are polygamous 
 lives in monogamy. The pairing season usually com- 
 mences at the end of March or beginning of April, 
 though the time is somewhat dependent on the state of 
 the weather. The sexes attract each other by a peculiar 
 and almost melancholy cry ; that of the male consisting 
 of a long-drawn whistle, followed by a chirp : tl h~/I/- 
 //////-// ; whilst that of the female is more simple, being 
 
 i -2 
 
116 NIDIFICATION. 
 
 often only a single sustained tih, vibrating or quivering 
 towards its termination. 
 
 Tlie female makes her very artless nest in a small 
 eavity, which she herself scratches in the ground, and 
 lays from eight to twelve eggs of a pale yellow colour, 
 marked with brown spots. "The chicks arc hatched 
 about Midsummer, and in the course of a very few days, 
 and when they are only feathered on the wings and 
 tail, begin to fly." 
 
 It is asserted that the male keeps company with the 
 female until incubation commences, when he deserts her 
 for a season, and in the interval wanders alone in the 
 forest ; but as soon as the chicks are nearly full-grown, 
 and have acquired the call-note of their mother, he 
 rejoins his family, and keeps with it during the winter, 
 until the return of the pairing season in the spring. 
 The Kke is related of the Fjall-Ripa, a species of grouse, 
 of which hereafter. 
 
 The Hazel-Hen is readily domesticated, though I have 
 seen the contrary stated in a recent publication. I speak 
 partly from my own experience, having had more than 
 one in confinement that had been captured when full- 
 grown ; but chiefly on that of others. We arc told, for 
 instance, by M. Wilhelm von Wright that " as an aviary 
 bird it is beyond everything tame and amusing to its 
 owner. The more people are about it the sooner will it 
 become reconciled to confinement. The first days of its 
 captivity, however, it will not eat anything, but 
 endeavours to conceal itself in a corner of its prison- 
 house; for which reason it is best to leave it to itself, 
 after placing water and food before it. lied wortle- 
 bcrries and juniper berries :uv the liest to give it in the 
 first instance; but hemp seed, barley, buck-wheat, and 
 other kinds of grain, il cats \\itli avidity after it has onee 
 partaken of them. To induce it to drink, some berri<'- 
 
NATURALIZATION IN ENGLAND. 117 
 
 should be put in the vessel containing the water, which it 
 is then sure to observe. As with domestic fowls, it eats, 
 when in confinement, meat, whether raw or boiled. 
 It should be constantly supplied with dry sand placed 
 in a box, or something similar, as it daily ' dusts ' itself. 
 Thus provided, especially should the sun shine, it forms 
 for itself a hole with its beak in the sand, which it throws 
 over its body. Afterwards it lies first on one side and 
 then on the other, or it may be on its back, and with its 
 eyes half shut. Oftentimes it mounts on some little 
 elevation in the coop and whistles. One is seldom for- 
 tunate enough to rear the chicks when taken very young, 
 most probably because the proper food cannot be 
 procured for them." 
 
 It is to me a mystery why the Hazel-Hen, which from 
 its English name would almost seem to have been a 
 former inhabitant of the British Isles, has not been 
 naturalized with us, inasmuch as it is of all game birds 
 the most delicious, of consummate beauty, and of un- 
 conquerable hardihood, " and adapted, moreover," accord- 
 ing to Mr. George Chichester Oxenden, who has seen and 
 shot these birds in most European countries, " to every 
 variety of cover, from pine forests to hazel and oak copses." 
 But it is not too late in the day for the Acclimatization 
 Society to take the Hazel-Hen in hand; and if the localities 
 were suitable for the purpose and such there are no doubt 
 in both England and Scotland and the attempt were 
 made with from twenty to fifty brace of these birds, I see 
 no reason why it should not succeed. If the neces- 
 sary steps were taken, and competent people properly 
 appointed with dogs and nets were sent over to Scan- 
 dinavia in the early part of the season, there could 
 be no great difficulty, to my thinking, in procuring the 
 requisite number of birds. 
 
 Epicures toll us the Hazel-IIen boars away the palm 
 
118 MODE OF SHOOTING. 
 
 from every other Scandinavian game bird, but to partake 
 of it in perfection it must not have been previously 
 frozen, as is probably the case with all those that come to 
 the English market. From olden times, indeed, this bird 
 bas been looked on in the peninsula as a great delicacy. 
 The worthy Bishop Pontoppidan, when speaking of it, 
 says : " The Hjerpe or Francolin is an excellent land 
 bird. It serves the Norwegians instead of pheasant 
 and moor game. . . . For its white, sound, and tender 
 flesh, and its delicious taste, I prefer it to all kinds 
 of fowl I know of. ... In the diocese of Aggerhaus 
 and Trondlijem, where they are found in great abun- 
 dance, they don't prefer anything to the Hjerpe when 
 well roasted."* 
 
 The Hazel-Hen being held in such high estimation in 
 Scandinavia, various are the devices resorted to for 
 effecting its capture. 
 
 Some are shot to the " Stand-Hund," or pointer; 
 though the number, I take it, is inconsiderable, from 
 that dog being little available in wooded districts, where 
 alone those birds are found. Hut very many fall to the 
 "Fogel-Hund," especially in the early part of the autumn ; 
 for when " treed " by the dog, the birds trycka, or sit close, 
 and can with difficulty be induced to leave their perch. 
 Not so at a more advanced period of the season, for then, 
 so soon as the dog begins challenging, they commonly 
 lake wing and move off elsewhere. But even during the 
 winter I have shot many when "treed" by my bear dogs, 
 
 * Ai-eonlinj; to M. liroin.-ni. the ,l;i<;are's plmi of ],n-].;miii.' tin- lla/.el 
 II, !,. and other small pmir, is as follows : " Tin- h.-ad, tail, and wind's 
 are first cut oil', ami after it ha- U-eii di-einlio\\ellrd and \\asln-d. and salt, 
 |, ( .|,| .troduerd into tlir -t.'inaeh. it i- rn\elo].ed in a inoderateK 
 
 tliii-k coating of elay. and thru j.hieed in hot a-.hr>. When the day Wpns 
 to eraek. it is taken olf thr dinl, and the (rather- follow ini: it. the delieioiis 
 i- thru in ivadim -- to ! di-.-i. 
 
SAGACITY OF THE DOG. 119 
 
 or when, after being scared by the latter, they were 
 flying from tree to tree. 
 
 There are dogs in Scandinavia, nevertheless, whose 
 sagacity teaches them not to " give tongue " to the Hazel - 
 Hen when "treed," seeing that it will not " trycka " to 
 them in like manner as the Capercali and the Black-Cock ; 
 and when, therefore, the bird has flown up into a pine, 
 the dog stations himself a few paces from its stem, and by 
 merely wagging his tail and whining in the quietest 
 manner possible, gives his master to understand where 
 the quarry is to be found. 
 
 Even when the Hazel-Hen is " treed," a practised eye 
 is often required to discover its whereabouts, for it 
 frequently sits so shrouded amongst the branches of an 
 umbrageous pine as not to be readily discernible, at least 
 to the casual observer. It is so cunning, moreover, as to 
 regulate its movements by those of the fowler ; for whilst 
 he is on the look-out for the bird on one side of the tree, it 
 creeps to the opposite, leaving during its progress little 
 more than its head exposed, and that solely for the 
 purpose of keeping the enemy in sight. 
 
 The usual way, however, of shooting the Hazel-Hen 
 is without any dog, and solely with the aid of the so- 
 called IJjerp-pipa, or pipe. This implement, which is 
 much less in size than one's finger, and constructed of wood 
 or metal, or it may be " the wing-bone of a Black-Cock," 
 emits a soft whistling sound, that can be varied according 
 to the call-note of the bird. Such a pipe is readily manu- 
 factured. Often, indeed, when we have accidentally met 
 with a Hazel-Hen, has my man with his knife alone made 
 one out of a sapling of some pithy tree, and that in the 
 course of a very few minutes. 
 
 Provided with this implement, the fowler traverses the 
 forest in all silence, and when he has succeeded in flush- 
 ing the brood, ho after a time begins to " Licka," when 
 
120 HJE11P-PIPA. 
 
 one or oilier of the birds is pretty sure to respond, or it 
 may be fly directly towards him; and in the end he 
 usually succeeds in shooting the whole or greater part of 
 them. Nordholm tells us, indeed, that "it often happens 
 that a pack of ten, twelve, and eighteen, are thus shot 
 without it being needful for the man to move a single 
 foot from the spot." 
 
 We are informed, moreover, that " if there be several 
 Hazel-Hens in the same tree, the gunner may kill all, pro- 
 \ ided he first shoots the undermost ! " This may by pos- 
 sibility be the case in the very early part of the year, 
 but certainly not when the season is advanced ; for, nine 
 limes out of ten, the other birds, if there be more than 
 one in the tree, almost invariably take wing on hearing 
 the discharge of the gun. 
 
 Looking on Hazel-IIen shooting, whether in the 
 manner described, or with the aid of a " Fogel-lf und," as 
 
 O ' 
 
 the very tamest of sports, I have seldom shot these birds 
 unless they have crossed my path ; but I have known 
 others to commit considerable execution amongst them. 
 A man of mine, indeed, one day killed eleven llazel- 
 Hens with his pea-rifle. 
 
 JS'ot a few of these birds are taken in traps and 
 snares, which being similar to those used for the rapture 
 of the Capercali and the Black-Cock, there is no occasion 
 to speak further of them. 
 
 The number of Hazel- liens annually taken in Scandi- 
 navia is something enormous. Brunius, in his llnixt- 
 /.<.';, -on, published in 1798, calculated that ('><>.< IHII \\ere 
 \<arly consumed in Stockholm alone, and 10, ()()() more 
 in other parts of the country. At the present day that 
 number is, beyond doubt, very greatly exceeded. 
 

CHAPTER IX. 
 
 The Dal-Ripa. Where found. Description. Plumage. Moulting. 
 Resembles the Scotch Grouse Resorts. Food. Feeds at Night. 
 Habits. "Trees." Roosts in the Snow. Its Lek. Breeding. 
 I 'a rental Affection. Enemies.- Naturalization in England. In 
 request for the Table. The Rip-Orre. 
 
 ? the Ripa, the well-known Scandinavian bird, be- 
 longing to the genus Tetrao, there are two species in 
 the Peninsula, viz., the Dal-Ripa, or Valley-Ripa, Sw. ; 
 Skov-Rype, Dal-Rype, Norweg. (Tetrao Lagopus, Linn. ; 
 Lagopus siilalpina, Nilss.), identical, as many suppose, 
 with the Willow Grouse (Lagopus Saliceti, Temm.) ; and 
 the Fjdll-JRipa, or Alpine Ripa, Sw. ; Fjeld-Rype, Skare- 
 Rype, Norw. (Tetrao Lagopus, Linn.; Lagopus alpina, 
 Nilss.), believed by some to be the common Ptarmigan 
 (Lay opus muftis, Auct.). 
 
 Both the Dal-Ripa and the Fjiill-Ripa have from time 
 out of mind been known in Scandinavia as different 
 birds.* But Linnaeus, considering the Pjall-llipa to be 
 
 "The Itipii," snys ISislioji I'lintoppidaii, " ix a peculiar 
 bird, and liclongs In (his, |i<>rli;ips, rather tlian any other country 
 
122 WHERE FOUND. 
 
 merely a variety of the l)al-llipa, classed them both a< 
 one species, and it was not until lately that they have been 
 identified by Swedish naturalists as specifically distinct. 
 
 The Dal-Ripa inhabits all the rnore wooded parts of 
 Northern Scandinavia, as also the Lofoden and other 
 islands off the Norwegian coast. As regards Sweden, its 
 limits to the southward in summer would seem to be 
 about the 60, though in one instance I myself found it 
 breeding on an island in the Wenern more than one degree 
 farther south ; but in winter, especially if there be much 
 snow and the weather unusually severe, it occasionally 
 falls considerably lower down. 
 
 In Norway this bird ranges much farther to till- 
 south than in Sweden, as will be seen by the accompany- 
 ing letter, dated Christiania, 18th April, 1806, received by 
 me from Professor II. llasch, an indefatigable sportsman 
 and accomplished naturalist. 
 
 "The Dal-Ripa is found breeding in the southern parts 
 of Norway, nearly a far south as Lindcsniis (58 hit.), 
 where the nature of the country is adapted to its 
 habits. It gives the preference to marshy regions 
 at an elevation of at least 1,000 feet above the sea- 
 level, more especially when cleared of large timber and 
 covered with stunted pines, small willow and birch 
 bushes, as \\ell as heather. In winter it falls down as 
 far as Lindesnih itself. But few pairs, however, are found 
 to breed in Southern Nor\\ay at the above-named alti- 
 tude, and they only hreome numerous in suitable loeali- 
 
 \Ve h:i\e twi. kinds; vi/_, tin- /'(//</ AV//.7, whi-'h lives hi^'h in the r-n-ks, 
 ;in<l i- li -< than tin' other; Mini tin- :-ii|iiiiii>n M>rt. Tln-y VO both abotlt 
 
 tlir M/e nf :i pin I. which tlirv much I Illlile. except ill;; th:il their 
 
 MIT ei. M-n-il with ti-;itlli-rs ; ;illl tlli'V :ni- tlliTi'tiin- rjllliil LugojIH*, Of 
 IliilvfiHit. I'.uth >"lt^ :ifr white ill the winter, ill the .-prill-: --peckled, ;lllil 
 
 ill the Miiiiinei ,11 _> . Tlie\ ;i|e in ^ie;il iniinl'ei -. 1-nt ! veal'.-, more 
 
 lh;in t>tlp 
 
DESCRIPTION. 123 
 
 ties at a height of 2,000 feet above the level of the 
 sea. The case is quite different in the western part of 
 Norway to the north of Stadt (62). It breeds, for 
 instance, in great numbers in Smolen situated about 
 fifteen (-English) miles to the north of Christiansund 
 a large flat, marshy island, about fifty (English) miles in 
 circumference, which is destitute of trees, and the highest 
 part of which does not reach an altitude of 400 feet 
 above the sea-level. The vegetation on these islands 
 lying out at sea, and denuded of trees, is analogous 
 to that found in the alpine ranges, and such places 
 are therefore chosen by the Dal-Ripa." . . . 
 
 The Professor adds in a subsequent letter, in reply to 
 inquiries of mine : " It is quite certain that this bird 
 sometimes selects for its abode localities that are far 
 removed from the higher mountain ranges. That it 
 nests sparingly in the upper portion of what is strictly 
 called the pine region, is undoubted ; but its proper 
 breeding-grounds are higher up ; viz., in the birch 
 region (rey/o betnlina), and in lower portions of the 
 willow region." 
 
 The Dal-Ripa has the short thick bill characteristic of 
 the genus Tetrao, with the upper mandible convex and 
 arched. There is a naked red skin above the eye, and the 
 legs are plumed. The length of the male is from six- 
 teen to seventeen inches, and breadth from tip to tip of 
 the wings twenty-four to twenty-five inches. The female 
 is somewhat smaller than the male. 
 
 As will be seen by the accompanying illustration, the 
 neck and breast of the male, when in its full spring dress, 
 which it does not acquire until near Midsummer, is of a 
 reddish-brown, the back dark-brown, the quill feathers 
 and part of the under surface of the body, as also the 
 legs, white. The plumage of the female is somewhat like 
 that of the male, but of a paler colour, often inclining 
 
1-1 MOITLTING. 
 
 to yellow. " But during the autumn say August and 
 September, it is on the whole more brownish, and 
 consequently darker than in the spring." In winter, 
 however, with the exception of the tail feathers, which 
 are at all times black tipped with white, both male :md 
 female become quite white. 
 
 M. Barth,* when speaking of the spring moulting of 
 the Dal-Ripa, says: "The male begins to put on liis 
 spring dress towards the latter end of March, say from 
 the 20th to the 23rd; but this cannot be said to be fully 
 developed till the middle of June, the change thus occu- 
 pying nearly three whole months. The female com- 
 mences moulting decidedly later than the male. Prior 
 to the 8th of April I have seldom seen the slightest 
 change in her plumage ; but owing to the process with 
 her being much more rapid, the transformation is com- 
 pleted by the end of May, or within about a month and 
 a half ; and she is therefore the first by two or three 
 weeks to appear in her new attire." 
 
 In regard to the autumnal moulting of the Dal-Ripa, 
 the same authority says : "This as a general rule com- 
 mences, with the male, in the early days of September, 
 and is completed in about two months ; whilst with the 
 female, who does not begin changing her dress until a 
 fortnight after the male, the process is over in much less 
 time. There are exceptions; however; for even when 
 November has been well advanced I have seen males 
 not altogether divested of their autumnal garb. Oner. 
 
 * A well known Sorwi-^iaii sportsman, who fjhr* u< imirli valuaMr 
 Hint curious information iv-jMM-t in;: Imtli s|>r<-irsof Itipa. tin- hal.its of wliirh 
 lie IIIIM |ii-ol>ali]y hail U'tti-r ]>\>i tuniti.- of -tu.lviiii; tlian any man liviiij;, 
 anil whom I (|Uotc with tin- xivatrr |h-a>mv, as I am assnml liy a -.TV 
 lii^h authority, that " tlir wonl of M Hart I ..... i\ !>< ivcrivnl a.s <;i>s|>rl 
 trutli," \\hii-li i~ not .ilw.i\- tin' i -a -i- with the utti-Milii-iv- nl'rvi-ix "iif uli.-n 
 ini-i'l'-nt- of- (1 ..... 1 .nul tii-lil." 
 
MOULTING. 125 
 
 indeed, on the 3rd of January I shot an individual 
 that still retained a few brown feathers on its head. 
 On the other hand, I have killed males in full winter 
 dress in October." 
 
 M. Genberg, writing from Bobertsforss, not far from 
 the town of Umea,, in the Gulf of Bothnia, tells us that 
 the moulting of the Dal-BJpa is regulated by the mild- 
 ness or severity of the weather, and by the common 
 people looked upon as a sign of the early or late advent 
 of winter. Sometimes it takes place as early as the 
 end of September, when the old birds begin to be white, 
 though they are never fully so until the close of October, 
 and occasionally even later. The young invariably change 
 their plumage later in the fall of the year than the old 
 ones. During certain winters they are not fully white 
 even at Christmas. In the spring, however, they retain 
 their white dress longer than their parents." 
 
 M. Wilhelm von Wright, when treating of the moulting 
 of this bird, remarks : " The change of plumage is its 
 only defence against its numerous enemies. In the 
 summer time, when the bird is brown and the ground 
 bare, it is comparatively tame ; whilst in the spring, on 
 the contrary, when the ground is bare and the Hipa has 
 not yet laid aside its winter dress, it is generally exceed- 
 ingly wary, and if its legs will not save it from the 
 fowler, it takes wing a long way ahead of him. This 
 period of the year is most perilous for the Ripa as regards 
 hawks and owls, which, in open and exposed places 
 where the bird usually resorts, are then enabled to descry 
 it from afar." 
 
 The Dal-Ripa, particularly the male, is not very unlike 
 our grouse in the summer season, and on taking flight 
 cackles in a similar manner.* But to say nothing of 
 
 * His cry at such times is ' eri-m-kiickuck-kah." When lir ;ili^lit>, it i< 
 
120 UKSOKTS AMI FOOD. 
 
 dilFcrence in plumage, even during the summer, the fact 
 of the Dal-Ripa being only found in districts more or 
 less wooded, of its frequently perching on trees and 
 hushes which the common grouse is seldom known to 
 do* and other peculiarities too tedious to mention, 
 clearly mark it as a species distinct from the Ti'lnm 
 Scoticm, for which, nevertheless, it has heen mistaken hy 
 more than one English traveller. 
 
 The Scotch Grouse, it should he remarked, is not 
 found in Scandinavia; but strenuous efforts, which it is to 
 be hoped will prove successful, are now being made hy 
 Mr. Oscar Dickson, of Gothenburg, to introduce that bird 
 into Sweden. 
 
 Swedish naturalists tell us the Dal-Ripa is seldom 
 found in large woods, but such is not exactly the fact ; for 
 though doubtless much more plentiful in comparatively 
 open country, such as the higher slopes of the f jails, 
 where there is little besides brushwood, yet to my personal 
 knowledge these birds are pretty common both summer 
 and winter in the great northern forest. 
 
 According to M. Barth, the Dal-Ripa thrives best in 
 localities where woods of large birch trees are interspersed 
 
 K,,I;'IH ' A"" din.'" The Finnish peasants imagine tln-x 'hear ill this ''i A 
 the words "A'"/"'/.. A'-i/'/-," for which iv:i>i>n they jestingly call the Ki|xi 
 liv tin- name of the coin current in Ku^la. ThoHe of Culllirandsdal, in 
 Norway, suppose that the Kijia n-ii-s 7'.i A'-i,-,/." i.e., catch tin- fellow ; 
 anil in H;illin^ilal, " A'rl IM'IT <ln ! A'.i bi !', what do you carry ' 
 
 "The inntance to which yon allude of llr.msi- 'tri-rini;,' " wiit.'s an 
 HO|iiaintiK-f who knows thin liinl well. " mviirrnl in Ayrshin- .sonu- 
 four or five yearn ago. I was driving with a friend, and saw several 
 liinls fei-dini; in the corner of a small enclosure liv the ed^e ot' tin' moor. 
 lUlil other liinls, all red (.'rouse, were in a -mall ash I r.-e close liy. I wailed 
 until (lies.- llew down and fed with the other Kirds, on the corn stnlilile "f 
 the i'in-]..-uie. 'I'll, re was ho |i-siliility of a mistake, as 1 could not lie 
 lifty \.irdsdistaiit. ami I remarked to m\ friend that I had never liefore 
 -een or heard of l!ed tiroiise trei-in-;.' 
 
FEEDS AT NIGHT. 127 
 
 with bushes of birch and juniper, especially the latter, as 
 it is under these that they take shelter when moulting 
 during the spring and autumn. But if the cover consists 
 solely of birch bushes, one never finds so many birds. 
 
 During the summer the Dal-Ripa feeds upon the leaves, 
 &c., of various bushes and plants, such as the grass-willow 
 (Salix herbacea), and several other kinds of willow; on those 
 of the bleaberry ( Faccinium Myrtillus), and more especially 
 on the flowers and seeds of the knot-grass or bread-wort 
 (Polygonum viviparum), which for that reason is called 
 in Norway Rype-gras, or Ripa-grass. In the autumn it 
 lives for the most part on berries, such as the Arctic 
 raspberry (Akerbar, Sw. ; Rubus Arcticm, Linn.) ; the 
 cloudberry (Hjortron, Sw. ; Rubus CJiamcBmorns, Linn.) ; 
 the red whortleberry or cowberry (Vaccinlum Vitis Idcea, 
 Linn.) ; the bleaberry ; and the crake or black crowberry 
 (Krakbdr, Sw. ; Empetrum my rum). During winter and 
 spring its food mainly consists of the incipient buds and 
 tender shoots of the willow, as well as those of the dwarf 
 and common birch. It then also occasionally eats, it is 
 said, the berries and leaves of the juniper bush. 
 
 "The Dal-Ripa dui-ing winter," M. Earth tells us, 
 " feeds only during the night. At dusk they descend from 
 the higher slopes of the fjalls to lower localities, and 
 return again before dawn. These nocturnal wanderings 
 commence as early as September and continue until about 
 the middle or end of March. . . . After a fall of snow 
 one may frequently track them for six to eight hundred 
 paces in a direct line, and be tolerably sure of finding 
 the place where they lie." 
 
 In summer and early autumn the Dal-Ripa keep in 
 pairs or in families, but on the approach of winter they 
 usually "pack," and at times in the fjall regions in 
 enormous numbers, nearly all the birds in the district 
 getting together at one and the same spot ; and thus they 
 
128 IT TREES. 
 
 continue to roam the country until the spring, when they 
 separate in pairs. 
 
 The Dal-Ripa frequently " trees," a fact which many 
 people in Scandinavia seem to doubt ; but, to say nothing 
 of having myself been an eye-witness to the fact, there is 
 abundant evidence to show such is of frequent occurrence. 
 
 M. Genberg, of Robertsforss, near Umea, after inform- 
 ing us that the Dal-Ilipa in the winter commonly resorts 
 to dense pine-woods, interspersed with birch, &c., con- 
 tinues : " Sometimes, however, when the weather is very 
 severe, these birds make excursions to the more open 
 country, and are then often seen perched on the upper 
 branches of the birch trees, plucking the buds." 
 
 The llev. Conrad Gronlund, writing from Qvickjock in 
 Lapland, informs us, moreover, that " during the pairing 
 season the male often sits on the top of some lofty pine 
 or Scotch fir, probably that he may be the better enabled 
 to discover a rival." 
 
 But the most conclusive testimony is that given by 
 M. Earth, who says : "From the middle of April the Dal- 
 Ripa who at mid-day are mostly on the ground in the 
 thick woods generally sit during the forenoon and after- 
 noon in the trees, especially when the weather is mild 
 and the sun shines. One can then often see as manv as 
 
 I 
 
 two hundred Dal-Ripa perched here and there on the tops 
 of the birches, the dark colour of the trees making their 
 white and shining bodies more prominent. It is a beau- 
 tiful sight. At such times they arc occupied in feeding 
 on the tops of the birch, of which during the. spring 
 their food almost exclusively consists. I have also oc- 
 casionally seen them sitting on the trees late in the 
 autumn and winter, but never during t lie summer." In 
 a succeeding chapter, treating of the capture of these 
 birds, further evidence as to t lie fact of their "treeing" 
 will be found. 
 
ROOSTS IN THE SNOW. 129 
 
 The Dal-Ripa, as with several other forest-birds, 
 frequently passes the night in the snow, though not 
 deeply embedded, it would seem, as I have always found 
 it easily alarmed. The learned Bishop Pontoppidan was 
 fully aware of this "fact ;" for after describing the manner 
 in which the bird feeds in the summer, he observes: "But 
 in the winter they do as has been said of the black grouse. 
 They seek covering and warmth by burying themselves 
 into the deepest snow, where they sit in great heaps 
 together, taking a magazine of food with them in their 
 crops, by stuffing them as full as they can with willow and 
 birch tops, so that their breasts stand out and make them 
 look as big again ; with this store they support themselves 
 till the following spring. This particular I have from 
 Olaus Magnus, and is quoted in his Theolog. Lib. N.C., 
 13, as an instance of the Almighty and Wise Creator's 
 care for those things that otherwise would perish." 
 
 The Dal-Ripa is monogamous. Nevertheless it would 
 appear that before the great packs that one meets with in 
 the winter time break up in the spring, they hold some- 
 thing very similar to a Lek, though it maybe in a different 
 sense from that of the Black-Cock and the Capercali. 
 
 "After the middle of March," says M. Barth, "these 
 birds, then for the most part in packs of from one to two 
 hundred, seem to begin to choose their mates and to carry 
 on their Lek. From their tracks in the snow it is evident 
 that with their wings trailing on the ground they pace to 
 and fro after the manner of the Capercali in the breeding 
 season. . . . By degrees the packs, spreading in the 
 while, gradually descend from the fjiill sides to the lower 
 valleys, and eventually to the sea-coast itself,' where the 
 boulders and every little elevation may be said to be 
 covered with them. Here, though not in such large packs 
 as before, and still living amicably together, they carry 
 on love affairs in right good earnest. 
 
 K 
 
130 ITS LEK. 
 
 " If one is then abroad at an early hour in the morn- 
 ing, one is treated to a very singular concert, consisting of 
 the most various cries and notes, which in disharmonious 
 confusion proceed from hundreds of Dal-Ripa, dispersed 
 throughout the surrounding country. Here is seen a 
 male perched on a stone cooing, and emitting at intervals 
 his customary sound when in a passive posture : y<tck, 
 gack, ffack ka, ka, a, a, a, a, a. There flies another 
 male uttering his sharp errrrakka, kak, kakaka ; but 
 presently alighting again he cries kacaro, kavaro, upon 
 which follows a clear ringing kavau, twice repeated. A 
 third mate, with outstretched neck and expanded tail, 
 promenades proudly to and fro on the snow, emitting 
 his gao, goo, and while in this attitude, with his dax-x-lini; 
 white body, dark brown head, and large red crest, looks 
 as haughty as the Great Mogul himself. In this while 
 the subdued >(/n, iijau of the females are heard at 
 intervals, together with another peculiar sound, which 
 cannot be represented by any combination of letters. 
 
 " It is chiefly in the morning, though occasionally in 
 the evening, that the Dal-Uipa are thus occupied ; for in 
 the middle of the day they mostly lie still or sit basking 
 in the sun on hillocks, stones, or stumps of trees. This 
 way of life they continue until about the middle of May, 
 when the several pairs separate to search for suitable 
 nesting localities." 
 
 My lamented friend, "The Old Bushman," would seem 
 to gainsay the fact of the Dal-Ripa holding a Lek ; but it 
 strikes me that, owing to the very unfavourable state of 
 the snow on his first reaching Lapland, and his inability 
 to go on " skidor," the season, when he took the field, 
 was too far advanced to enable him to make his obser- 
 vations to advantage. Eor if the Dal-Ripa really does 
 hold a Lek, or the semblance of one, as M. Barth ami 
 others tell us it no doubt takes place very early in the 
 
ITS LEK. 131 
 
 spring and before the dispersion of the great winter 
 packs spoken of. 
 
 But whether or not the Dal-Bipa hold a Lek prior to 
 the breaking up of the great packs, as M. Barth would 
 seem to imply, we have ample information as to the pro- 
 ceedings of this bird at an after-period. 
 
 " In the spring of the year," says the celebrated 
 missionary Laestaduis, " the great packs of Dal-Ripa 
 separate, and these birds are then only seen in single 
 pairs. They are, therefore, not polygamous. Never- 
 theless, they would not appear to hold the nuptial 
 tie particularly sacred, for I have often seen the males 
 engaged in desperate combats and pursuing one another 
 in the air with the most savage hatred, now and then 
 uttering a wrathful and broken cry somewhat resembling 
 the sound of ag. The female has a certain call-note by 
 which she entices not only her young brood when 
 separated from her, but also the male in the pairing 
 season, which note resembles a soft, subdued, and whis- 
 pering-like njau, njau, nja^l. 
 
 " The Ripa, at the season in question," the worthy 
 missionary goes on to say, " keeps up a right joyous noise 
 in the woods ; for the males often ' laugh,' and when the 
 one gives forth his triumphant cry, another, in his own 
 locality, replies to let the challenger know he is as good 
 a champion as himself ; and thus the cry, which is re- 
 sponded to by all the males in succession, runs through the 
 woods in like manner as a speaking telegraph. It is at 
 an early hour in the morning, say from one to four or 
 five o'clock, and for a while in the evening, that the forest 
 thus rings with the glad notes of these birds." 
 
 Again: "The pairing season with the Dal-Ripa," we 
 are told by M. Gronlund (Qvickjock, Lapland), "com- 
 mences in May. They do not hold any regular Lek like 
 the Capercali and the Black-Cock, but it is said that, as 
 
 K 2 
 
132 BREEDING. 
 
 with these birds, the old males always spel first, and when 
 they have finished the younger ones commence. The 
 Dal-Ripa are now no longer seen in packs as during the 
 winter, but here and there in single pairs. At about two 
 o'clock in the morning the males make the woods resound 
 with their sharp laughing cries, followed by a less loud 
 note, kavau, kavau, kavau, to which tin- female replies, 
 njau, njau, njau." 
 
 " From what I have observed," says M. Genberg, " the 
 Dal-Ripa are the first of the forest birds to commence 
 their Lek. The time is however regulated by the state 
 of the weather. If the spring be mild, they already begin 
 at the end of March or early in April, or it may be even 
 previously. They are then almost always found on the 
 outskirts of woods near morasses. In this part of the 
 country the Dal-Ripa is looked on as the tdckare or 
 awakener of the forest birds, as its prrrr, pad,- ////, is 
 always heard prior to the spel of the Capercali or the 
 Black-Cock." 
 
 " At the Lek of the Dal-Ripa there are said to be more 
 males than females, attributable by some to the latter 
 being most exposed to the attacks of vermin, and many 
 of the males are consequently left without mates. "When, 
 therefore, the pairing season is over, these males assemble 
 in large or small packs and pass the summer as best they 
 may in some remote and out of the way place, as if wish- 
 ing to avoid the sight of their more favoured rivals." 
 
 The female forms a simple nest under a bush, the 
 stump of a tree, in heather, or the like. She lays from 
 eight to fourteen oggs. "Sometimes," .M. Burth state-, 
 "as many as twenty," \\hieh in si/.e and colour so ^really 
 resemble those of the Scotch Arouse that it is difficult to 
 distinguish the one from the other. 
 
 As a general rule, the VOIIIIL' are hatched about the 
 middle of .lime; the time, ho\\e\er. much depending on 
 
PAUENTAL AFFECTION. 133 
 
 the state of the weather and the locality. It is said, 
 indeed, that incubation takes place some fourteen days 
 later in the fjall regions than in the lower grounds. 
 " The young are able to fly within seven to eight days 
 of their leaving the shell, at which time they are about 
 the size of larks," and so soon as they have acquired 
 their first feathers they bear a considerable resemblance 
 to their parents. 
 
 " Whilst the female is sitting," says M. Gronlund, " the 
 male always remains in the near vicinity of the nest, to 
 protect her against the attacks of foxes, weasels, and the 
 numerous birds of prey by which she is then often 
 molested. He never separates from her, even after the 
 young are hatched, but accompanies the family every- 
 where, and evinces the same regard for the mother as 
 for the poults. When meeting a family of Dal-Ripa in 
 the forest, one has the opportunity of witnessing the 
 instinct implanted by nature in the parents to protect 
 their offspring. Should a person then approach the spot 
 where they are collected, the male, for the purpose of 
 drawing the enemy's attention from them to himself, runs 
 forward to meet him with plaintive cries and outstretched 
 wings, thereby endangering himself to secure the safety 
 of those he holds dearer than even life itself." 
 
 Again : " When the fowler comes suddenly upon a 
 brood of young Dal-Ripa," M. Barth relates, " it is 
 really distressing to see the mother running to and fro 
 before him. Should he remain stationary her boldness 
 gradually increases, until at length either from a feeling 
 of her own weakness, or from her fears being dis- 
 pelled at seeing him make no attempt to injure her 
 she by degrees retires with the same pitiable mien, 
 and ultimately hides herself behind a bush, waiting for 
 the moment when she may once more venture to call 
 her chicks together. Oft-times lias a female Dal-Ripa 
 
131 AliOl'lION. 
 
 approached so near me in the way described that I could 
 readily have killed her with my foot. The male acts in a 
 similar manner as the female, but his actions do not 
 indicate the same admixture of timidity and courage, in- 
 asmuch as he never comes so near as she does. When, 
 however, the fowler proceeds on his way, the male bird 
 follows for a long distance, running and ilying in the 
 while from spot to spot, with the endeavour to lure the 
 man from its young family, which it does not rejoin until 
 the enemy is so far distant that no further peril is to 
 be apprehended." 
 
 M. Wilhclm von Wright testifies to the like effect : " In 
 few birds is the parental feeling so strong as in the Dal- 
 Ripa. If one approaches the poults, the old birds run 
 with depressed wings and outspread tail so close to one's 
 legs that they may readily be killed with a stick ; but 
 when they imagine the chicks have had time to conceal 
 themselves, they gradually retire, though still with the 
 intention of enticing one from the spot where their progeny 
 is harboured. So long, however, as their young are in 
 jeopardy they never take wing, and thus place their own 
 lives in the greatest possible danger. In common with 
 other birds, the parents show greater regard for their 
 offspring whilst small than at any other period, for as the 
 young increase in age the parental affection sensibly 
 diminishes. During the summer the family keep to- 
 gether, both male and female r\ in<'in- etpial attachment 
 to their progeny." 
 
 M. I'.arth mentions a trait regarding the ])al-Kipa 
 which is not devoid of interest: " A< tin- young of 
 these birds whilst of a tender age are often exposed to 
 losing their parents, nature, in order to prevent them 
 from perishing, has implanted a reciprocal instinct of 
 preservation between the se\ eral families, the parents 
 of which take diarire of tin- nr>therle-s poults that seek 
 
MOSQUITOES A DEADLY PEST. 135 
 
 their protection, and foster them with the same affection 
 as their own. One, therefore, not unfrequently meets 
 with a pair of Dal-Eipa accompanied by some thirty 
 young ones. Hence one may sometimes go on shooting 
 as many as fifteen out of a pack, consisting originally 
 of about twenty, without sensibly diminishing their 
 numbers ; for as the old ones are usually the first killed, 
 the young ones then ' call ' to themselves birds of another 
 brood, which settle down contentedly with them and 
 never again return to their old locality." 
 
 Besides man, the Dal-Ripa has many enemies, not the 
 least formidable of which is the mosquito. " When the 
 young are small," says Lsestadius, " the mother shelters 
 them under her wing during the night. She does the 
 same to protect them from the mosquitoes. My father 
 told me that one summer, when those insects were 
 unusually numerous, he came upon a Ripa thus cir- 
 cumstanced. She had nine chicks under her wings and 
 three others lay dead by her side, her wings not extend- 
 ing wide enough to cover them. During severe mos- 
 quito summers," the rev. gentleman proceeds, " the forest 
 birds suffer greatly from these pests, and one then marks 
 a sensible diminution in their numbers." 
 
 The Dal-Ripa, though not looked on as an especial 
 dainty in Scandinavia, is nevertheless considered superior 
 to the PjJtll-Ripa. According to M. Ealk, its flesh in the 
 winter tastes of the willow, the tops of which then con- 
 stitute its chief subsistence. If the bird were properly 
 cooked, however which is seldom the case in Sweden, 
 where game as well as meat is usually either burnt to a 
 cinder or boiled to rags it would probably be found little 
 inferior to our grouse ; that is, if dressed prior to having 
 been frozen, in which state most northern birds reach 
 England ; for afterwards its fine flavour is, for the most 
 part, gone. 
 
NATUHAI.1/VT1OX IN ENGLAND. 
 
 Of late years there has been much talk of naturalizing 
 the Dal-llipa in Scotland, and if the experiment were 
 tried on an extended scale, I see no impossibility of its 
 proving successful. The Fjall-Ripa (supposed to be our 
 Ptarmigan) from the nature of its food and habits, cannot 
 exist elsewhere, I believe, than on mountains of very 
 considerable altitude. Not so, however, with the Dal- 
 Eipa, which breeds, as recently shown, in the very south 
 of Norway, in about the same latitude as Scotland, and 
 on islands off the Norwegian coast that nowhere rise 
 to a greater height than 400 feet as also in one instance 
 on a low island of the Wenern, which lake is only 110 
 feet above the level of the sea. Hence it is pretty clear 
 that so far as Scotland is concerned, neither the latitude 
 nor the elevation of the hills presents any serious obstacle 
 to the success of the experiment. 
 
 Hitherto this has not been tried, owing, I understand, 
 to the difficulty of procuring the birds. Not long ago, 
 indeed, M. Butenschiin wrote me that "all attempts in 
 Norway to collect and keep the Dal-Eipa have failed, 
 although considerable care and expense have been devoted 
 to the subject." There may be truth in what my friend 
 says as to these birds not thriving in confinement, though 
 to me it seems very problematical if those in question 
 were sufficiently supplied with their natural and proper 
 food, &c. ; but on this point I can say nothing, never 
 having had a living Dal-Ripa in my possession. The 
 difficulty, however, of obtaining them, spoken of by 
 M. Butenschon, I look upon as mere moonshine, being 
 fully convinced that with good management the required 
 number of poults would be procurable. 
 
 The Dal-Ripa occasionally breeds with the Black- 
 Cock. The produce, which are called Jfi/i-Orre, are of 
 course only found in localities inhabited by both of those 
 birds. I have never ^cen other than stulled specimens 
 
THE 1UP-ORRE. 137 
 
 of this hybrid, of which, indeed, but few have hitherto 
 been met with. Both sexes have in a marked manner 
 the main characteristics of their parents. The male is 
 some eighteen inches in length, of which the tail forms 
 six inches, and for its plumage in winter I refer the 
 reader to the accompanying illustration, which Avill give 
 him a far better idea of the bird then any written 
 description of mine. As yet, I believe, no specimen of 
 either male or female has been obtained in the summer 
 plumage, and it is therefore not known whether, as with 
 the Kipa, it moults twice at least within the year, or only 
 once as with the Black-Cock. Nothing seems as yet to 
 be ascertained regarding the habits of the Rip-Orre. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 Tlie Fjall-Ripa. Southern limits in Scandinavia. Pluni:ii;i-.- Moiiltinj.'. 
 Habite. Resorts. Food. Feeding at Night. The l.'k. 
 Breeding. The Male a Truant. Enemies. For the Tnl>]'. 
 
 fT^HE Fjiill-llipa, in regard to size and habits, much 
 -*- resembles the Scotch Ptarmigan (Lagojms mufit*. 
 Auct.) ; but never having shot the latter, excepting in 
 its autumnal dress, I am not prepared t<> say tliey are one 
 and the same. There would, indeed, appear to be doubts 
 on this point, for if the Fjiill-llipa be really identical, as 
 Nilsson believes, with the Tetrao Islamlonim of Faber, 
 which both Yarrell and Faber seem to think a distinct 
 species from the Lagoon* /HII/HH, it may turn out that the 
 Fjiill-llipa is another species, or at least variety, of the 
 Ti-li-iiu Delias. Tliis matter, however, 1 leave to the 
 decision of the learned. 
 
 The Fjiill-llipa abounds on all the alpine ranges of the 
 Seandinaviaii peninsula, as also mi those of the Lofoden 
 and other inlands lyini; oil' the western coast of Norway; 
 but only above the limits of arhorous vegetation, which 
 in the extreme north are not at any very considerable 
 

SOUTHERN LIMITS. 139 
 
 elevation. "The Old Bushman" tells us that the Dovre- 
 fjeld, lat. 62, may be considered as the limit of these birds 
 to the south ; but in this matter as also in regard to the 
 southern limits of the Dal-Ripa he is somewhat in error, 
 for their range in that direction is much more considerable, 
 as will be seen by the following extracts from Professor 
 Rasch's letter to me, dated April, 1866 : 
 
 " The Ejall-Ripa," he says, "is found so far south in 
 the province of Christiansand that its southern limits can 
 certainly be placed in lat. 58 40'. It occurs wherever the 
 mountains rise above the limits of the dwarf birch, with 
 steep precipices and stone rubble. On mountains in the 
 southern districts of Norway at the height of 3,000 to 3,500 
 feet, one may be tolerably certain of meeting with one 
 pair or more of these birds." . . . The Norc-fjeld, in 
 Krydsherrecl, situated nine (Norwegian) miles to the east- 
 ward of Christiania," the professor continues, " is, as far 
 as I have been able to ascertain, the nearest Fjall-Ripa 
 mountain to us, and there they are tolerably numerous." 
 
 The length of the male Fjall-Ripa is from fourteen 
 to fifteen inches, and the expanse of wing nearly two 
 feet. The female is ' somewhat smaller than the male. 
 Accurately to describe the summer plumage of this 
 bird would be next to impossible, owing to its being 
 in an almost constant state of moult. By all accounts, 
 indeed, it puts on at least three different dresses in the 
 course of the year. The illustration at the commence- 
 ment of this chapter will, however, give a very fair 
 idea of the plumage of the FjJill-B.ipa at the season in 
 question. But in the winter, with the exception of the tail 
 feathers, which are at all times black, and that the male 
 retains the small black mark reaching from the base of 
 the bill to the temple, both sexes, as with the Dal-Ripa, 
 are then clad in white. Even then, however, the male 
 Fjall-Ripa may readily be distinguished from the male 
 
140 MOULTING. 
 
 Dal-Ripa, not only by its inferior size, but by the black 
 angular mark spoken of above the eye. The difference 
 between the females of the two species is less evident, 
 but the female Fjall-Ripa may be known from the 
 female Dal-Ripa by being smaller and having a different 
 shaped bill and more crooked claws. 
 
 M. Earth, when speaking of the moulting of the 
 Fjall-Ripa, says: "To judge from appearances, the male 
 begins to put on his spring dress about the middle of April, 
 or nearly a month later than the Dal-Ripa, but with the 
 greater part of the males it is not fully developed until 
 after the middle of June. The female commences moult- 
 ing some days later than the male, and has mostly com- 
 pleted it by the end of May, or in tin lii-st days of June. 
 The Fjall-Ripa, therefore, requires a much shorter time 
 in which to moult in the spring than the Dal-Hipa ; inas- 
 much as the process is over with the male Fjiill-Kipa in 
 about two months, and with the female in about live 
 weeks, whilst the male and female Dal-Ripa require about 
 three and two months respectively to effect the change. 
 
 As regards the Fjall-Ripa's autumnal moulting, 
 M. Earth gives us less precise' information. After 
 telling us that in the last days of June lie lias seen 
 " packs " of old males in their full spring dress, he proceeds 
 to say : " But subsequent to that time I never shot 
 any Fjall-Ripa until the commencement of September, 
 when the whole family (the males, as will presently be 
 shown, separating for a time from the females and the 
 poults) were collected together. They had then already 
 a -sumed the greater part of their autumnal dress, which 
 about the middle of that month begins to be supplanted by 
 the \\ inter dress, but in such manner that the autumnal 
 moulting is simultaneously continued." 
 
 Indisposition the Fjall-Ripa is but little shy; some 
 even describe it as a silly and stupid bird. During 
 
HAUNTS AN1) FOOD. 141 
 
 summer and early autumn, when one meets with it alone 
 or in families, it is usually very tame, and will often allow 
 a person to approach quite near without taking wing. 
 Not unfrequently, indeed, the fowler, or the wayfarer, 
 finds himself in the very midst of a brood without having 
 been previously aware of their presence. But as the 
 season advances the several families pack, and they then 
 become very wary, especially should they have accidentally 
 become mixed up with the Dal-Ripa, which are of a much 
 wilder nature ; and thus they keep together throughout 
 the winter, and until the month of May, when they 
 separate in pairs. 
 
 The favourite resorts of the Fjall-Ripa are amongst 
 stones and shingle, where they find shelter in bad weather, 
 and from which in their summer plumage they are hardly 
 to be distinguished. 
 
 Its food varies according to the season of the year. 
 During summer and autumn it feeds on the leaves and 
 seeds of plants indigenous to the elevated regions it 
 inhabits ; but in the winter, when from heavy snow-storms 
 it is unable to obtain access to the crakeberry plant 
 (Empetrum nigrum) its favourite food, the leaves of 
 which remain green all the year round it subsists for the 
 most part on the tender tops of the dwarf-birch and 
 willow, which are met with somewhat lower down on 
 the fjiill sides. 
 
 " The easily satisfied appetite of the Fjall-Ripa," 
 M. Earth remarks, "coupled with the fact that the 
 crakeberry grows in such profusion everywhere as in 
 many places to cover the whole slope of the fjall up to 
 near the line of perpetual snow, explains the cause why 
 these birds never lack food in the higher regions where 
 
 O O 
 
 one would least suppose it possible for any living creature to 
 find the wherewithal to sustain existence. The crakeberry 
 plant in some years has so many berries that the ground 
 
FEEDING AT NIGHT. 
 
 looks black with them; nevertheless, in those ye$rs I 
 never found the berries themselves in the crop of the Kip -i, 
 but only the stalks and leaves. After producing fruits in 
 such abundance, the crakeberry plant would seem to 
 require some time for rest, inasmuch as during the 
 succeeding year scarcely a berry is to be seen on it. 
 The Ripa would therefore be badly off, if its taste only 
 permitted it to feed on the berry and not on the stalk. 
 Another instance of the wise foresight of Natim-." 
 
 According to M. Barth, the Fjiill-Ripa, as with the 
 Dal-Ripa, feeds in the night-time during the winter; and 
 for that purpose descends the fjiills somewhat, though 
 never so low down as to be within the limits of arborous 
 vegetation.* " When one is abroad of a winter's morning 
 before dawn," he says, "one not un frequently hears the 
 peculiar burring or murmuring sound made by the Fjiill- 
 Ripa on the middle slopes of the fjiill ; but as davli^lit 
 increases, the sound becomes more and more indistinct, 
 owing to their gradually ascending higher and higher; 
 and when it is full daylight, by which time they have 
 reached the summit of the fjiills, it is no longer audible. 
 From the tracks left by- the Fjiill-Ripa after these 
 nocturnal excursions, one sees that they have mostly 
 wandered amongst the birch and willow bushes, just abo\ e 
 the limits of arborous vegetation, and the tops of which 
 they have eaten off. But they would not appear to resort 
 to this kind of food excepting when the snow lias pre- 
 vented them from obtaining access to the crakeberry." 
 
 The Fjiill-Ripa lives in monogamy, but I have an 
 
 * "As an i-\ri-|itinii it may lie mentions 1, that in o<-rt.ain local it ii-s win-re 
 tin- nuiuiit-iiiis slop- j-i-.ulimlly down t.> 111.' son, and arc d.-nudrd of i;ra 
 and trees for tin- latti-r of wliirli the Ki:ill Ki|':i would sri-iri to i-iit<Tlain 
 
 fear and aversion th.-.- I. ml- may .., -rationally 1"- s.-cn at dawn only so 
 
 hundred feet :ilov.- tin- .-MM l.-v,-l. It i- not, li,,,-\ ,-r, < mum fur 
 
 tin-in to ili-M-i-iul thn- far, and lat.-r in tin- day tlii-y ni.>-tly rrinux.- liisjlirr up. 
 
ITS LEK. 143 
 
 idea that these birds, like the Dal-Ripa, hold something 
 akin to a Lek before the great winter packs disperse 
 in the spring. Their proceedings at that time, however, 
 may not have been sufficiently noticed by persons com- 
 petent to describe them, partly in consequence of the 
 distance being usually considerable from the more habitable 
 part of the country to the fjalls, but chiefly, I take it, 
 because the latter, owing to the breaking up of the frost, 
 are not always in the most traversable state. 
 
 At a more advanced period of the spring, however, by 
 which time, probably, the Fjall-Ripa have for the most 
 part paired, we have ample information as to their pro- 
 ceedings at the " Lek-stalle." " Here, at a very early hour 
 in the morning," says Nilsson, "the male begins to utter 
 his cry, which by Faber has not inaptly been likened to 
 the croaking of a frog, and by others to the snoring of 
 a man. The female soon replies by a subdued ii-ack 
 ii-ack. The male then takes wing and proceeds in search 
 of her. It is said, however, he never runs 'towards her 
 in the manner of the Dal-Ripa, but always flies." 
 
 When the pairing season is over, the female makes 
 her nest amongst stones, or even in the hollow of a stone, 
 or it may be amongst heather, grass, &c., and lays from 
 eight to fourteen yellowish-coloured eggs marked with 
 brown spots. The chicks are hatched about the middle 
 or towards the end of June, though the time much 
 depends on the state of the season. According to 
 M. Earth, they are of very quick growth, "for though in 
 the middle of September they may be distinguished from 
 the old ones as regards size, yet the difference in plumage 
 is but very slight." 
 
 Whilst the female is sitting, the male is said always 
 to remain with her, but as soon as the chicks are out of 
 the shell, he deserts his family and repairs to the higher 
 ranges of the fjiills, where he joins other males similarly 
 
141 PATERFAMILIAS A TRUANT. 
 
 circumstanced to himself. In the month of August, 
 by which time the chicks are pretty well grown, the 
 old hen takes them also to the more elevated regions, 
 when the brood is rejoined by " paterfamilias ;" and from 
 that time forward they all keep company until the 
 approach of winter, when the several families collect 
 together in large packs. 
 
 Though these partial separations of the male from 
 his family and the like is said of the Hazel-lien, as pre- 
 viously shown seem very singular, yet every one asserts 
 such to be the fact. But after all, may there not be a 
 mistake in the matter ? Is it really true that the male 
 acts as described, for though not seen in the company of 
 the female, may he not be in the near vicinity ? and 
 may not the packs of old male Fjall-Ripa so often seen 
 on the fjalls by sportsmen and others, be individuals 
 who, as with certain male Dal-Kipa, have been unable 
 to mate themselves, and not, as generally asserted, 
 truant mates? 
 
 The Fjall-Ripa has many enemies : the snowy owl, 
 eagles, and hawks of various kinds, among the re>t. 
 From the velocity of its flight, however, even the 
 gyr-falcon, about the swiftest of the feathered tribe, 
 has not always an easy task in capturing it ; for ulien 
 pursued, instinct teaches it to keep above its assailant, 
 and it sometimes happens, we are assured, that both the 
 pursuer and the pursued fly to so great a height as to 
 be lost to the view of the spectator. It is said that 
 when the poor Ripa is thus hard pressed it will ocea- 
 -iunally take refuge in the I'ata, or hut, of the Lap- 
 lander, or it may be amongst his rein-deer. 
 
 Of all the genus Tetrao, the Fjiill-Ripa is in the lea-i 
 request for the table in Scandinavia; but if well dre^ed, 
 I have always found it very palatable, and little interior 
 to the Dal-l'ipa. 
 
CHAPTER XL 
 
 Shooting Ripa at the Lek-stiille To the Pointer. Migrations to the 
 Coast How Caused. Enormous Packs. Tracking. Shot 
 when "Treed." By Bloss at Night. Traps and Snares. The 
 Rip-Hag. Anecdote. Large Captures. The Siiar-gSng. 
 
 T 7" AST numbers of Ripa are annually killed in Scan- 
 dinavia, especially during the winter, when their 
 transit is easy to the distant towns, which constitute the 
 chief and almost only market. Not a few of both species 
 fall to the gun at the " Lek-stiille," in the manner that I 
 am about to describe. 
 
 " About one o'clock in the morning," says Nilsson, 
 when speaking of the Dal-Ripa, " the male begins to 
 raxa> or give utterance to its loud prrr, pack prrr, 
 and its deeper kavau, kavau. The female responds with 
 a subdued njau, njau, which she often repeats, and in 
 the while the sexes approach each other. Should the 
 fowler at such times imitate the call-note of the fe- 
 male, a reply is soon received from the male, and if 
 he then conceals himself behind a bush or a stone, and 
 
 L 
 
146 SHOOTING AT THE LEK. 
 
 continues to " lacka," the male presently comes either 
 flying or running within gunshot of him. Occasionally 
 the bird halts, erects its expanded tail in the manner o! a 
 fan, trails its wings on the ground, throws its neck 
 backwards, and cries kavau, kavau ! Sometimes the 
 female is in his company." 
 
 Again : " When now the fowler hears a male Dal- 
 Hipa ' laugh ' during the pairing season in the spring," 
 says the missionary Ltestadius, " and imitates the call- 
 note of the female, the male comes and settles near tin- 
 man, shows himself indescribably ardent, gives another 
 laugh, and appears to listen, but instead of a rendezvous 
 with the object of his affections, he meets his doom." 
 
 Once more : " During the pairing season," writes M. 
 Gronlund, "it is not difficult to kill the Dal-Ripa. If 
 one then hears the cackling or laughing cry of the male, 
 it is only necessary to hide oneself behind a stone or 
 tree, and mimic the call-note of the female, when he 
 soon approaches, either running or flying. But it is not 
 always that he responds ; when one may be sure he has 
 the female in his company, in which case he will on no 
 account allow himself to be beguiled." 
 
 The Fjall-llipa is shot at the Lek-stalle in a somewhat 
 similar manner as the Dal-Ripa. " The fowler after con- 
 cealing himself imitates the call-note of the female ; on 
 hearing which the male flies directly towards the spot 
 where he imagines her to be, and at times, it is said, 
 actually alights on the man's shoulder." 
 
 The Hipa (of both species, I speak) is also shot to the 
 pointer, or other dog, though the number thus killed is, 
 I take it, very inconsiderable ; partly because t he peasants 
 are cautious of wasting ammunition on so valueless a 
 bird in their eyes, and partly because the gentry of the 
 country seldom take the trouble of going so i'ar as the 
 fjiills in search of sport. 
 
TO THE POINTER. 147 
 
 But that first-rate shooting of hoth species of Ripa is 
 obtainable in all the more northern parts of Scandinavia 
 is certain. Indeed, from the number of those birds that 
 I myself met with when wandering during the summer 
 months amongst the mountains of Norway and Lapland, 
 I feel perfectly confident that had it been the proper 
 season, and that I had been well appointed with dogs 
 and markers, I could any day have loaded a horse 
 with the spoil. 
 
 Several of our countrymen have had exceedingly good 
 Ripa shooting on the Scandinavian fjiills, and I have now 
 letters before me from friends speaking of their having 
 bagged from fifty to sixty brace of those birds in the 
 course of a very few days. 
 
 Good, however, as is the shooting on the mainland, 
 still better, by all accounts, is to be had on the Lofoden 
 and other islands lying off the north-west coast of 
 Norway. Some of them were a few years ago visited by 
 the late Sir Hyde Parker, for the purpose of shooting, 
 and the success he had was something extraordinary; 
 but not having his letters by me, I can neither state 
 the number of birds killed, nor the species, though I 
 imagine the whole, or the greater part of them, to 
 have been Dal-Ripa. 
 
 The Fjall-Ripa abounding, as shown, on all the alpine 
 ranges of the Peninsula, one may everywhere have shoot- 
 ing of these birds to his heart's content. To my notion, 
 however, they afford but poor sport, for in the early part 
 of the season they sit like so many pigeons amongst the 
 grey rocks, and are, moreover, so tame that even if one be 
 shot out of a brood, the rest usually fly only a short 
 distance before again alighting. " At times, indeed, they 
 sit so close that should the fowler accidentally come 
 directly upon them, he is obliged to retreat somewhat 
 before firing, unless- he would blow them to pieces." 
 
 1/2 
 
MIGRATIONS FROM THE FJALLS. 
 
 But the case is very different on the advent of winter, 
 when the several families pack ; for they are then no 
 longer approachable. 
 
 M. Barth, when describing his experiences in the 
 Lofoden islands, where he would appear to have spent 
 more than one year, mentions some peculiarities of tbe 
 Fjall-Ripa which may be worth transcribing. 
 
 "Provided there be no snow on the ground," he says, 
 " the best time to shoot these birds is from the commence- 
 ment of October, for their white winter dress is so unlike 
 that of the naked rocks that one is enabled to discern 
 them from a great distance ; and though their colour is 
 then in such striking contrast to all surrounding objects, 
 I have always found them very tame. No sooner, how- 
 ever, does snow fall, and the fjalls are clothed in white 
 like themselves, than they all at once become so exceed- 
 ingly wary that from thenceforward, and until the packs 
 separate in the spring, I never succeeded in getting within 
 gun-shot of even a single bird." 
 
 "But when, as happens during certain winters," he 
 proceeds to say, "the Fjiill-Ripa fall down in irreat packs 
 from the mountains to the sea-coast, and settle closely 
 together on the naked rocks, amongst dwarf bushes, or 
 it may be on the bare ground, the case i- \\ idely different ; 
 for they are then so tame that many will not take wing 
 even when their comrades are killed in the very midst 
 of them, and those that do fly up generally settle aLrain 
 within gunshot of the spot from \\henoe they were 
 flushed. At such times one may eommonly kill from 
 three to four at a shot, and a couple of fowlers, supplied 
 with a sufficiency of ammunition, as many as three 
 hundred in one day. They would seem to be altogether 
 bewildered at finding themselves in a locality so strange, 
 and where they are unable to see as freely around them 
 .is from their own alpine haunts. 
 
HOW CAUSED. 149 
 
 " Nine or ten years ago the Fjall-Ripa on Lofoden and 
 Westeraalen thus fell down to the coast, and were killed in 
 such numbers throughout the whole w r inter as to be sold 
 for 2 skillings, or Id., each, the usual price being 6 skill- 
 ings, or 3d. They were then mostly used as food for 
 servants. Of late years, however, these migrations of 
 the Fjall-Ilipa have been of less frequent occurrence 
 than formerly, when they usually took place at intervals 
 of only a few years. 
 
 "The cause of the migrations in question is believed 
 to be, that during the years when they occur the f jails 
 are covered with dense masses of snow, which, instead of 
 drifting in places, as usually happens, has fallen in. calm 
 weather and rested evenly everywhere ; and from its 
 surface having subsequently frozen, the llipa are prevented 
 from obtaining access not only to the crakeberry their 
 favourite food, which, as said, remains green all the 
 winter but to the dwarf birch and willow, on the buds 
 and tender shoots of which, when the crakeberry is 
 debarred them, they also feed." 
 
 These periodical migrations of the Fjall-Ripa from 
 their alpine homes to the lowlands would not seem to be 
 confined to the Lofoden islands, for Nilsson informs us 
 that, when at Upper Hallingdal, in Norway, he was told 
 by the people there that " on the occurrence of heavy 
 snow-storms, these birds would descend from the fjalls, 
 and perch on the birch-trees in such numbers that they 
 seemed clad in white." 
 
 Again : " This year, 1863," writes M. Widmark from 
 Qvickjock, in Lapland, " there are unusually few Fjall- 
 Ripa on the Lulea fjalls. This may possibly be owing to 
 the enormous quantity of snow that fell during the past 
 winter, which drove them down from their proper haunts 
 the Skoysbryn, or upper edge of the birch region 
 to the forest region, even to the forest itself, and to 
 
]5(> IMMENSE PACKS. 
 
 inhabited places, where immense numbers were captured ; 
 as, for example, in lliineii, and in the valley of the river 
 Calix." " It is a certain sign of the near approach of 
 snow-storms," this writer goes on to say, " when one in 
 the autumn sees the Fjiill-Ripa collected in large packs. 
 At times there may be as many as a thousand together. 
 They are then exceedingly wary ; and an old male gives 
 notice to the rest, by his singular cry, when danger is 
 at hand." 
 
 Though the Fjall-Ripa affords but little sport, the 
 same cannot be said of the Dal-Ripa. The best shooting 
 as regards the latter is probably on the upper slopes of 
 the fjdlls, which for the greater part are clothed with 
 mere brushwood, and the ground in consequence most 
 favourable for both the gunner and the pointer. The 
 young arc fit to shoot about the beginning of September, 
 and as the birds then trycka, or lie well to the dog, any 
 moderate number may be bagged in a day. 
 
 " When pursuing this amusement," M. Barth tells us, 
 " one not unfrequently falls in with packs of old males 
 that had been unable to mate themselves in the spriiiL!-. and 
 which wander about alone and disconsolate during the 
 summer and early autumn. Once, on a little island 
 covered with brushwood, myself and friend fell in with 
 a company of about forty of these ' \\ido\\ ITS.' and suc- 
 ceeded in killing fifteen of their number. 
 
 "Late in the season," he continues, " the several 
 families begin to pack, and to remove higher up the ijalls 
 where their numbers are constantly increased by fresh 
 arrivals, and ultimately they take up their abode just 
 below the limits of arborous vegetation. From the 
 moment the Dal-Ripa arc thus congregated together, they 
 will no longer ' trycka,' but for the most part either 
 take wing a Ion- \\.iy oil', or, should the cover be thick, 
 run rapidly ahead. During the winter, indeed, they 
 
IMMENSE PACKS. 151 
 
 make fully as much use of their legs as their wings, and 
 the sportsman may often see them on the snow in long 
 columns, and with rapid strides making their way up the 
 acclivities. On these occasions they will not readily 
 fly up until he is within one hundred and fifty to two 
 hundred paces of them, their first endeavour being always 
 to outrun him. 
 
 " Not seldom there may be as many as five hundred 
 individuals in such a pack, which on one's near approach 
 take wing in parties of twenty, forty, to one hundred, 
 letting it be known by their sharp yack! gack! gack! that 
 they are aware of the impending danger, and thereby 
 summoning their comrades to follow. The" fowler is 
 seldom enabled to get near these great packs, but he 
 may very often obtain shots at the stragglers that 
 remain behind. 
 
 " So long as the ground continues bare of snow, and 
 the birds retain their summer dress, the packs remain 
 from choice in the places where they first located them- 
 selves; but should the ground continue bare after 
 they have wholly or in part assumed their winter dress, 
 and the fjalls be covered with snow, the packs remove 
 still higher up to the solitary valleys, &c., where, near 
 to the margin of alpine lakes, dwarf birch and willow 
 bushes are still to be found. In such localities the Ripa 
 collect from all the surrounding districts, within the limits 
 of which subsequently not a single bird is to be seen, so 
 that if a person be unacquainted with their retreats, he 
 might readily come to the conclusion they had one and 
 all deserted the country. 
 
 " Between the 3rd and 10th November, 1850, I was 
 several times in pursuit of one of these immense packs, 
 which, on taking wing after the birds had collected together 
 at nightfall, formed a thick white cloud of several 
 hundred ells in extent, and caused a rushing sound as 
 
152 TRACKING. 
 
 of a hurricane. If I say that in this pack there were 
 nearer three than two thousand, that number will be 
 rather under than above the mark. 
 
 " Speaking generally," M. Earth continues, " I have 
 not found what the people in Lofoden and elsewhere have 
 told me, as to the shyness or tameness of the Dal-Rip;i, 
 being dependent on a clear or misty atmosphere, cold or 
 mild weather, wind or rain, sufficiently corroborated by 
 my own experience to enable me to comprise it within 
 any general rule ; but one thing is certain, that however 
 wild the birds may have been during the day, they 
 always become tamer on the approach of evening ; as also 
 that their "shyness increases as the winter advances ; 
 so that in the months of January and February the 
 ' packs ' cannot often be approached within three hundred 
 to four hundred paces. It is likewise certain that the 
 Dal-Ripa, when met with alone, is always tamer than 
 when several are in company, and that the wariness of 
 the pack increases in proportion to the number of indi- 
 viduals of which it is composed." 
 
 With the exception of the few Ripa that I killed 
 with a pea-rifle when wandering, as said, amongst the 
 fjalls in summer, my shooting has been altogether 
 confined to the forest, where in the winter time I very 
 frequently met with Dal-Ripa, and that chiefly amongst 
 birch and willow bushes near to lakes, rivers, morasses, 
 or other open places. But having usually other game in 
 view, it was seldom that I took the trouble to follow them. 
 Had I, however, devoted time to the purpose, it is possible 
 that, even here, a fair bag might have been made. I do 
 not remember having ever shot more than three brace in 
 anv one day. 
 
 On observing the tracks of the Dal-Ripa in the forest, 
 our plan was to follow them in silence until we sighted 
 the birds, and then to shout them on the ground, or on 
 

 
 
 
SHOT WHEN TREED. 153 
 
 their taking wing, as the case might be. Many of the 
 northern chasseurs thus kill the Dal-Eipa whilst sitting, 
 I mean with their pea-rifles, and that without rest of 
 any kind. Elg, my follower, assured me, indeed, he has 
 shot as many as eight or nine of these birds in the course 
 of a very few hours. 
 
 The best time to shoot the Dal-Eipa in the way 
 mentioned is soon after a fall of snow, for its tracks being 
 then qiiite fresh, and one's own movements conducted 
 noiselessly, it is not difficult to approach it. Not so at 
 all times, however ; for if the tracks be old and numerous, 
 it requires an experienced eye to follow them with cer- 
 tainty and dispatch ; and should there be the slightest 
 crust on the surface of the snow, the bird, from hearing 
 it crackle under one's feet, usually takes the alarm and 
 moves off. 
 
 The Dal-Eipa is not unfrequently shot in the day- 
 time when " treed." "From the time that these birds 
 begin, in the spring, to perch in the birch-trees," says M. 
 Earth, " they partly lose their natural shyness ; but still 
 great caution is necessary in stalking them. They care 
 very little for the noise made by the fowler when walking 
 on the frozen snow, provided he himself keeps out of 
 sight. Should this be impracticable, however, he must at 
 least contrive to have something were it only a single 
 twig between himself and them. They are then less 
 alarmed than if his whole person were exposed, for if that 
 should be the case they usually take wing at once, let the 
 distance be ever so great." 
 
 I was told by Elg, moreover, that at Brunberget, in 
 the Wermeland Finn forests,* there was a lofty aspen tree 
 
 * So called from numbers of Finlanders having located themselves 
 there during the reign of Charles IX., King of Sweden, who, being desirous 
 i if peopling that part of the country, held out certain inducements to 
 
151 MY BLOSS. 
 
 on the upper branches of which Dal-Ripa were often to 
 be seen perched ; that an acquaintance of his was accus- 
 tomed, morning and evening, to lie in ambush near to 
 this tree ; and when the birds came to feed, he shot them 
 with his pea-rifle. 
 
 In winter the Dal-Ripa is sometimes shot when "treed" 
 in the night-time by means of "Bloss," or torchlight. 
 " One would have supposed," says M. Falk, " that 
 these birds, which, when flushed in the daytime from tin- 
 ground, always settle there again, would also pass tlir 
 night upon it ; but this is not the case. Here ( Risiiter, 
 Wermeland), where I reside, are extensive aspen woods 
 near the lake Rada. Some years ago, when great numbers 
 of Dal-Ripa visited us, it was customary for the people* 
 to shoot them after dark, when perched on these trees, 
 where they were readily seen. I contend, therefore, not 
 that the Dal-Ripa never pass the night on the ground, 
 but that this is not always the case. The probability is, 
 that they roost both on the ground and in the trees." 
 
 We are further informed by Professor .Nilsson that 
 when at Bratteforss, in Norway, he was told by the 
 inhabitants that they were accustomed in the winter to 
 shoot the Dal-Ripa by torchlight in the night-time when 
 roosting in the willow bushes." 
 
 Although many Ripa fall to the gun in the sevenil 
 ways described, the number is inconsiderable as com- 
 
 -'ttlers, and to the Finns in partii-ular, of \sliirli tlir latti-r, owing t<> war 
 mill famine in their nati\c land, \\riv not slow ( avail llirniM-hi-s. 
 Ili-nre I.H^I' Iraets of the foroitH in i|iii-stin]i. :i-i also of tliose in I 'aleearlia, 
 -.. li\ tin- de-i^natioM ..f /'///// *l.nyar or Finn Forests. Totliisda\. indeed, 
 one meet* witli <li>tiiict colonirs of tlior Finns, or mtlirr thrir lUwciulanto, 
 i ii]i and down in tin- wildenUM, wliicli. if not already known lo 
 l>e Hiicli. may bo eaHily recogtii /"<! liy tlir |M-O|I|<- n lainini; many !' 
 
 tin- i-ll^lolll- .(' llli'll alu-i-.|..|>. \vl|..M lallLJU.!^'-. l,.-id.-. -ulilc of lli.ln 
 
RIP-HAG. 155 
 
 pared with those taken during the winter in traps and 
 snares of various kinds, more especially in the so-called 
 Hip-Hag, or Ripa fence. 
 
 THE RIP-HAG. 
 
 This consists of a long and low hedge, so to say, con- 
 structed of bushes, with openings at stated intervals. 
 A A are straight sticks, of the thickness of one's finger, 
 inserted in the snow at either side of these apertures ; and 
 C C forked sticks, between the prongs of which the 
 snares B B are suspended. To lure the Ripa into the 
 toils, small branches of birch-twigs are placed both in 
 front and rear of the several openings, and when, therefore, 
 the bird has eaten all the buds from off the one bunch, 
 and attempts to renew its meal on the bunch at the 
 opposite side of the fence, it is compelled to insert its 
 head in the snare, and is made captive in the manner 
 represented above. 
 
 At times, however, the forked sticks C C are reversed 
 in the snow, the prongs pointing, in consequence, upwards 
 instead of downwards ; so that in the event of a heavy 
 fall of snow, the trapper has only to raise the sticks suffi- 
 cently to allow of the snares hanging about a hand's- 
 breath above the snow. 
 
 From M. Gronlund's account, it would seem that, in 
 his part of Lapland (Qvickjock), but very few besides 
 Dal-llipa arc taken in the " Hip-Hag," or other devices. 
 
156 ANECDOTE. 
 
 " Hereabout," lie says, " the people never trouble them- 
 selves with the FjaU-Ripa ; but as a proof that these birds 
 may readily be caught in snares, I may mention the fol- 
 lowing incident : In the winter of 1832, two men from 
 the parish of Luleil, who, owing to the prevailing dearth, 
 were unable to procure sustenance at home, and in the 
 hopes of bettering their fortunes, set off across the fjiills 
 for Norway. But the Lapp who acted as their guide, 
 being utterly devoid of the common feelings of humanity, 
 left them to their fate in the wild mountains during so 
 heavy a snowstorm that they could not see farther before 
 them than their own feet. Oppressed by their melancholy 
 thoughts, and wandering they knew not where, they were 
 at length led by the hand of Providence to a lake, about 
 seventy (English) miles from Qvickjock Church, \\liere 
 they found a kata, or hut. Happy in having at last a 
 roof over their heads, they for the moment forgot their 
 sufferings. As, however, it was long since they had eaten 
 anything, hunger soon reminded them that they had no 
 provisions remaining in their wallet; and as they neither 
 knew the way forwards nor backwards, they doubted not it 
 would be their certain fate to die of famine. 
 
 " But their grief vanished on seeing a pack of Fjall- 
 Ripa. AVith some thread they had about their persons, 
 they hurriedly prepared and set se\eral snares, and pre- 
 sently captured such numbers of these birds that they 
 lived well for a whole week ; and they would have secured 
 very many more had not the foxes and other vermin 
 divided the plunder with them." 
 
 The number of Kipa taken in the northern parts of 
 Scandinavia durum; the winter mont lis is, as said, something 
 enormous. The late Sir Arthur de-Capell Brooke tells 
 us that in the parish of Kautokeino, in Lapland one, it is 
 true, of very great extent no fewer than 00,000 of these 
 birds were killed during the season preceding that in which 
 
LARGE CAPTURES. 157 
 
 he visited those parts. This number, however, was not 
 arrived at from actual computation, but from the weight 
 of the feathers, each Ripa being supposed to furnish about 
 one ounce. We are further informed by Bishop Pontop- 
 pidan that the Ripa in his time were so very plentiful as 
 to be brought down to Bergen in thousands, and after 
 being partially roasted, were packed in firkins and 
 exported to other countries. 
 
 In further proof of the abundance of Ripa, I may 
 mention, on the authority of a Swedish newspaper, that 
 a Nybi/f/gare, or squatter, during the past winter, 1865-6, 
 captured and sold at the fairs of Gellivara and Jockmock 
 no fewer than 1 ,400 of those birds ! 
 
 La3stadius also testifies to their numbers in Lapland, 
 and adds: "What with their feathers and their flesh, 
 they are quite a treasure to the inhabitants of the cold 
 North. Many poor Lapps would die of hunger had they 
 not as a resource the Capercali in spring, fishing in the 
 summer, and the Ripa in winter." 
 
 Besides Stockholm, Christiania, and other towns in the 
 Peninsula, many of the captured Ripa find their way to 
 Copenhagen, where, in good seasons, " it is not unusual for 
 a single game-dealer to dispose of from 50,000 to 60,000 
 of those birds in the course of the winter." Considerable 
 numbers are also sent to England. Yarrell informs us 
 that " in the spring of 1839, one party alone in Norway 
 shipped 6,000 to London, 2,000 to Hull, and 2,000 to 
 Liverpool ; and in the year 1840 no fewer than 15,000 
 of these birds were consigned to a single dealer in 
 Leadenhall Market." 
 
 From the foregoing account it will be seen that the 
 forest birds of Scandinavia in which category are included 
 the Capercali, the Black-Cock, the Hazel-Hen, and the 
 Dal-Ripa constitute no insignificant portion of the natural 
 wealth of the country, and of which the inhabitants are 
 
158 THE SXARGANG. 
 
 not slow to avail themselves. This is more particularly 
 the case in Norrland the most northern of the four 
 grand divisions into which Sweden is divided where 
 shooting and trapping, the latter especially, are made 
 a sort of profession. 
 
 "Every Hcmman* in the province of Herjeadalen " 
 (a part of Norrland), so M. Albin informs us, " has its 
 own Snui'-gting, or locality, where traps and snares are set ; 
 and there is not a single proprietor who has less than 
 500 of these devices ; the greater part 2,000, and many 
 3,000. The parish of Sveg, for instance, contains about 
 300,000 Tunnland (some 307,000 English acres), the 
 owners of which are about 170 in number. Now if it be 
 assumed that each of these men sets on an average 1,765 
 scares, it will therefore be one for every Tunnland. 1 a 1 his 
 parish," he adds, " no single path-way, or other suitable 
 spot for the purpose, is without traps or snares, and it is 
 a common saying with the people that, ' bora fogclii <jr 
 
 * The whole of Sweden is divided into Hemmans, signifying home 
 steads; and these again, very generally, into smaller farms. Kadi Hem 
 iu:ii is Imrthened with one and the same imposts. This institution took 
 ]tlacc years and years ago for military purjwses. At the time, it was 
 prolmbly an equitable division of the land in regard to its money value, 
 without reference to its area. The si*e of the lleinman, a.s a eousei|iifm-e, 
 varies very greatly in the several provinces. To give a Uetter idea of this, 
 I may mention, that in thai of Malmo about tin- richest and liest eiilthated 
 in Sweden the Hem man contain^ the one hundredtli part of :i square 
 mile, whilst in that of I'itea, whieh is very seantily populated and overrun 
 with forests (formerly nearly valueless, but now of great worth), it eontains 
 one square mile and a quarter; that i~, a lleinman in the pro\ inee of 
 I'itea is one humlivd and twenty live timo larirer than one in the pro\ inei- 
 of Miilni'i. 
 
 When s|H-aking of tle size of an estate in Sweden, it is eiistomaiA 
 to Bay, it eoiisisU of so many HemmanH, not Tiinnlands. or :i. 
 ax with us. Mm tliis de~eri|>tion, us will IK' gathered froin what is: 
 
 IV little idea of till' IVal extent of till' |iro|M-it\ 
 
1'llESERVATIOX OF GAME. 159 
 
 ncd p<t marken sa ar ham fart; 1 that is, provided the birds 
 alight on the ground, they are surely made prisoners." 
 
 " For the better preservation of the dead birds," says 
 Nordholm, " they are deposited in a dry room, where the 
 weather cannot affect them ; and as soon as the first 
 night frost occurs, they are exposed in the open air to be 
 frozen, and afterwards taken in again. Some people, 
 however, place their birds in large tubs, where they are 
 embedded in gran-ris, or twigs of the spruce pine, .in 
 which it is said they will remain uninjured for eight 
 whole weeks." 
 
 The captures made are "commensurate with the 
 exertions of the fowlers. Nordholm tells us that in his 
 time independently of those consumed at home and 
 in the neighbouring towns 80 sledge-loads, each contain- 
 
 o ~ O * 
 
 ing from 2,000 to 3,000 birds of one kind or another, 
 were annually sent from Norrland to Stockholm alone, 
 which produced a considerable sum of money. 
 
 "The feathers of the captured birds," the same 
 writer tells us, " are valuable not only as merchan- 
 dise, but for household purposes, every peasant being 
 provided with two or three down beds. The eggs of 
 the forest birds," Nordholm adds, "are set great store by, 
 and are used in like manner as those of the common 
 hen, and have an equally agreeable taste." 
 
 Great, however, as is the extent to which " trapping " 
 is carried in the north of Sweden, it must not be supposed 
 that any one peasant captures a sufficient number of birds 
 to load a sledge for a distant market. There are not many 
 individuals, indeed, who take more than from 200 to 300 
 head of game in the course of the season. It is the 
 regular dealer who, when the birds are frozen, goes from 
 homestead to homestead and purchases from the trapper 
 and subsequently conveys them himself to far-off towns. 
 
 A large portion of the birds thus shot and trapped in 
 
1GO STOCKHOLM GAME-MAKKET. 
 
 the Northern Provinces is, as said, sent in the. winter 
 time to Stockholm. The game-market in that city, during 
 that season, is a most imposing sight, the number of 
 birds exposed for sale being something like legion. When 
 I was in the capital, years ago, the cost of game was very 
 moderate ; say 2s. 6d. to 3s. for a brace; cock and hen 
 of Capercali, and Black- Cock in proportion ; but at the 
 present day, the price of these birds, as well as of everything 
 else, has, no doubt, greatly risen. 
 
 From Stockholm being thus abundantly supplied with 
 game in the winter, a stranger might be led to imagine' it 
 must be very plentiful in 'Scandinavia; but the opposite 
 is the case. It must always be borne in mind that the 
 200,000 to 300,000 game birds that find their way to 
 the capital during the winter, are the joint capture of 
 half a dozen provinces, more than one of which is some- 
 thing like the size of England itself. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 The Common Partridge. Scandinavian and Northern. Their Habits and 
 SuHi'i-ings. Curious Incubation. The Partridge-Pipe. Sportsmen's 
 Expedients. The Klafve. Training the Pointer. Partridge-Shooting. 
 Dating of the Goshawk. The Tirass. The Hog-Nat. The Ryssja. 
 Stock Birds. A Church-goer. 
 
 f I ^IIERE were a few of the Common Partridge (Rapp- 
 -*- hona, Sw. ; Raphone, Norw. ; Ayerhone, Dan. ; Per- 
 dix cincrea, Briss.) in the vicinity of llonnum. This is 
 also the case throughout all the more cultivated dis- 
 tricts of Southern and Central Sweden; but higher up 
 in that country than lat. 62 they do not seem to he found. 
 In Norway, Professor Rasch states that they are pretty 
 generally distributed, though somewhat scarce everywhere, 
 owing to the destruction that takes place amongst them 
 on the occurrence of " snow winters." " Of late years," 
 he adds, " they have spread over the open parts of the 
 province of Trondhjcm, lat. 63, which may he considered 
 their northern limits." Throughout Denmark, according 
 to Kjserbdlling, these birds are quite common. 
 
 The Partridge is not indigenous to the Peninsula, hut 
 
 H 
 
SCAMMXAVI \X AND NORTHERN. 
 
 though the time of introduction does not scorn to be 
 exactly known, it is generally supposed to have been 
 during the reign of the great Gustavus Vasa, now some 
 three hundred years ago. And I can well believe it to be 
 of foreign extraction ; for, even at the present day, the 
 inhabitants of Oroust, one of the larger of the islands on 
 the west coast of Sweden, call it the njerpc, or Hazel- 
 Hen, a bird that once abounded there, but which, since the 
 destruction of the woods, is now extinct, or nearly so. 
 
 The Scandinavian Partridge, as seen in the accom- 
 panying picture, is, in appearance, a counterpart to the 
 English, though it strikes me as being somewhat smaller. 
 What the weight of ours may be I know not, but six 
 brace that I one day shot in Sweden, at the very end of 
 October, weighed, on the following morning, exactly ten 
 pounds avoirdupois. They were chiefly young birds. 
 though in plumage nearly resembling their parents. But 
 then it must be borne in mind that Partridges in Sweden 
 breed at a somewhat later period than in England; so 
 that it is probable the birds in question would, a few \\ eeks 
 later, have been somewhat heavier. 
 
 The Northern Partridge would seem to be more erratic 
 in its habits than ours in England, owing, in part, probably 
 to a hard climate, and a somewhat sterile soil ; for it is 
 at times said to be met with in localities \\here one would 
 almost as soon expect to see a dodo ; as. for instance, in 
 the Wormeland Finn Forest, to reach which they must of 
 necessity have passed over several miles of dense pine 
 woods, without break or opening of any kind. It may 
 happen, ho\\c\er, that they are driven to such out-of-the- 
 way places liy hauks or oilier birds of prey. 
 
 Partridges are on the incrcaM- in the Peninsula, attri- 
 butable, in part, to the lari;e extent of ground that of late 
 \e-irshas been brought into cultivation. Their numbers, 
 however, fluctuate greatly ; lor. on the occurrence of an 
 
THEIR HABITS AND SUFFERINGS. 163 
 
 unusiially severe winter, the breed in certain places becomes 
 almost extinct. Many then perish from cold, hunger, and 
 the attacks of vermin ; but still more beneath the snow, 
 to them ordinarily a place of retreat or shelter ; for, on 
 its surface becoming frozen, as happens when a partial 
 thaw is succeeded by frost, they are unable to work their 
 way through the obstruction, and necessarily die of 
 famine. The remains of whole coveys that have thus 
 miserably perished, are often found under snow-drifts in 
 the spring. They suffer most, it should be observed, in 
 open and exposed districts, where there is little to protect 
 them from the inclemency of the weather, and where, 
 besides, they have difficulty in obtaining sustenance ; 
 for, in partially wooded localities, especially in those 
 where the juniper bush abounds, they fare much better, as 
 they there find both food and shelter. 
 
 To guard, in measure at least, against the effects of 
 these periodical visitations, many of the great proprietors 
 in the South of Sweden are accustomed, in the autumn, to 
 net a considerable number of Partridges in a wav that 
 
 J 
 
 will be presently shown, and to retain them in confine- 
 ment until the spring, when they are restored to liberty, 
 that the breed may be replenished. 
 
 The nestin" 1 habits of the Scandinavian Partridge are 
 
 O D 
 
 similar to those of our own ; but the female seldom lays 
 until the end of May or beginning of June, when the night- 
 frosts are over; and she thus avoids having her eggs frozen, 
 as so often happens to some of the forest birds, especially 
 the Black-Cock. Hence the poults are usually very small 
 on the 12th August, when the shooting season in Sweden 
 commences. 
 
 The belief is generally entertained in the Peninsula, 
 that when the nest of the Partridge has been disturbed, 
 the old birds the male, as well as the female, assisting in 
 the operation remove the eggs elsewhere, and often to 
 
 M 2 
 
164 CURIOUS INCUBATION. 
 
 a considerable distance. They are said to carry one or 
 more eggs under each wing, and to run backwards and 
 forwards until the whole are safely deposited in the new 
 habitation. As the same is recorded of the English 
 Partridge, we may presume that there is some truth in 
 the story. 
 
 The task of incubating such Partridge eggs as are 
 casually met with, usually devolves on the little haul am, 
 or the common hen ; but, in Sweden, I once know an 
 old turkey-hen thus to officiate; and when a few days 
 after the birth of the chicks, ten to twelve in number I 
 saw them following their gigantic foster-mother, they 
 looked healthy and well, and had every appearance of 
 long surviving. 
 
 If we are to credit a statement made to me by Captain 
 P., of the Swedish army, for the truth of which he 
 vouched, Partridge eggs are, at times, hatched in a 
 way that may succeed well enough in the burning plains 
 of Africa, but which one hardly expects in the cold north. 
 My friend's story was this : A Partridge's nest was one 
 day found by the mowers in a field near to Ainal, in the 
 province of Dalsland. The eggs, which had boon sat on 
 for about half the usual time, were carried to that town, 
 where, as a matter of curiosity rather than anything else, 
 they were placed in the frontispiece of the apothecary's 
 shop, which had a southern aspect. Some days after- 
 wards, however, to the astonishment of everybody, a 
 number of young Partridges, hatched solely by the lical of 
 tlu- HUH, were seen parading to and fro amongst the many 
 party-coloured buttles decorating Esculapius's window. 
 
 Partridge-shooting is a favourite amusement in Scan- 
 dinavia ; and in its more central and southern parts, 
 especially as regards Sweden, not a few of these birds are 
 killed to the pointer. 
 
 Many of the northern sportsmen shoot exceedingly 
 
THE PARTRIDGE-PIPE. 165 
 
 well, and in a way that we in England would call sports- 
 manlike ; but some, even amongst the gentry, have rather 
 too much an eye to the " pot." Indeed, I well remember 
 hearing a very distinguished Swedish jagare, and a great 
 ally of my own, somewhat boastfully relate, that on one 
 occasion, when his dog pointed at a juniper bush, where he 
 had reason to believe a recently flushed covey of Partridges 
 had taken refuge, he fired at random into the midst of it, 
 and at a single discharge killed no less than eight of the 
 number. It is hardly fair of me, however, thus to " show 
 up " my friends ; because I myself, when hard pressed 
 for game, have occasionally been guilty of acts that could 
 not with propriety be " proclaimed on the house-tops." 
 Various wiles are, at times, resorted to in the Peninsula 
 by the gunner to circumvent the poor Partridge. When, for 
 instance, the covey is so wild as to be unapproachable, he 
 will fire a charge of perforated slugs into the midst of it ; 
 the whirr of which so alarms the birds as to cause their 
 instant dispersal, when, as a matter of course, they become 
 much more accessible. 
 
 THE PARTILIOE-Pll'E. 
 
 Then, again, he makes use of the so-called Rapphons- 
 or Partridge-pipe, depicted above. This usually 
 consists of a tailor's thimble, open at both ends. A 
 
1(56 SPORTSMEN'S EXTEDIKNTS. 
 
 piece of parclimcnt, previously wetted, is drawn over 
 and secured to one end of the implement. When tin- 
 skin is dry, a perforation is made in the middle with a 
 needle, and a single horse-hair, douhly knotted at the 
 end, passed through it from within, and remains hanging 
 on the outside. When the " Kapphims-pipa" is brought 
 into use, the horse-hair is drawn between the finger and 
 thumb (after they have been previously moistened), when 
 the pipe emits a sound exactly resembling the call-note 
 of the Partridge. Provided with this implement, the 
 gunner proceeds in quest of the covey, and when he has 
 found and dispersed the birds, he. after a time, imitates 
 their call-note, to which responses are presently given. 
 Thus, he not only ascertains their whereabouts, but, in 
 many instances, succeeds in luring one or other of them 
 within reach of his murderous weapon. 
 
 But, after all, the expedients mentioned to beguile tin- 
 poor Partridge are not more objectionable than some of 
 those resorted to by us in England for the like purpose; 
 as, for instance, flying a huge paper kite, fashioned in 
 measure as a bird of prey, over a turnip-iield, as I myself 
 have seen done in Norfolk, to make the birds lie close. 
 
 As regards the gun, however, the great destruction 
 that takes place amongst the Partridges is during t In- 
 winter, when the ground is covered with snow, and they 
 are in consequence very conspicuous; for the peasants 
 and others then slaughter them without mercy, something 
 like a whole covey Ixjing often annihilated at a single 
 discharge. During very severe \\inters, again, especially 
 after heavy snow-storms, when these poor birds draw near 
 to the homestead, not a few are captured by hoys and 
 others, by means of a common sieve, and in like manner 
 as sparrows w ith us. 
 
 M-iny of the !'<> inters one sees in ih,. IVninsiila are 
 wdl-hred and \\ell-looking; but, speaking generally* maob 
 
THE KLAFVE. 
 
 107 
 
 cannot be said in their favour. Occasionally they are well 
 broken-in, though seldom sufficiently so to come up to our 
 English ideas of perfection. In most instances they are 
 taught to bring the game to their master, and, as a conse- 
 quence, usually " run in" at the shot. Nearly one and all, 
 moreover, when they sight a hare, charge the poor animal 
 as savagely as a terrier does a rat. The character given by 
 M. Greiff of a favourite dog of his own is, in short, pretty 
 applicable to the Northern Pointer of the present day. 
 " As something remarkable," he says, " I may mention 
 that I was once possessed of a bitch named Caresse, that 
 was never 'trained' in any way; that stood quite steadily 
 to birds that would trycka, or lie close ; challenged to 
 them when ' treed ;' and gave chase to hares, foxes, &c." 
 
 THE KLAFVK. 
 
 As the usual plan in Scandinavia of training a Pointer 
 differs somewhat from our own, it may be proper to devote 
 a page to the subject. Three different sorts of collar, to 
 which a long line is attached, are used for the purpose. 
 
168 TRAINING THE POINTKK. 
 
 One kind consists of a stout cord, heavily knotted at in- 
 tervals of an inch ; a second, called a Rosenkrans, of 
 a number of wooden balls, an inch and a half in diameter 
 (whence protrude blunted iron spikes, 1 line in length), 
 strung on a piece of stout packthread ; and a third, named 
 Klafrc, the nature of which will be readily understood by 
 the above drawing. The choice of the collar depends on 
 the disposition of the dog. If he be very self-willed and 
 head-strong, the " Klafve," as being the most severe, is t In- 
 best ; for, on the two side-cords being drawn together by 
 the triangle, the animal is put to much pain. But it must 
 be borne in mind that, whichever of the three collars be 
 used, it should fit the dog's neck close and well, yet not so 
 tightly as to impede respiration. 
 
 M. GreifT, speaking of the training of the Pointer, says : 
 "When first used, you fasten to him a line of three 
 fathoms in length, which trails after him, and reminds him 
 that he stands in subjection ; and he must not be allowed to 
 range wider than will permit you to take hold of the line 
 when required. When he answers well to the appcl, you 
 wind the line about his neck and allow him to hunt, accord- 
 ing to circumstances. You should always have an eye to his 
 movements, and to his tail, which indicates the vicinity of 
 the game; and when it is noticed that he has scent of^the 
 birds, he must always be taken under the wind of them. 
 If he accidentally flushes them, he should be reprimanded ; 
 but should he commit the great fault of running ahead 
 :if'ter you have fired, and to chase what rises before him, he 
 ought to be severely punished. He should always hunt 
 in advance of the sportsman, and to the right and left as 
 indicated l>y the hand. As soon as he points, he must be 
 warned by the words 'loitf lien it,' or in the language he 
 i- taught ; and, if a young dog, care must be taken to hold 
 the line lo present his advancing farther. If he be un- 
 \\ illinn' to move, it is a certain sign the birds are near him ; 
 
PARTRIDGE-SHOOTING. 109 
 
 in which case one advances slowly and cautiously, so as 
 not to excite him ; and if, on their rising, you kill one of 
 them, let him fetch it, and then caress him ; but he should 
 never get into the very bad habit of squeezing or biting 
 the game." 
 
 Partridge-shooting in the cultivated parts of Scandi- 
 navia in Sweden at least is very fair; not that birds 
 are numerous, for one seldom meets with more than a covey 
 or two in a day, but owing to the favourable nature of the 
 ground ; so that, with a good dog and a good marker, one 
 may always calculate on making a tolerable bag. I here 
 speak of the wilder part of the country, or that owned for 
 the most part by the peasantry ; for on the estates of the 
 gentry, which in general are preserved, very much better 
 sport is obtainable. But then, as a set-off, it has always 
 appeared to me that the fewer birds you shoot the more 
 you are likely to be in favour with the proprietors ; and 
 no wonder, considering the comparative scarcity of 
 Partridges in the Peninsula. 
 
 To give a better idea of the sport obtainable in Scan- 
 dinavia, I may mention that, on two different occasions, in 
 October, when on short excursions in the more southern 
 parts of Sweden, I have, to my own gun, bagged upwards 
 of 100 brace of Partridges in the course of from fourteen 
 to sixteen days' shooting ; and, on another occasion, in 
 October, though this was in an opposite direction, 62^ 
 brace in seven consecutive days my best day being 14 
 brace. But my performances are nothing as compared 
 with those of some of my acquaintance that is, supposing 
 what they tell me is to be received absque grano sails. 
 
 In Partridge-shooting, as in other pursuits, strange 
 tilings sometimes occur. One day, in September, 1804, when 
 a friend of mine, Captain Roos, of the Swedish army, was 
 enjoying this amusement, his Pointer Happ one of the 
 steadiest that I know found a covey, and, whilst standing 
 
170 DARING OF THK GOSHAWK. 
 
 firm as a rock, one of the birds flew up from the ground, 
 and, to the no small wonderment of the gallant officer, as 
 also no doubt to that of bis well-trained dog, actually 
 perched on the back of the latter. 
 
 When Partridge-shooting in the Peninsula, one is at 
 times annoyed by the presence of the Goshawk, the mortal 
 enemy of those birds. On one occasion I bad shot a brace 
 of Partridges, right and left. "Whilst reloading, something 
 passed close by my ear with the rush of a whirlwind, and, 
 on looking up, I saw a (loshawk in the very act of pouncing 
 on one of mv birds that was king dead within less than 
 
 * tf O 
 
 thirty paces of where I stood, and which, to my no small 
 mortification, it bore triumphantly away in its talons. 
 Similar instances of the daring of the Goshawk an- not 
 at all uncommon. At times, indeed, it will " stoop" to a 
 hare under the very nose of the gunner; of which more 
 than one example is on record. 
 
 Partridges are frequently taken in nets in Scandinavia. 
 One kind, called the ,S//<7,-,Y//7. is similarly constructed, 
 though smaller, to that previously spoken of for the 
 capture of the Capercali and the Ulaek-Cock. This is set 
 in a y.ig/au -form amongst low bushes, etc., where the birds, 
 after the dispersal of the covey, are known to have taken 
 refuge. And if the fouler, after remaining quiet for a 
 while, then imitates their call-note with his " Kapphons- 
 pipa," they will presently respond, and of themselves run 
 into the toils. 
 
 Another kind of net is called the Tiru,, signifying a 
 drag-net. It is usually of a quadrangular shape, hut its 
 si/c varies considerably. Commonly. howe\er, it is about 
 12 feet in diameter, \\ ith meshes ~1 : \ inches square. Two 
 lines, of from 1C to 18 feet in length, are attached to 
 the foremost corners of tin- net. When the dog points, 
 tuomen, one on each side, draw the " Tirass" ,,\ ,-r the 
 spot \\liere the co\c\ is supposed to lie ; and as t be after- 
 
THE TIRA.SS AND HOG-NAT. 171 
 
 part of the net trails along the ground, the Partridges, on 
 its near approach, are sure to take wing ; on which the 
 lines are immediately dropped by the fowlers, and the 
 birds are enveloped in the folds of the net. The " Tirass," 
 we are told, should be dyed green. 
 
 Then, again, there is the so-called Hog-Nat, or high- 
 net ; but this device is little used, I believe, in the Penin- 
 sula. It is 30 to 40 fathoms in length, by 30 feet in 
 depth, and the meshes some 3 inches square. At early 
 morn and late in the evening, Partridges, when going to 
 or returning from their roosting-places, always fly low, 
 often at hardly the height of a man, and they, moreover, 
 almost invariably take the same course. This point ascer- 
 tained, the net is set up on two poles of about 20 feet in 
 height, the upper line being fastened at some 18 feet from 
 the ground, and the under line at 4 feet, so that the lower 
 portion of. the net forms a sort of bag. Two men keep 
 watch near the net, whilst others, with dogs, hunt the sur- 
 rounding country; so that when the Partridges are flushed, 
 and take their usual course, they fly against the net and 
 fall into the bag mentioned. The watchers at the same 
 instant wrench up the poles supporting the net, and throw 
 them to the ground on the top of the latter, which renders 
 the escape of the birds almost impossible. 
 
 The net, however, most in request in Sweden, by 
 gentlemen in the daytime and poachers at night, for the 
 capture of Partridges, is called the Ri/ssja, which in 
 principle is very similar to the device of the same name, 
 described and depicted, in " Scandinavian Adventures," 
 for the taking of fish. As seen in the accompanying 
 illustration, it is cone-shaped, the hoops forming the 
 framework, gradually diminishing in size from the entrance 
 to the apex ; it is provided with arms or wings placed 
 obliquely forward. The usual length of the " Ryssja," in 
 Scania at least, is about 21 feet, and its diameter at its 
 
172 THE KYSSJA. 
 
 outer end 14 inches. The arms are 16 inches in height, 
 and each of them 62 feet in length. The " Ryssja " itself, 
 as well as the arms, are constructed of slight materials ; 
 and, as the hoops fall into each other in the manner 
 of a telescope, it is very portable. 
 
 " With his ' Ryssja' in a bag, and his Lykla* suspended 
 to the saddle-bow," says the Count Corfitz Bcckfriis and 
 there is no greater adept in the art of netting Partridges 
 than himself "the fowler takes the field on horsi -back. 
 On the pointer finding the Partridges, he is called to ' heel,' 
 when the man, after retiring a little distance, dismounts, 
 takes off the saddle, and fastens the dog to it. Under cover 
 of the horse, whose nose is so tied down as to make him 
 appear in the act of grazing, the fowler then proceeds 
 towards the covey in a zigzag direction, cruising, as it 
 were, and in the while keeping his body bent, that tin- 
 birds may not be aware of his presence. When arrived 
 within about a hundred paces of where he supposes them 
 to be lying, he halts until one or other of them gets on 
 its legs, and thus makes known to him their exact where- 
 abouts. This ascertained, he shows himself, on which 
 they all immediately squat again. 
 
 "Leaving his horse, the fouler now sets the ' Kyssja' 
 in the form of an open triangle, at the point towards 
 uhich he deems it desirable to drive the birds. The net 
 should face a furrow or ditch, if possible, as it is difficult 
 to make birds cross rising ground; and, if they be \er\ 
 wild, it should be hidden with brushwood. The man 
 then returns to the horse, and, crouching behind the 
 animal as before, again advances towards the co\c\ 
 now between himself and the 'Ryssja' and, when the 
 
 A -in-t lit' l>;ii;, furin. -il of i-;in\:i> (lln- lowrr |MH-ti<ili iliMnulril liv tun 
 i iii-iilar lumps at friiln ti'ii to I \\i-Ki- iiii-lu- :i|.;irl, :inil roniuvtril 1. .;,'. I lirr 
 liv uiniu'lit splint-), in \\lii<-li to i|i-po.-it -nrli of tin- raptiinil l>inl> a> ar<- 
 iiit.n.liil to IK- ki-pt ali\i. 
 
THE RYSSJA. 173 
 
 birds begin to run, he follows leisurely after. Should 
 they show a disposition to turn to the right or left, he 
 opposes the horse to them and heads them back again. 
 When they have advanced to within the arms of the net, 
 the speed of the horse may be increased ; and when they 
 have reached the ' Ryssja' itself, they commonly run into 
 it of their own accord. As soon as the last bird is within 
 the toils, the fowler leaves his horse, and, hurrying to the 
 net, pulls up the stakes by which it is pinned to the 
 ground ; thus securing the prize. The man then places 
 the captives in the Lykta, and, after fastening this to his 
 saddle-bow, proceeds in search of fresh adventures. 
 
 " The great difficulty attendant on thus netting 
 Partridges," the Count goes on to say, " is to sight 
 them in the first instance, though this is partly 
 obviated by the use of a pocket-telescope. In other 
 respects the operation is generally very easy. Not so at 
 all times, however. Early in the autumn, for instance, 
 Partridges are so fearless that it is no easy matter to get 
 them out of the way of the horse otherwise than by kick- 
 ing the ground with one's feet, so that the dust flies over 
 them. Occasionally, indeed, one is obliged to manoeuvre 
 the horse to within the wings of the net, or, it may be, 
 even up to the very entrance of the ' Ryssja.' Late in the 
 autumn, on the contrary, these birds are often so very 
 wild that it is needful, when driving them, to keep at a 
 distance of from two hundred to three hundred paces ; and, 
 however improbable it may seem, I have myself known 
 them to take wing from the mere circumstance of my 
 turning the horse's head towards them instead of his hind 
 quarters. If they have been much shot at previously, 
 they are more difficult of capture ; and if there be a lame 
 bird in the covey, one must be in the highest degree careful, 
 for, should it be unable to keep up with the rest, it makes 
 use of its wings, and, so soon as one flies, the others are 
 
174- STOCK HI K I is. 
 
 pretty sure to follow its example. Should there hi- t\\<> 
 jiigare in company, and each provided with a stalking- 
 horse, matters are greatly facilitated. With the aid of 
 my keeper," so the Count tells us in conclusion, " I one 
 autumn thus captured upwards of four hundred 1'artridges,* 
 and this notwithstanding we aluays set at liberty the old 
 hirds and a pair of the young om 
 
 The Partridges thus taken in the "Uyssja." or in 
 the other nets described and intended to be kept alive 
 as a supply for the table during the winter, or as breeding 
 stock to be turned out again in the spring are eonf'med 
 in a loft or other suitable place, the floor of whieli should 
 be strewed with coarse sand. If there be a glazed 
 window, it ought to be covered over with sacking, whieh 
 partially excludes the light, and prevents them from 
 flying against the glass and injuring themselves. Some, 
 indeed, to guard against a similar danger, hang matting 
 at a little distance from the walls. The birds are fed 
 on barley, and other kinds of grain, and are constantly 
 supplied with fresh water and juniper bushes; as they 
 not only nestle under them, but feed on their berries. 
 They should never be without a heap of sand in which 
 to dust themselves. 
 
 The winter over and the snow gone, such of the 
 captives as have escaped the cook are turned out in 
 pairs in the places where it is wished they should locate 
 themselves. Various expedients are adopted to pi-event 
 their wandering. Some, we are told, smear their bodies 
 with a composition of ashes, which disables them for 
 several days from flying; others phuk out one or two of 
 the pinion feathers to prevent them from straying; whilst 
 
 \Vli.-n <m :i \\^\ M.ini' \.MI-- :<^" t" tin- <'"illit. :it hi- till.' >tutr .if 
 I 1 , .inn-.- Kl.-t.-r, in Sraliiil. lii> ki-r|-r t.il.l in.- tli:it on ,,i ..... ,vii>i..n 
 his in:i-t.-r.-:i|ituiv.| ii" lf tli.-in si\t\ t" l':irtri-l-_'i-> :it :i sinirli' liiuil "f tin- 
 - K\ 
 
A STRANGE CHURCH-GOER. 175 
 
 others again, as Ekstrom tells us, "in order to render the 
 hirds forgetful of their former haunts, are sagacious enough 
 to sAving the poor creatures round and round by the legs 
 until quite giddy, and then to. lay them under a bush 
 where water and barley have been previously placed." 
 It seems the general opinion, however, that but few of 
 these half-domesticated birds breed the first summer after 
 being restored to liberty. Indeed, the Count Beckfriis 
 says, that "if only one pair in three have a family, even 
 during the following year, it is quite as much as can be 
 looked for." 
 
 Formerly and in accordance with the ordinances of 
 the 22nd March, 1647; 29th August, 1664; 5th May, 
 1736; and 6th November, 1772 the Partridge was a 
 privileged bird in Sweden, and none but nobles, or those 
 possessed of certain estates, were permitted to kill it. 
 But these unjust laws are now abrogated, and at the 
 present day the bird is on the same footing as all other 
 kinds of game. 
 
 Speaking of ordinances respecting this bird, reminds 
 me of a paragraph that, a few years ago, ran the round 
 of the Swedish papers. " On the last Sunday in Lent, 
 the Governor's order prohibiting the capture or shooting 
 of Partridges from November to August was notified from 
 all the pulpits within the diocese of Gotland. Scarcely 
 was the reading of the above announcement concluded 
 in B. church, when a fine cock Partridge, as if aware of 
 the powerful protection just, accorded him, boldly entered 
 the sacred edifice, and, marching up the middle aisle, 
 stationed himself for a couple of minutes in front of the 
 pulpit. Here this unwonted church-goer was for the 
 time carefully taken in charge, and afterwards restored to 
 liberty, it being contrary to the law just promulgated to 
 detain him a prisoner." 
 
 In concluding this chapter, I should remark that the 
 
176 THE RED-LEQGED PARTRIDGE. 
 
 Red-logged Partridge (Perdue ntfa, Mont.) is not found 
 in Scandinavia. Neither is the common Pheasant 
 sianus Colchicus, Linn.), although attempts on a 
 scale were made to introduce it by the late King Oscar. 
 Endeavours to effect that desirable object are, however, 
 still making by a friend of mine in Sweden; but from the 
 severity of the climate, and from the country swarm im; 
 with vermin and birds of prey of all sorts, it is very 
 doubtful, to my thinking, if the experiment will In- 
 attended with success. 
 

CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 The Common Quail. Its Habits. Migrations. The Bishop of Quails. 
 The Great Bustard. Their Love-Season. Mode of Capture. The 
 Little and the Rutted Bustard. 
 
 Common Quail (Waktel, Liten Rapphona, or little 
 partridge, Sw. ; Vagtel, Norw. ; Perdue Coturnix, 
 Lath.) was rare in the vicinity of Ronnum, as also in the 
 west of Sweden ; bat in certain localities near the eastern 
 coast, and in Scania, it is not so very uncommon. It 
 would seem to be on the increase in the Peninsula, and, 
 as with the Partridge, gradually to find its way farther to 
 the north. Its limits in that direction are not very well 
 ascertained, but within a recent period it has been met 
 with somewhat beyond the 60 of lat. That these birds 
 are generally scarce may, however, be inferred from the 
 fact that, during my long residence in Sweden, I never 
 met with but a solitary specimen, and that was during 
 the past autumn in. the province of Halland. 
 
 " In Norway," Professor llasch writes to me, " the 
 Quail is, at times, tolerably common ; but some seasons one 
 hardly hears the call-note of a single one. I found them 
 
 N 
 
178 THK COMMON QUAIL. 
 
 in 1825, in Upper Tellemarken, at the northern end of the 
 Lake Tindsjoen. During the years 1831-33, they wen- 
 very abundant in the neighbourhood of Christiania." I n 
 the Danish islands, Kjterbolling tells us, this bird is pretty 
 numerous during the summer months. It ;irri\< % s there 
 in May, and departs again in October. 
 
 The Quail has a very \\ide geographical range, being 
 generally scattered over Asia, Africa, and the southern 
 parts of Europe; but it seems to be scarce in more 
 temperate climes. 
 
 To describe so well-known a bird would be superfluous 
 it being depicted in the drawing at the eommence- 
 nient of this chapter. It may suffice to say that it is 
 the smallest of the genus Peril ir, its extreme length 
 being from seven to eight inches. 
 
 It is spoken of by Northern ornithologists as a sprightly, 
 restless, and shy bird. Its flight is rapid, and near the 
 ground, but only for short distances. It runs very fast, 
 and to escape its enemies trusts more to its legs than to 
 its wings ; indeed, excepting during migration, it rarel\ 
 flies, and then only when one comes suddenly upon it. It 
 is said that, if pursued by a dog or bird of prey, it hides 
 its head in a hole, and then belie\es itself in safety. Its 
 call-note, pit-/,- ircrrn-l-. iin-l- irr/-r/i-/.\ often repeated ten to 
 twelve times in quick succession, is heard both by day and 
 by night, more especially if the weather be (inc. 
 
 The Quail, as regards Scandinavia, is seldom met witli 
 except in the open country. Extensive and unenclosed 
 tracts of arable land are its favourite resorts. Wooded 
 districts, or anything resembling hush, it would seem 
 sedulously to avoid. Its food consists of various kinds of 
 grain, seeds, green herbs, ^rnsses. insects, larv;e, A.e. 
 
 Nilsson informs us that " t he Quail li\cs in monogamy, 
 in like manner as the Partridge," which is somewhat at 
 variance with what we are told bv other writers, both 
 
ITS HABITS. 179 
 
 English and foreign. Kjferbolling says, for instance, 
 "Each male has several females about him, and does not 
 confine himself to one alone ; but should he be obliged 
 to restrict himself to a single partner, there is scarcely to 
 be found amongst our native birds that live in pairs, a 
 single one that is so base a paterfamilias as the Quail, who 
 in this respect resembles all others that are polygamists." 
 
 The female makes a very simple nest in the ground : 
 a mere cavity, in short, that she forms herself in a corn- 
 field or meadow. Her eggs, from eight to fourteen in 
 number, are of a greenish-yellow colour, marked with 
 brown and black spots and blotches. The period of incu- 
 bation is believed to be twenty-one days. The poults are 
 said to grow rapidly, and to be fully fledged in the course 
 of a few weeks. 
 
 The Quails captured in Scandinavia are few in number. 
 Some are taken in nets along with the Partridge ; others, 
 again, are shot to the Pointer, or enticed within reach of 
 the gunner by imitating its call-note. 
 
 It is highly prized for the table, its flesh being very 
 delicate and " little inferior to that of the Land-Rail." 
 The- English market, as known, is abundantly supplied 
 with these birds from France. We are told, indeed, that 
 " as many as 3,000 dozen have been purchased of the 
 dealers by the London poulterers in a single season." 
 
 The immense flights of Quails seen during their 
 autumnal migrations from Europe to the shores of Africa, 
 and on their return from thence in the spring, are the 
 astonishment of every one, and singularly corroborate 
 the account given in the Scriptures of the prodigious 
 numbers met with by the Israelites when in the wilder- 
 ness. We are told by travellers, for instance, that whilst 
 these birds are crossing the Mediterranean they often 
 alight on the intermediate islands in such immense flocks 
 as almost to cover them ; that on the western coast of 
 
 N 2 
 
ISO THE BISHOP OF QUAILS. 
 
 what was the kingdom of Naples they have at timrs 
 appeared in such great quantities that, within a space >!' 
 five or six miles, 100,000 have been taken in a single day ; 
 and that on the island of Capri, near the city of Naples, so 
 many used to he captured as to constitute the chid' 
 revenues of the Bishop of the diocese, who was therefore 
 called the Bishop of Quails. 
 
 Smart, in his " Travels in Turkey," tells us further, that 
 "in the vicinity of Constantinople the sun is often nearly 
 obscured by the prodigious flights of Quails, which alight 
 on the coasts of the Black Sea near the Bosphorus, and 
 are taken by means of nets spread on high poles planted 
 along the cliffs, some yards from its edges, against which 
 the birds, exhausted by their passage over the sea, -trike 
 themselves and fall. In October, 1829, the Sultan sent 
 orders to one of his admirals to catch 400 dozen. 
 In three days they were collected, and brought to him 
 alive in small cages." And Madden says that "they \i>it 
 Egypt in immense flights about harvest-time, where tin- 
 Arabs take them by thousands in nets. They fly," he 
 adds, "in a direct line from north to south, and very 
 rarely from east to west." 
 
 The account given in Holy Writ, as to the mode of 
 drying these birds in the sun, is also singularly corro- 
 borated by the traveller Maillet. "There is," says he, 
 " a small island off the coast of Fgypt, where the (Quails 
 usually alight in the autumn, on which they are taken in 
 such quantities, that, after having been stripped of their 
 leather-, aiid dried in the burning sands for about a 
 quarter of an hour, they are worth but one penny tin- 
 pound. The crewi of tboae Vetteli which at that season 
 of the year lie in the adjacent harbour, have no other 
 food allowed them." 
 
 The Civat Mustard (S/<- '/',-<'/>/>. S\v. ; T,-<ifj<'.^ 
 . hanish; Otis lunln, Linn.), which uas once 
 
THE GKEAT BUSTAKD. 181 
 
 common in Sweden, is now exceedingly scarce in that 
 country, and in Norway would appear to be altogether 
 unknown. It is also very scarce in Denmark proper ; but 
 in Holstein, a former dependency of that kingdom, it is 
 not, according to Kjserbolling, so very rare. The proper 
 home of this noble bird would seem to be Africa and the 
 south-eastern parts of Europe, Southern Russia, Walla- 
 chia and Moldavia, Hungary, Galicia, and Dalmatia ; 
 but it is also found in France, Switzerland, Germany,' and 
 Belgium. In former times it was pretty common in 
 England.* As a migratory bird, it first arrives in 
 Sweden in April. "They are then met with in small 
 companies ; but before leaving the country in the autumn 
 they collect in flocks, and, occasionally, in considerable 
 numbers. Usually they are somewhat spread, but, at 
 times, stand ranged in lines or ranks." 
 
 The Great Bustard, which is the largest of the 
 European birds, measures from 3 feet 5 to 3 feet 8 inches 
 in length, but the female is considerably smaller. It 
 is a shy and cunning bird, and always keeps to open 
 ground, far away from bushes, fences, &c. In the summer 
 it will not readily take wing, but endeavours to elude its 
 pursuers by means of its wonderful rapidity of foot. 
 What with legs and wings together it scuttles along at 
 a most extraordinary pace. When at that season it is 
 desirous of flying, it is compelled first to run a long way 
 before it can rise from, the ground ; but once fairly on 
 the wing, its flight, which is slow and short, is attended 
 with less trouble. In the autumn, on the other hand, 
 
 Very recently, I am told, several Bustards were seen in Lincolnshire, 
 in localities, it is to be presumed, that once were fens. If such really was 
 i lie ease, it is, therefore, to be hoped that these fine birds, which the 
 other day seemed all but extinct with us, will again, as aforetime, become 
 pretty common. 
 
THEIR LOVE-SEA.SOX. 
 
 it rises with facility into the air, and then flies high, 
 and to a distance. 
 
 Its food during spring and summer consists of green 
 herbs and tender leaves, as also of cabbage and turnip 
 leaves, insects and worms ; in the autumn, of various 
 kinds of grain and seeds. 
 
 The Great Bustard is polygamous. The love-season is 
 in April and May. Desperate battles then take place 
 amongst the males : the tail of the bird is raised and 
 spread, the wings hang down to the ground, and they 
 charge each other like turkey-cocks. The strongest 
 collects about him the largest harem, and pairing lakes 
 place in the same amusing \vay as with turkeys. The 
 female lays two to three olive-grey eggs, marked \\itli 
 faint, sometimes hardly distinguishable, liver-brown spots, 
 in a hole she herself makes in the ground. The period 
 of incubation is said to be twenty-eight da\s. As soon 
 as the young are hatched they are capable of following 
 the mother. 
 
 The flesh of the old birds is somewhat hard and dry, 
 but that of the young ones, especially in the autumn, when 
 they are fat, is looked on as a delicacy. 
 
 Formerly the Great Bustard was quite common on the 
 extensh < heaths and plains of Scania ; and, not \<T\ long 
 since so I was assured by the Count Corlit/ Hcckfriis 
 it bred in the south-western parts of that province, near 
 Falsterbo, off which place is the reef so much dreaded by 
 mariners. But at the present day it is rarely met with, 
 
 o 
 
 excepting in the vicinity of the town of Alms, situated 
 on the south-eastern coast. A feu years ago, indeed, when 
 I was travelling through that part of the country, my 
 drivei- spoke of bavin-,' seen three of those birds during 
 that very summer. 
 
 Once on a time, however, the Great Bustard makes its 
 appearance in localities where one would little expect 
 
MODE OF CAPTURE. 183 
 
 to find it. We read, for instance, that, " on a Sunday 
 morning in the autumn of 1863, a youth residing in the 
 parish of Mjolby, in Ostergotland one of the more mid- 
 land Swedish provinces went out with his gun for the 
 lawful purpose of shooting crows or the like. Whilst 
 crossing a rye stubble, lie saw a large bird fly up from the 
 ground and make directly towards him ; and when it came 
 sufficiently near, he fired, and had the good fortune to 
 break one of its wings. Being no longer able to fly, the 
 bird took to its heels, followed by the jagare, who, during 
 the chase, contrived to reload his gun, and at the second 
 shot broke its other pinion, and was then readily enabled 
 to secure his prize. Neither himself nor his friends, 
 however, had the least idea what bird it was; some 
 supposing it to be a Capercali, and others a Crane. But 
 an educated person in the vicinity sent its portrait to 
 Professor Sundevall (of world-wide reputation as a 
 naturalist) at Stockholm, who at once pronounced it to 
 be a female Bustard. It weighed ten pounds and a half." 
 The methods adopted in Scandinavia for capturing the 
 Great Bustard are various. From its extremely shy nature, 
 and from always keeping to the open country, it is not easy 
 of approach. Of wayfaring people, however, it seems to have 
 little apprehension ; and the common method, therefore, 
 is for the sportsman to clothe himself like a peasant or to 
 put on female apparel, and, with a basket on his back and 
 holding the gun close by his side, to make up to it. At 
 other times he approaches it under cover of a skjut-hast, or 
 shooting-horse, either real or artificial. Should there be 
 several sportsmen, however, the usual plan is to make an 
 extended ring around the bird, which, gradually closing 
 in from all sides, so bewilders it that it is either shot 
 where it stands or whilst endeavouring by flight to evade 
 its pursuers. Occasionally, also, the birds are chased with 
 greyhounds, which are conveyed towards them in covered 
 
184 TIIK LITTLK ASM) lil'KKKl) TU START*. 
 
 carts, until such times as they evince symptoms of alarm 
 rind begin to move off, when the dogs are slipped from 
 their couplings, and not (infrequently pull them down 
 before they are enabled to take winy;. 
 
 The Northern Fauna includes t\\o other species of 
 Bustard; viz., the Little Bustard ( I/it<-,< Tn>/>/>, 8\v. ; Drtrni- 
 Tropp, or dwarf-bustard, Danish; Otix h'lni.r. Linn.), and 
 the Otis Hoitbara, Linn. (A'i-<>;>f-7'/-ii/i/i, i. r. collared or 
 ruffed bustard, Sw.; Trave-Trapp, i.e. trotting bustard, 
 Dan.), both of which claim more southern latitudes as their 
 proper home. But as neither of these birds, excepting 
 in very rare instances, has been met with in Sweden or 
 Denmark, and as Northern ornithologists seem to kin>\v 
 little more about them beyond what is to be gathered 
 from books, I will merely mention that both the species 
 in question are believed to be polygamous, and that 
 their habits and manner of feeding are very similar to 
 those of the Great Bustard. 
 

CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 The Woodcock. Scarce in Scandinavia. The Cause. Two Species? 
 Varieties. Its Habits. Its Food. Mode of Feeding. The 
 Call-note. Incubation. Woodcock carrying her Young. Her 
 Maternal Affection. Anecdote. Migration. Always Nocturnal. 
 With the Wind. Cause of Migration. " The Lament." 
 
 nnHE Woodcock (Morkalla, S\v.; Rugde, Norw. ; *S y cofopa# 
 rusticitla, Linn.) was pretty common in the Ronnum 
 country, and a few bred there. With the exception of the 
 extreme south of Sweden, this is the case in all wooded 
 districts throughout the length and breadth of Scandinavia, 
 as high up certainly as the Polar circle, and it may even 
 be to the valley of the Alten river, lat. 70, where Mr. 
 Oxenden Hammond tells me he feels almost assured he 
 saw one of these birds. Their great breeding-grounds 
 Avould, however, seem to be the more central parts of the 
 Peninsula, for, by all accounts, the farther one proceeds 
 north the scarcer they become. 
 
 " Morkulla," the Swedish name of this bird, comes 
 from nior, red earth, &c., and kulla, maiden : hence, maid 
 of the moor. In Scania the peasants call it Wcd-Sniippa, 
 
18G THE WOODCOCK. 
 
 which name bears a close affinity to the German Wultl- 
 Schttepfe, as the Woodcock is called in Germany. 
 
 The Woodcock has a wide geographical range. Besides 
 Scandinavia, this'bird passes the summer months in Fin- 
 land, Russia, and Siberia, as also in northern and north- 
 eastern Asia ; and winters in Asia Minor, the northern 
 parts of Africa, as also in the more western and southern 
 of Europe, especially in countries bordering on the 
 Mediterranean. 
 
 Excepting during spring and fall, when Woodcocks are 
 occasionally met with in considerable numbers near 1 1n- 
 southern and western coasts of Sweden and Norway, they 
 may truly be said to be searcc in Scandinavia; for duriui: 
 the summer months a man may wander in the interior at 
 any rate for days together in the forest without seeing 
 more than a stray bird. Such at least has often happened 
 to myself. 
 
 That Woodcocks should be thus scarce in the irreat 
 Scandinavian forests, from whence, as it is believed, we in 
 England are chiefly supplied, and so plentiful with us in 
 Ireland rather in the winter time, is perhaps easy of 
 explanation ; for in their breeding-grounds, extending, as 
 shown, over the greater part of Northern Europe, there U 
 probably a thousand times more wood than in the whole 
 of the United Kingdom together; and when, therefore, 
 the birds, or a large portion of them, come to ^concentrated^ 
 so to say, in our small covers, they consequently make a 
 \ n-y great show. 
 
 The idea used to be entertained in England, and may 
 be so at this time for all 1 know to the contrary, that the 
 present M-areity of Woodcocks with us, as compared with 
 former times, is attributable to the Scandinavians sub- 
 sisting largely on their egg*. Now, to say nothing of these 
 beini; unknoun as an edible in the IVninsula and \\here. 
 indeed, even naturalist > have dillicnlty enough in procuring 
 
SCARCE IN SCANDINAVIA. 187 
 
 them for their collections if any person who entertains 
 the singular notion in question were to see the boundless 
 northern forests, I feel convinced he would agree with me 
 in saying that, even if the whole of the scanty population 
 of that part of the world were to turn out for the express 
 purpose of searching for the eggs of this bird, they would 
 not be able to explore a hundredth part of the woods in 
 the course of the year. 
 
 If Woodcocks be now really scarcer in Great Britain 
 than in olden times and the same complaint is made in 
 other countries the diminution is probably attributable 
 to the increased number of gunners (in Sweden, at least, 
 ten people shoot nowadays to one formerly), and to the 
 murderous war everywhere carried on against those birds. 
 But let the decrease in their numbers arise from what 
 cause it may, certain it is that the egg-sucking crotchet 
 has nothing to do with it. 
 
 Many sportsmen and others, both in Scandinavia and 
 Denmark, believe that two species of Woodcocks exist in 
 the Peninsula ; viz., the common kind, and that answering 
 to the Stcm-Schnepfc * of the Germans, a new species, or 
 variety, which Bechstein thus describes : " It is nearly 
 one-third less than the common species, of a darker colour, 
 and marked with closer black spots and bars ; has bluish 
 legs, and a shorter and ash-grey coloured neck. Its flight 
 is more rapid, and its home would seem to be the cold 
 mountainous regions of the high North, because it comes 
 to us later in the autumn and returns earlier in the spring 
 than the common Woodcock." 
 
 May not naturalists and others he splitting hairs 
 
 * I myself have occasionally shot diminutive Woodcocks in Sweden, 
 answering in the main to Bechstein's Xte'ut-Schnepfe, and one of which is 
 now in the Gothenburg Museum ; but in shape and make little difference 
 was observable between them and the common Woodcock- not sufficient, 
 certainly, t entitle them in be considered a separate species. 
 
188 VARIETIES. 
 
 in regard to this matter? To me it seems that the so- 
 called Stein-Scltnepfe and the common species are one 
 and the same, and that the difference noticeable between 
 them in regard to size and colour may readily be accounted 
 for, if we assume, as is probable, that they are bred in 
 wide-apart localities. As a case in point I may mention 
 that the Capercali in northern Lapland seldom exceeds 
 nine pounds in weight, whereas in the more southern 
 provinces of Sweden it not very unfrequently \\ci-hs from 
 fourteen to fifteen pounds, or even more; and the 
 difference, moreover, between the northern aiid southern 
 birds in regard to plumage is also said to be very 
 perceptible. 
 
 The usual length of the Woodcock is about fourteen 
 inches, expanse of wings two feet one inch, and weight 
 from twelve to fourteen ounces. The female is somewhat 
 larger then the male. The heaviest I myself ever killed 
 in Scandinavia little exceeded sixteen ounces, and that 
 was shot very late in the autumn, when excessively tat. 
 Such a monster Woodcock as that spoken of by Yarrell, 
 which was killed at Narborough, in Norfolk, and \\ei-hed 
 twenty-seven ounces, I never saw or heard of in the 
 Scandinavian Peninsula. 
 
 Accidental varieties of this bird arc not uncommon in 
 Sweden. Nilsson speaks of an individual of a yellowish- 
 white colour, and Kjaerbolling of one shot in Denmark 
 some years ago, the head and wings of which were white; 
 as also of a second that had white spots on its head and 
 back. "There are, moreover," he says, " entirely white, 
 yellowish-white, and straw-coloured Woodcocks.'' 
 
 The Woodcock is a bird of solitary habits, and would 
 seem to shun the society not only of its o\\n species but 
 of its congeners. Ordinarily, indeed, one seldom finds more 
 than a pair, or it may be a brood, in company. During 
 migration, it is true, these birds are occasionally met \\itli 
 
ITS HABITS. 189 
 
 on the coast in so-called " flights ; " but this is solely attri- 
 butable, I take it, to their being delayed there by storms 
 and adverse winds. That one often observes numbers 
 in the same cover, as, for instance, in some of the great 
 cock-preserves in Ireland, or in countries bordering on the 
 Mediterranean, where Mr. George Chichester Oxenden 
 assures me he has himself seen fully a dozen on the wing 
 at the same time, is certain ; but this arises, I imagine, 
 from the attraction of food and locality, and not from love 
 of their fellows. 
 
 'The Woodcock is to a certain extent a nocturnal bird. 
 For the most part it passes the day in woods, and then 
 moves but little if left undisturbed ;* but at night-fall it 
 betakes itself to the more open country, to moors, pasture 
 fields, &c. often very far from home in search of food, 
 where it remains during the night, and does not return to 
 the shelter of the cover until the day begins to break ; and 
 hence the " Cock-droppings " one so often meets with in 
 out-of-the-way places. 
 
 Hilly and wooded localities, intersected by morasses, 
 would seem to be the favourite resorts of the Woodcock 
 in the summer time. Sir Humphry Davy, I observe, 
 believes it to be a fable that this bird raises its young 
 habitually in the alpine or mountainous countries of the 
 central or southern parts of Europe. And in this matter 
 he may possibly be right ; but it is very certain that in 
 Scandinavia the Woodcock is often found very high up 
 in mountains, where, indeed, I myself have met with it 
 amongst stunted brushwood. M. Barth tells us, moreover, 
 that when sporting on the Norwegian fjalls on the 3rd 
 
 " "A laurel- or a holly-bush,'' says Sir Humphry Davy, " is a favourite 
 place for their repose : the thick and varnished leaves of these trees 
 prevent the radiation of heat from the soil, and they are less affected by 
 the refrigerating influence of a clear sky, so that they afford a warm seat 
 for the W li-ock." 
 
190 ITS FOOD. 
 
 September, 1804, ho shot with his first barrel a Dal-Ripa, 
 and with his second a Teal, that rose at the discharge of 
 his gun ; on the llth a Fjall-Ripa with his first barrel, and 
 a Dal-Ripa, that took wing at the shot, with his second ; 
 and immediately afterwards he killed, right and left, a 
 Dal-Ripa and a Woodcock that flew up simultaneously. 
 " Thus in a willow brake of a couple of hundred ells in 
 length," he continues, " there were lying Dal-Ripa, Fjall- 
 Ripa, and Woodcock." 
 
 Professor Rasch writes me, besides, that " the Wood- 
 cock is often found in the willow region ; and that ;i friend 
 of his, M. Friis, a Northerner, and capital shot, h:is 
 killed a couple of these birds in the month of September 
 at an elevation of at least 3,800 feet above the level of 
 the sea ; " and adds : " In the pairing season I do not think 
 it goes above the limits of the pine region ; but later in 
 the year it is allured higher up by the abundance of food 
 that is procurable there." 
 
 The food of the Woodcock consists of earthworms, 
 small beetles, and various kinds of larva?. Nilsson tells us 
 that tender grass and grass-roots have been found in iN 
 stomach ; and Kk>tn>in, that "it is said to feed on bil- 
 berries and certain \\atcr plants." "Its stomach," sa\ - 
 Sir Humphry Davy, "sometimes contains seeds, which 
 I suspect have been taken up in ' boring ' amongst the 
 excrements of cattle. Yet the stomach of this bird 
 has something of the gizzard character, though not 
 so much as that of the Land-Rail, which I have found 
 half-filled with seeds of grasses, and even containing 
 corn, mixed with May-bugs, earthworms, grasshoppers, 
 and caterpillars." 
 
 The Woodcock's manner of feeding is singular, and is 
 thus described bj Daniel, as observed in an a\ iary at St. 
 lldephonso, in Spain: "There was a fountain perpetually 
 flowing to keep the ground inoi-t, and trees planted fur 
 
MODE OF FEEDING. 191 
 
 the same purpose. Fresh sod was brought to them, the 
 richest in worms that could be found. In vain did the 
 worms seek concealment ; when the Woodcock was hungry, 
 it discovered them by the smell, stuck its beak into the 
 ground, but never higher than the nostrils, drew them 
 out singly, and, raising its bill into the air, it extended 
 upon it the whole length of the worm, and in this way 
 swallowed it smoothly, without any action of the jaws. 
 This whole operation was performed in an instant, and 
 the action of the Woodcock was so equal and imper- 
 ceptible, that it seemed doing nothing ; it never missed its 
 aim. For this reason, and because it never plunged its 
 bill beyond the orifice of the nostrils, it was concluded 
 that the bird was directed to its food by smell." 
 
 The Woodcock, prior to proceeding to its feeding- 
 grounds in the evening and return to cover in the morning, 
 always flies, during spring and summer at least, several 
 times backwards and forwards over precisely the same 
 line of country, uttering meanwhile its peculiar call-note, 
 of which presently. Such a locality is in Sweden called 
 a Morkull-drag, or struck, i. c. stretch; answering to our 
 " Cock-rode " or " Cock-shoot." 
 
 These " rodings " of the Woodcock, which Linnaeus 
 says " often extend to a distance of a mile," Swedish, 
 equal to nearly seven English, " in a quarter of an 
 hour," and which he describes as " singular and wonderful, 
 and confined to this bird alone," have long puzzled 
 the learned, and others, in the Peninsula; but at the 
 present day it seems to be pretty generally admitted 
 they are more or less connected with the " Lek-tid," 
 or love-season. And such is probably the case; because 
 Mr. G. Chichester Oxenden writes me that, " during 
 autumn and mid-winter, this bird never ' rodes ' in 
 the way spoken of ; but proceeds in a straight line from 
 the cover where it has harboured in the daytime, to its 
 
I 1 -'- THE CALL-NOTE. 
 
 feeding-grounds in the open eountry.* In tin- spring, 
 before leaving our shores," he adds, "its ' r6dinu> ' are 
 for amatory purposes, the males seeking the females ; and 
 here" (Broome Park, in Kent, where the woods are of 
 enormous extent), " we have sometimes seen of an evening 
 as many as fifteen thus occupied." 
 
 The Woodcock is monogamous, and pairs early in the 
 spring, either prior to, or immediately after, its return to 
 Scandinavia; and, as it is believed, at the "Drag," of 
 which mention has just been made. 
 
 " During its morning and evening (lights at this time," 
 says Ekstrom, who is much more at home on this subject 
 than myself, "it gives utterance to a peculiar ' Lnrl;-t<m> 
 or call-note, which sportsmen express by knurl, knurl, 
 liiiinjt ! or more properly, perhaps, by orrf, nrrt, /;/*/> .' The 
 first, knort or orrt, is a hollow, coarse, and somewhat 
 lengthened nasal sound ; the second, ////*/; or jiixj), a 
 short, fine, and sharp sort of whistle, which, when one is 
 accustomed to it, may be heard at a considerable distance. 
 This note clearly appears to be the one by which tin- 
 betrothed invite each other to pairing; for the bird 
 seems to pay very little attention to the orrt, but alwa \ s 
 listens and looks about it as soon as it hears the ///.>//. 
 When two Woodcocks, whilst ' rnding,' meet, or come 
 in near proximity, they chase each other; and whilst 
 easting themselves with the rapidity of lightning amon--t 
 the trees and bushes, even to the very ground, they 
 give quick and hurried utterance to their finer note, 
 Although one can seldom witness actual pairing, t 
 
 " Hill-in;; tin' winter," Mr. < Kemlen further savs. "I lia\e often 
 
 iii\-.elfat tin- faiii'Mis ' ll<'"liiii! staml,' "ii ill' 1 limits (' tin- LI 
 .Miteerus \Vn. nls (Killarnev) which ailjoin the l.oi;>. :iml uii mil- .'cnsi<.n 
 
 ^h.it Grar ooaple of Cooks in Imlfan hour.' 
 
 t Tlii> is saiil \ taki- |ilai-r mi the rrminil. in .-<>n ..... pen s|>a- in the 
 
 I diriii^' the ai-t Ml' |iairin.L'. the male. Kjii-i-liiillinj; tells ns. -.|.re:nK his 
 
 tail, fan t'unn. ami ili'iop- hi-- win t i;- i: inaliliel' as the I'.l.iek ( 'nek. 
 
INCUBATION. 193 
 
 it is certain that these actions of theirs are preparatory 
 to the matrimonial act, and are to be looked on as an 
 evidence of the modesty with which the female meets 
 the bold advances of her lover; for when the pairing 
 season is over, one not unfrequently observes Woodcocks 
 to meet, whilst ' roding,' without pursuing one another. ' 
 
 The "Woodcock is an early breeder. Some, indeed, 
 say it pairs before returning to Scandinavia in the spring. 
 And they may be in degree right ; for on their first 
 arrival one often finds these birds in couples. We read, 
 moreover, of well-developed eggs being then found 
 in the female. She makes her nest a mere hollow 
 in the moss or heather under a bush or tussock, and 
 lays three or four eggs of a dirty yellow-green colour, 
 marked with large and dark-brown spots pretty equally 
 distributed over the whole surface. They are one inch 
 eight or nine lines in length, and one inch four lines 
 in thickness. 
 
 The young are usually hatched about the end of May. 
 The Count Corfitz Beckfriis informs us, indeed, that, in the 
 province of Sodermanland, a young Woodcock was taken 
 on the llth of May, so well grown as already to have 
 blood-feathers in its wings. Though it has been con- 
 
 o o 
 
 fidently stated to the contrary, it is now, I believe, pretty 
 well ascertained that the Woodcock only breeds once 
 within the year. 
 
 The mother, as with the Partridge and some other birds, 
 is very careful of her nest and young. When a dog or 
 other animal approaches them, she conducts herself in 
 such a manner as to lead him to suppose that she is 
 wounded, and unable to make her escape from him. 
 She either runs to and fro before him with expanded tail 
 and drooping wings, or she flies almost in his face, with 
 her head and legs hanging downwards, until such times 
 as she has succeeded in luring him to a distance from her 
 
 o 
 
191 
 
 WOODCOCK CARRYING HER YOUNG. 
 
 offspring, when she very quickly gives him to understand 
 that she lias the free use of all her members. 
 
 c ciii'K ( \ui:\i\<. 111.1; fOCNO. 
 
 When her progeny arc in danger, she, mon-over, not 
 un frequently removes them in tin- manner shown above. 
 to a place of safely. " Once during a hare-hunt," writes 
 my friend M. Anders Oterdahl, " I myself shot a Wood- 
 cock, flushed by the do-s. nnd when Hying at about si\ 
 feet from the ground, that was bearing an untlcdgcd 
 young one in her elaws. It seemed to me she grasped it 
 with her feet, one foot having hold of one winu; and 
 the other foot of the oilier. Though, owing to intervening 
 branches, I did not observe the old bird when she rose, I 
 was fortunately so near to her as clearly to see what I 
 have stated. Afterward-. I found two other voim- ones 
 under a neighbouring bush, where (hey had retreated for 
 safety." 
 
 "When the above story appeared in my former work, 
 
MATERNAL AFFECTION. 195 
 
 " Scandinavian Adventures," it was looked on by many 
 both in Sweden and England as a fable; but from the 
 number of similar instances since recorded, it is now, I 
 believe, received as an admitted fact in both countries 
 that Woodcocks, when their young are in jeopardy, not 
 unfrequently thus convey them to a place of safety. 
 
 The statements we used to read of Woodcocks bear- 
 ing their offspring from the woods where they reposed by 
 day to their feeding-grounds at a distance, were also at one 
 time looked on as inventions ; but that such is really the 
 case no one at the present day would for a moment 
 venture to question. 
 
 . In Scandinavia I never heard of the Woodcock as 
 an aviary bird. On more than one occasion, young ones, 
 three parts fledged, have been brought to ine ; but 
 owing probably to improper food and treatment, they 
 did not long survive. That it may readily be domesti- 
 cated, however, is evidenced by the instance recently 
 mentioned. The late Lord Derby, moreover, had one at 
 Knowsley that, as I understood, throve exceedingly well, 
 being daily supplied with worms, &c. 
 
 The Woodcock, generally speaking, is but little valued 
 for the table in Scandinavia, which is the less surprising 
 as our Northern neighbours have not much idea of 
 dressing it properly. They are even Goths enough to 
 throw away the trail, and as a matter of course the 
 delicious toast is wanting. Ninety-nine times out of a 
 hundred, moreover, instead of being " walked through 
 the kitchen," as is, I believe, the correct rule, it is 
 usually brought to table literally " done brown," and as 
 dry as a chip. I of course speak of the rural districts, 
 for in the capital and other large towns things are 
 managed somewhat better. 
 
 Speaking of the Woodcock's "trail" reminds me of a 
 rather ludicrous incident that occurred in the house 
 
 o 2 
 
]00 ANECDOTE. 
 
 of a friend of mine. I had presented him with an old 
 Capercali cock at a time when that bird, being far less 
 known than at present, looked on as was a great delicacy. 
 My friend in consequence invited a large party to discuss 
 it. The question then arose as to how it was to be 
 dressed? This was at length referred to the cook, and she 
 in her turn had recourse to the cookery-book. Her master 
 had told her that it was a "cock of the wood," which to 
 her comprehension meant a " Woodcock," and it was in 
 consequence prepared as such. But what must have been 
 the astonishment of the guests at finding the unfortunate 
 Capercali brought to table trail <m<l all! And what made 
 matters still worse, something very much resembling a 
 young fir-tree was found in its stomach. 
 
 As a general rule, all the Woodcocks lea^e Scandinavia 
 on the approach of winter,* though, if a very mild one, 
 stragglers occasionally remain in the more southern parts 
 of both Sweden and Norway, as also in Denmark. In 
 two instances, indeed, I knew it to pass that inclement 
 season in the near vicinity of Ronnum. 
 
 The departure of these birds from the Peninsula tallies 
 with their arrival in England, the larger portion leaving at 
 the end of October and beginning of November, the time 
 somewhat varying according to the state of the weather. 
 Unless delayed by storms and adverse winds on tin- 
 coast, where numbers then often congregate, they would 
 seem mostly to depart in driblets rather than in Hights. 
 Whilst on their way from the interior to the coast, 
 they ;ire Ix-lieved to travel by slo\\ journeys, and to iv-t 
 
 * Str.iiij. OUT.- aiv |>PO|I|.- in Swi'.li-n at the- |>n-rii! i|:iy who 
 
 ntrrtain tin- MTV sin^nliir <T..t,-h.-t th:iT tin- \VixxloM-k :t* is saiil <(' lli' 
 Swallow - fiassrs tin- \vin1i-r months in torpid state, at the IM.II ..... of a 
 lake or i-hi-r. ami U vrvivitii'il in the s|.rin<_' \>\ the u'enial warmth of tin 1 
 sun. It i~ ii.4 \IT\ Ion;.' -iii'-i-. imliTil. that tin- siil.jn-i 'isly 
 
 moi.iril in print. 
 
MIGRATION. 197 
 
 frequently by the way. Hence, whilst migration lasts, 
 which is commonly for three or four weeks, there is a 
 constant change of visitors in the woods ; for no sooner 
 has one batch moved farther south, than another takes 
 its place. When those that are bound for Scotland 
 strike the west coast, it is probable that they at once 
 cross the North Sea; but those whose destination is 
 England and Ireland, it is believed, gradually edge down 
 to the south of Sweden, as far, in short, as they can follow 
 the land, before finally departing for our shores. 
 
 The late Bishop Stanley, in his very interesting work, 
 " Familiar History of Birds," when speaking of the 
 migrations of the Woodcock, says : " On their first reach- 
 ing the eastern coast of England they are usually lean, 
 poor, and often in a scurvy condition ; but that this is not 
 attributable to exhaustion on the voyage, is proved by 
 the fact that those which are killed in Norway before 
 migration has taken place are already found to be in an 
 emaciated state, and infected with vermin." In this 
 statement there must surely be mistake. That owing 
 to baffling winds, and a long and stormy passage, the 
 birds, in crossing the North Sea, may lose flesh, I can well 
 understand ; but that they should start from Scandinavia 
 in the miserable plight spoken of is quite beyond my com- 
 prehension, because those shot by myself on the western 
 coast of Sweden just prior to their departure and they 
 are numerous were, as a rule, in excellent condition. 
 
 The return of the Woodcocks to Scandinavia in the 
 spring also agrees with their departure from our shores.* 
 They make their appearance in Scania towards the end of 
 March or beginning of April, at first in scanty numbers, 
 
 * We in England believe that these birds revisit the selfsame localities 
 year after year, and the same belief exists in the Peninsula ; but I am not 
 aware of the fact having been proved by actual experiment I mean l>y 
 the Woodcock. 
 
198 EMIGRATION. 
 
 but subsequently in somewhat larger flight 8 than on their 
 
 departure in the autumn. After resting a while in thi> 
 province to recruit their strength, they gradually make 
 their way into the interior. Many follow the western 
 coast; and should the weather be mild, delay but little 
 on the road, their flights being then longer, and their 
 rests fewer, than during the autumn. But if, on the 
 contrary, their progress northwards be impeded by ice 
 and snow, as often happens, whereby the stream of 
 emigration is, so to say, dammed up, they are compelled 
 to remain for a time on the coast, where they are then 
 often collected in considerable numbers. 
 
 In Denmark, also, the periodical visits of the \Vood- 
 cocks agree in point of time with their arrival and de- 
 parture from our shores. " Their spring migrations," sa\ s 
 Kjocrbolling, "commonly commence on the 32th March, 
 though occasionally some days earlier, and continue 
 for fourteen days; but at times, owing to favourable 
 winds, for about four days only. They come to us and 
 depart for the North in company with the Bed-winged 
 Thrush (Tm-ilux i/iiici'n), with a southerly wind, and 
 return in October with a north or north-easterly one. 
 Occasionally they wait for a fair wind to prosecute their 
 journey, until the first days of November, or even later. 
 Whilst migration lasts, they are plentiful everywhere." 
 
 In Norway, the spring migrations of the Woodcock 
 are somewhat later than in Sweden and Denmark. "If 
 the season be a mild one," writes Professor liaseh to me, 
 " one sometimes meets with this bird in the south-eastern 
 parts of the country, during the latter day sol' March, though, 
 as a rule, not until the end of April; but in the south- 
 western parts of Norway, where individuals occasionally 
 winter, they are said to arrive in the beginning of April.* 
 
 * If tlii Hi- |.icti\ i-li-.ir ilini tin \\ li-.irk, uli'ii 
 
 . L, v i 3ei 
 
ALWAYS NOCTURNAL. 199 
 
 One then finds them amongst brushwood on the hill-sides, 
 where, in open places, snow-drifts often still remain ; but 
 their stay on the coast is short, as they soon spread them- 
 selves over the surrounding country. It is rare, therefore, 
 to meet with many in the same locality, excepting at 
 Prederikstad, where numbers are often seen congregated." 
 
 The migratory flights of the Woodcock are believed 
 to be always nocturnal. No one, at least, either in England 
 or Scandinavia, seems to have witnessed them in the day- 
 time. It is also the general belief in the Peninsula one 
 that Nilsson would likewise seem to entertain,* that the 
 migratory flights of these birds are pretty much confined 
 to moonlight nights. But this can hardly be the case, be- 
 cause the late Lieutenant Anders Uggla, an indefatigable 
 sportsman, tells us that, "in the year 1845, these birds 
 arrived in Scania between the 29th March and 10th 
 April, when the nights were the darkest." The oft-re- 
 corded fact of Woodcocks destroying themselves on dark 
 nights, by flying against the windows of light-houses, goes 
 very far to prove the correctness of my lamented friend's 
 statements. 
 
 It is also the commonly received opinion in Scandinavia 
 that the Woodcock, when migrating, always flies, as a 
 rule, with the wind ; and from what Kjaerbolling and others 
 tell us, this would appear to be the fact. But if what 
 Ekstrom says of the habits of the Thrush family, when 
 
 * " M. Borgstrbm and M. Svedenborg, both distinguished sportsmen," 
 says the L'rofessor, " assure me, after the experience of several years, that 
 Woodcocks for the most part arrive in Sweden during the full moon of 
 Easter, when the nights are the lightest. This interesting information," he 
 u< irs on to say, "can without doubt materially assist in clearing up several 
 points relating to the migratory habits of these birds. As is known, birds 
 of passage arrive in the night-time. Their earlier or later arrival in the 
 same district in different years must thus in great degree depend on the 
 nature of the nijji'-. 
 
200 WITH THE WIND. 
 
 speaking of their migrations from the interior to the 
 coast prior to leaving the country, be equally applicable 
 to the Woodcock, it does not seem to be always the case ; 
 for the flight of these birds (the Thrushes) is then, he 
 says, " always in the very teeth of the wind, and, in 
 preference, when it is blowing hard." And Ekstrom is 
 not alone in entertaining the theory, if such it can be 
 called, of some birds of passage at least flying iKju'mxl Un- 
 wind ; for others tells us that " birds, if they can possibly 
 avoid it, never take long flights icitli the u-ii/d, because 
 their covering feathers then become rufllod, which incon- 
 veniences them ; and their wings, moreover, are so 
 depressed by the pressure of the air, that their flight 
 is rather impeded than faciliated." 
 
 In further corroboration of Ekstrom's theory, we have 
 the evidence of the keeper of the light-house at Landsort 
 in the neighbourhood of Stockholm which stands at an 
 
 o 
 
 elevation of 148 feet above the sea: " Of the numerous 
 birds of passage that during migration fly on dark and 
 misty nights against the / Lantern,' one and all strike it 
 on the Ice side." * 
 
 In concluding these few observations on the migratory 
 habits of the Woodcock, I w r ould remark, that it is neces- 
 sity, not choice, that compels these birds, on the approach 
 of winter, to leave their summer abode in the cold North 
 for more genial climes. Their chief food, as shown, con- 
 sists of worms, small beetles, &c., the breeding and 
 existence of which are dependent on the state of the 
 \\cather. On the coming of the frost, these retire to 
 
 * He further mentions that "mi two several occasions Kiilcr Ducks 
 have flown with such force njjainst the ghiss at Icn-t two tenths of an inch 
 in thickness to smash it to pieces, and I" force their way into the 
 'Lantern' itself, where liy their tluttcrin;,' they ln-oke se\eial ^1 
 iiml iiijure.l the miiT'.i- . 'nit ilie.l -liortly atterw anls from the injuries they 
 hail re, e, 
 
CAUSE OF MIGRATION. 201 
 
 their winter quarters, and the "Woodcock being then 
 unable to obtain the needful sustenance, is obliged to 
 change its quarters, and whilst removing by slow degrees 
 to the South, it renews, at its several halting-places, its 
 attempts to obtain food. And its return to the North in 
 the spring is equally easy of explanation ; for in addition 
 to its desire to revisit its old haunts, where it no doubt 
 finds both climate and soil more congenial to its habits, is 
 added another powerful influence, the sexual feeling. 
 
 LAMENT OF THE BIRDS OF PASS'AGE. 
 
 Behold ! the birds fly 
 
 From Gauthiod's strand, 
 And seek with a sigh 
 
 Some far foreign land. 
 Tho sounds of their woe 
 
 With hollow winds blend : 
 " Where now must we go 1 
 
 Our flight whither tend 1 " 
 Tis thus unto heaven that their wailings ascend. 
 
 " The Scandian shore 
 
 We leave in despair ; 
 Our days glided o'er 
 
 So blissfully there. 
 We there built our nest 
 
 Among bright blooming trees, 
 There rock'd us to rest 
 
 The balm-bearing breeze ; 
 But now to far lands we must traverse the seas. 
 
 " With rose-crown all bright 
 
 On tresses of gold, 
 The midsummer night, 
 
 It was sweet to behold. 
 The calm was so deep, 
 
 So lovely the ray, 
 We could not then sleep ; 
 
 But were tranced on the spray, 
 Till \\iikeiiYl by beams from the bright car of Day. 
 
TlIK I.AMKVl. 
 
 " Tin- trees f;ently In-lit 
 
 I >'e|- the plains in repose. 
 With snow-drops hisprent 
 
 Was the tremulous rose. 
 The oaks now are hare. 
 
 The rose is no more ; 
 The Xephyr's liijht air 
 
 Is exchanged for the roar 
 01 storms, and the May fields ha\e mantles of li 
 
 " Then why do we stay 
 
 111 the North, when- the Sun 
 More dimly each day 
 
 His liricf course will run ( 
 And why need we sigh I 
 
 We leave hut a j;ra\e 
 To cleave through tin- sky 
 
 On the winus which (!od jj-.uc : 
 Tlicn, Ocean, he welcome the roar of th\ wave, 
 
 When earth's joys are 
 
 And the days darkly roll. 
 When autumn winds roar. 
 
 Weep not, O my soul ! 
 K.iir lands o'er the sea 
 
 Kor the hirds hriiihtly Moom, 
 A land smiles for tln-e 
 
 |'.e\ond the dark tomh, 
 Win-re heams in-\er f-nlilill its beauties illume. 
 
 ,,/ v Journal, translate I from the Swedish of Sla-m-li, 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 The " Kdrs Drag.'" Kkstroin's Description. The Lark-pipe. Shooting ;^ 
 the Drag.- -The Poacher's, Ex]iedient. Shooting with the Pointer. 
 In Scani;i. On the West Coast. In the Island of Gotland. In 
 Southern Kin-ope.- Traps and Snares. 
 
 ITVEWEll Woodcocks, in proportion to their numbers, 
 arc probably killed in Scandinavia than any other 
 bird coming under the denomination of game ; and this 
 is ^easily accounted for, as, excepting during migration, 
 when they congregate to some extent in the more southern 
 parts of Sweden and Norway, it is hardly worth any one's 
 while to go expressly in search of them, owing to their 
 being so very thinly scattered over the country. 
 
 The larger portion of those that are killed are probably 
 shot during the pairing and breeding season at the 
 
 ' Drag,"or " Roding-stand," recently mentioned, a prac- 
 tice that we in England would look on as little better than 
 poaching. I myself, it is true, have occasionally taken 
 part in the amusement, and might therefore, from personal 
 experience, describe how matters arc carried on; but as 
 
204 THE KORS-DIIAG. 
 
 Ekstrom is much more at home at this kind of " Jagt " 
 than I am, and as he, besides, gives us much curious 
 information in regard to the habits of the "Woodcock, I 
 prefer quoting his words to telling my own story : 
 
 " Should the sportsman be unacquainted with the 
 'Drag,' " says the reverend gentleman, "he ought sonic 
 fine evening to take a walk in the forest and ascertain 
 its whereabouts ; but in this he must be guided by the 
 weather, for if stormy, the task would be hopeless. It 
 should be calm, and, in preference, raw and cold, with a 
 drizzling rain, as the Woodcock then r6des best. Most 
 commonly the 'Drag' is situated amongst hills and 
 eminences, interspersed with morasses. The Wood- 
 cock seldom flies across the latter, but along their sides. 
 When, therefore, one meets with a morass of a somewhat 
 oval or oblong form, bounded by woods, one is pretty sure 
 to find what is called a ' Kors-Drag' or spot where 
 the birds that ' r6de ' along the sides of the morass, and 
 those that ' r6de ' across the ends of it, intersect each other. 
 The sportsman having found such a locality, stations 
 himself there, and, if possible, on rising ground, partly 
 to shorten the distance should the Woodcock lly high, 
 and partly that he may be enabled to keep a better look- 
 out. The trees, however, should not be too lofty, r the 
 under-cover too dense, as in that case his view would be 
 impeded, and he would be unable to see the bird until 
 immediately above his head ; and being thus obliged 
 to fire somewhat at random, he would be very apt to miss 
 it. When the trees on the spot selected by myself have 
 lieen too high and close, I have lessened the evil by causing 
 several to be cut down, so that an unobstructed view 
 might be obtained. But this plan has not always suc- 
 ceeded; for though the stumps of the felled trees have 
 lieen covered with nns. A.C., tlie birds have taken the 
 alarm and changed their ' Dr. 
 
EKSTROM S DESCRIPTION. 205 
 
 " During the first days of spring, the Woodcock com- 
 mences ' roding ' the instant the sun has sunk below the 
 horizon, but at a more advanced period somewhat before 
 its total disappearance, and continues until night-fall. In 
 the morning, it begins ' rdding ' whilst still quite dark, 
 and ceases previous to its being full daylight. When the 
 bird ' rodes,' there is always an interval between each tour 
 and retour, which is more observable in the evening, when 
 it goes and returns three several times. The first time it 
 always flies high, and generally with rapidity ; the second, 
 its flight is but little above the tree-tops, and com- 
 monly slower; Ihe third time still nearer the ground, 
 and yet more leisurely ; but it is then especially in early 
 spring too dark to take proper aim. One ought, there- 
 fore, always to fire when it makes its appearance for 
 the second time. 
 
 " In the morning no one attempts thus to shoot the 
 Woodcock. It ' r6des ' at so early an hour that it is diffi- 
 cult to distinguish the bird, and more so to take correct 
 aim. Its ' rodings ' then last so short a time, besides, 
 that when it becomes light enough to shoot they are over. 
 Probably the female then lays her eggs, and the male, 
 knowing this to be the case, puts off all thoughts of love 
 until the proper season the evening. 
 
 " Though the Woodcock when on the wing, " 
 Ekstrom goes on to say, " seems in no hurry, yet 
 its flight is very rapid, and it is not the easiest bird to 
 shoot. Occasionally, indeed, it makes the inexperienced 
 sportsman look very foolish ; for when he has fired, it 
 drops nearly to the ground, thus making him believe it to 
 be killed ; but presently recovering from its panic, it rises 
 again in the air, and makes known by its Orrt ! orrt ! 
 />ix}> ! that it has escaped with a whole skin. A flash 
 in the pan invariably causes the bird to diverge from its 
 course, though not always downwards, as is generally sup- 
 
206 THE LARK-TIN:. 
 
 posed ; for in its endeavours to avoid the shot, I have 
 sometimes seen it ascend obliquely upwards. If tin- sporN- 
 man be provided with a percussion gun, this inanu-uvre 
 will not avail it at all times. But the Woodcock ha*. 
 other wiles. If, for instance, it has been previously 
 persecuted, it always keeps a good look-out, and takes 
 another course; and should the man have stationed him- 
 self in an open spot, and neglected to conceal his person, 
 it will frequently wheel about suddenly and return by the 
 way it came. A large proportion of the innumerable 
 misses at the ' Drag ' originate from the Jiigare not 
 having acquired the knack a rather difficult one of 
 taking a rapid aim in the dusk of the evening. 
 
 "To avoid firing at too long a range," says Kkstrom, 
 in conclusion, " I was accustomed in my youth, and before 
 practice rendered the expedient needless, to repair to the 
 ' Drag ' whilst it was full daylight, and pace the distance 
 to some of the trees in the vicinity ; and when the birds 
 made their appearance, was thus pretty well enabled to 
 judge whether or not it was worth while to lire." 
 
 The fowler, when at the "Drag," I should observe, 
 is often provided with a so-called Za/7.-/>//>", or Lark-pipe ; 
 and when the "\Voodcock is Hying over his head, he, by 
 imitating its call-note \\ ith this implement, so attracts its 
 attention as often to cause it to stay its course for a second 
 or two, and to hover, as it were, over his head, in which 
 position the greatest bungler can hardly fail to hit it. 
 The Lark-pipe is also often brought into requisition 
 by the fowler in the autumn, when the brood has been 
 Hushed and dispersed. 
 
 The AV///M-/-////, or poacher, has another expedient, we 
 arc told, to beguile the poor Woodcock. lie hides him- 
 -elf at the ' DraLT," and when the bird is immediately in 
 front of him. he easts his cap high in air; on which the 
 \V H.dcock, supposing the cap to be its mortal enemy the 
 
SHOOTING AT TUB DRA.G. . 207 
 
 Goshawk, .at once alights on the ground, where it 
 presently meets its doom. 
 
 This very destructive system of shooting Woodcocks 
 at the " Drag," which is common throughout the length 
 and breadth of Scandinavia, is bad enough in itself; but if 
 confined to the early part of the spring, when birds have 
 only partially paired, might be excusable enough. Unfor- 
 tunately, however, it is in many places continued, and 
 oftentimes by the first people of the land, throughout the 
 whole summer,* when, to say nothing of the old birds, 
 vast numbers of chicks, that are deprived of their natural 
 protectors, must necessarily perish. 
 
 Of the slaughter committed amongst the Woodcocks, 
 in Scandinavia, at the "Drag," some idea may be formed 
 by what we are told by the Jilgmastare Sylvan, who, 
 when speaking of the island of Gotland, says: "These 
 birds, which in the spring arrive here in thousands, 
 are nevertheless in a short time decimated. If one goes 
 into the forest of a fine Saturday or Sunday evening, one 
 hears the most lively fusilade from all points of the com- 
 pass ; and even if the occasional call-note of one or other 
 bird makes known that it has escaped harmless, it is 
 nevertheless certain that immense numbers are thus shot 
 during the pairing and breeding season." 
 
 Though the poor Woodcock is so genet-ally persecuted, 
 there are certain districts in Scandinavia where it alto- 
 gether escapes molestation. " The only bird allowed to 
 breed undisturbed in this part of the country," writes 
 M. B., a resident of Nordmark, Wermeland, " is the 
 
 I have now, indeed, a letter before me from a distinguished Norwe- 
 -i.in sportsman, in which, when speaking of the Woodcock, he says : 
 " No regular ' Drug ' takes place after the commencement of Jtily ; but in 
 the Frogneraasen, near to Chrlstiania, I have shot three birds on the 
 7th July: and atTind, in the Tellenmrken, there was a good ' Drag' on the 
 loth July. In the autumn I have observed no ' Drag.'" 
 
208 SHOOTING WITH THE POINTER. 
 
 "Woodcock, which is here very common. As with the Owl, 
 it is looked upon as of ill omen, and when people hoar its 
 call-note at the ' Drag,' they lose heart, believing it to be 
 a Troll-fogel, or bewitched bird, and this simply because, 
 on alighting on the ground, it runs rapidly and unper- 
 ceived from the spot. Its appearance, gestures, and 
 bearing, which are at times comical enough, have, more- 
 over, given rise in Nordmark to the strange notion that 
 it is afflicted with epilepsy, and has the power of commu- 
 nicating that disorder to the individual who touches or 
 molests it. This strange feeling has not only the effect of 
 deterring people from pursuing or injuring it, but causes 
 them to entertain for it both fear and aversion. Hence if 
 a boy finds a Woodcock in a snare or trap, he not alone 
 kicks it away from him with his foot, but spits three several 
 times after it, as also on the spot where it has lain, to 
 free himself from the fortrollning, or enchantment, to 
 which he might otherwise be subjected." *. 
 
 Many Woodcocks are likewise shot in Scandinavia to 
 the pointer, t or other dog, during their aiitumnal and 
 spring migrations. These birds are then often met with 
 in considerable numbers in the more southern parts of 
 the country, especially in Scania, their usual point of 
 departure and arrival, as regards Sweden at least. H 
 
 But the shooting in that province in the spring, at 
 which time it is the best, depends much on the state of 
 the weather ; for if on the arrival of the Woodcocks the 
 
 In the eyes of the superstitious, the act of x/, I/tin;/ is considered M- MM 
 infullihlc means of kecpim; tin- Powers of Darkness lit a distance. Hud 
 -pace permitted, I could fill pages with similar M'.ii 
 
 t The dog used for Cock-shoot ini:, it will lie readily undcr-t I, -liould 
 
 In- perfectly steady, :md not hunt far ahead ; fur if he In- a \\ ide ranker he will 
 
 flush liinU nut nf nuinlier. ami i ~ei|<ie]itly d" mure harm than sjixxl. If 
 
 lie is trained t" i-<i/i/n->- /<;, that i>, to leave his point when lie has found 
 iMinc. for th0 parpOM of informing hi- master, he will !* dmililv \alu.ilile. 
 
IN SCANIA. 209 
 
 temperature be mild, and the ice and snow in gieat part 
 gone, they rest only a short time before proceeding to 
 their breeding-grounds in the far interior. But if, on 
 the contrary, the season be an inclement one, and the 
 country still fast bound in the iron chains of winter or if 
 subsequent to the coming of the birds, there should be a 
 great "snow-fall," as not unfrequently happens they are 
 detained in the covers on the coast for a long time, when 
 shooting to heart's content is then, by all accounts, to be 
 had everywhere. Such was the case recently, as may 
 be gathered from what follows : 
 
 " The Woodcock Jagt in 1862," says A. von B., " was 
 the best known in the memory of man. The warm 
 weather in the southern and midland parts of Germany 
 hastened the departure of those birds to Zealand (Denmark) 
 and Scania. The first of them, the head of the column, 
 ah-eady appeared in the very beginning of March (com- 
 monly they do not arrive until about the 16th), and were 
 gradually followed by the main body, which was in larger 
 numbers than ordinarily. They afforded a rich harvest. 
 But it was not confined to the first ' Jagt ;' for, after the 
 birds had remained the usual time on the coast, and had 
 continued their journey a shorter or longer distance to 
 the northward, there set in, at the commencement of April, 
 a very severe frost, which compelled them to retrace their 
 steps, and seek a warmer climate. In Scania there was, 
 therefore, a second migration ; biit this time from north 
 to south. They flew to and fro between Zealand and 
 Scania. When the wind was from the north and east, the 
 Danish Jiigare had quite sufficient employment, and when, 
 on the contrary, the wind was southerly or westerly, the 
 cannonade \vas renewed in Sweden. It was not until the 
 end of April that the last left us. 
 
 " If we assume that between 2,000 and 3,000 Wood- 
 cooks wore killed in Scania alone during this long spring 
 
 p 
 
210 IN ZEALAND. 
 
 migration, the estimate would certainly not be too high. 
 That the Jagt in Zealand was also in an extraordinary 
 degree successful, may be inferred from the fact that a 
 Danish forest-keeper shot in the course of a few hours on 
 the plantations of Hornbeck, two (Swedish) miles from the 
 town of Elsinore, no fewer than thirty -five of those birds ; * 
 and as further evidence of their abundance, I may men- 
 tion they were then sold in the Copenhagen market for 
 Is. 6d. the couple, the ordinary price being 4s. In spite, 
 however, of the great destruction amongst them in the 
 spring spoken of," the writer goes on to say, "the autumnal 
 migration, which commenced in the first days of October, 
 was very considerable. On one gentleman's estate, thirty - 
 five couple an unusual number were killed ; the last 
 bird on the 22nd November." 
 
 Even in ordinary years, the spring Cock-shooting in 
 Scania is very fair; and if a man is fortunate enough to 
 obtain access to good coverts, several couple of tlirs<> birds 
 may any day be bagged. The disadvantage, however, of 
 shooting at this season, is that the birds are usually in 
 such very poor condition, that many would say they 
 were hardly worth " powder and shot." 
 
 The autumnal Cock-shooting in Scania is inferior to 
 that in the spring; but, as a set-off, the birds are then in 
 good condition, and, as a rule, they lie well to the"-point<>r, 
 which is not always the ease in the last-named season. 
 The autumn as well as the spring shooting varies, 
 
 * M. ll<il>t, \\liMin I t la.-t autumn in Sratiia, s]>'ik<- of a similar 
 
 -.|aiii,'lil.T. Hi- it mi^'lit In- tin- \-ry cine s|Miken "t" aKove. in wliieli lie liini 
 -i It timk ['ait , viz., tliat a friend of his in Jutland <m tin- L'ml April, iS'li 1 . 
 bagged thirty -i\ Woode.M-k In-fore finir o'eloek in tlie al'ternenn. when lie 
 was oliliyed tn de~i-t iViun sliiHitiiif; n\\ ini{ t<i llic want ( aninniiiitinn. 
 
 Fur a |iart nt'tlic day .M . llnl>t sliut ii in]i;iny itli tlii> iniliv iilnal, and 
 
 killi-il twflvi- liinl> in addition : so tint tn^i-tln-r tln-y Iri^'L.''^! twenty 1'mir 
 i | ill-, wliicli. nndi-r tin- ciivuin-tMiic-, -, uas nut l.ad w.irk. 
 
NEAE HOGANAS. 211 
 
 however, considerably, owing, probably in degree, to the 
 state of the wind ; for, some years Cocks are pretty plen- 
 tiful, whilst in others comparatively few are met with. 
 But even in the autumn some of my friends have been 
 rather successful ; amongst the rest " The Old Bushman," 
 who, in a letter to me, says : 
 
 " The autumn of 1849 I spent at Hoganas, near the 
 town of Helsingborg. Towards the end of October a 
 strong south-westerly gale set in, and our little harbour 
 was filled with sloops weather-bound. On the 27th 
 October two captains came down to me and asked me 
 to go out shooting. We left at nine in the morning, 
 and the whole- of the day up to dinner-time was spent 
 in drinking finkel (potato-brandy) with the farmers, and 
 shooting Fieldfares and the like. About three o'clock 
 in the afternoon, when on our road home, we came to 
 a patch of oak scrub, probably about one hundred acres 
 in extent, covered with stumps of trees that had been 
 felled, and from which young shoots had grown up, form- 
 ing bushes, as it were, to the height of two or three feet. 
 The underwood was perfectly dry. As I was getting over 
 the fence, a couple of Woodcocks rose at my feet. I shot 
 right and left, and bagged one. I beat the place without 
 a dog, and in about two hours bagged seventeen Wood- 
 cocks, one Hare, and one Black-Cock, out of about twenty- 
 eight shots. The shooting was beautiful. I had several 
 right-and-left shots, and I feel confident I flushed above 
 one hundred couple of Cocks. I knocked off at last for 
 want of ammunition ; otherwise, I am sure I could have 
 had fifty shots. The plantation was about three English 
 miles from the sea-coast. I went there the next morning ; 
 but the wind had chopped round to the eastward, and I 
 do not think five couple of Cocks were left. I do not 
 recollect the state of the moon, but the weather was very 
 fine, with strong gales." 
 
 p 2 
 
212 ON Tin: WKST COAST. 
 
 Very fair Cock-shooting is also to be had during spring 
 and fall on the coasts of Bohusliin and Halland, the latter 
 being the adjoining province to Scania. Birds are here 
 oftentimes pretty abundant, and as the woods consist, in 
 great part, of coppice, the ground, as a consequence, is very 
 favourable for both the sportsman and the pointer. In 
 this line of country, as in Scania, I have known heavy 
 bags to be made. A friend wrote me some years ago 
 that, during the preceding spring he himself (aided on 
 only one or two occasions by an acquaintance) had shot in 
 about a fortnight 43 couple of Cocks, and. on one parti- 
 cular day as many as 12 couple. This was in the vicinity 
 of Gothenburg, aiifl at a time when the birds were pre- 
 vented by frost and snow from leaving the coast and 
 proceeding to their breeding-grounds in the interior. 
 
 In the island of Gotland, again, where many "Wood- 
 cocks breed, and where numbers of others rest for awhile 
 during migration, the shooting is said to be exceedingly 
 good, probably equal to, or better, than is to be found 
 elsewhere in Sweden, the woods being generally open, and 
 remarkably favourable for the gunner. 
 
 In Southern Norway good Cock-shooting is procurable 
 during migration, especially in the spring, when the birds 
 are often forced to remain awhile on or near the coast. 
 
 My own performances with the Woodcocks in Scan- 
 dinavia have been very inconsiderable. In the interior of 
 the country, which for the most part is one continuous 
 forest, I never bagged more tlian two couple in any one 
 day. These were shot casually, so to say, when I \v;is 
 in pursuit of other game ; but supposing \ had gone 
 expressly in sea iv h of Woodcock, it is very doubtful if 
 that 'number could have been doubled: and, even when 
 shooting near (lie \\estern eoast during migration, I n(>ver. 
 to my own gun, shot more than lour and a half couple 
 an insignificant bag as compared with the teats of others; 
 
IN THE MOREA. 213 
 
 but then it was never my fortune to fall in with anything 
 resembling a " flight," as has not unfrequently happened 
 to my acquaintances. 
 
 But, after all, what does the Cock-shooting in the 
 Peninsula amount to as compared with that in Ireland or 
 the more southern parts of Europe ! I have now letters 
 before me from old friends, narrating their exploits in 
 those regions, which may be deserving of insertion here. 
 The first is from the late Sir Hyde Parker, in which, 
 when speaking of the Morea, he says, "We killed 450 
 Woodcocks in ten days, and the party that preceded us 
 650 in the same number of days." The second letter is 
 from Mr. George Chichester Oxenden, in which he states 
 that, " from January 14th to February llth, with twenty 
 days' shooting, Captain G. Fitzhardinge Berkeley and 
 myself bagged 862 Woodcocks, 11 Hares, 11 Ducks, and 
 34 Snipes ; together, 918 head. Our best day was fifty 
 couple of Cocks and one Hare." 
 
 The Woodcock is also occasionally taken in Scandi- 
 navia in snares, as also in traps, such as the Lam and the 
 Fall-stock, that are set for the Capercali and the Black- 
 Cock ; but I am not aware of any special contrivance 
 being had recourse to for the capture of Woodcocks. 
 Nets were formerly used for the purpose, but Linnaeus, 
 who mentions the fact, omits to describe their nature. 
 He merely says, " they are suspended in the air in the 
 track of the Woodcock, because it does not fly high." 
 
CHAPTEE XVI. 
 
 The Solitary Snipe. Geographical Range. Two Species 1 
 
 Retired Disposition. Favourite Haunts. Aversion to \V ..... 1 
 Food. Feeds only at Night. Breeding Habits. Migration. Dish 
 for a King. Shooting at the Pairing-ground To the Pointer. 
 Capture in Nets. Diminished Numbers. 
 
 Solitary Snipe, Double Snipe, or Great Snipe 
 (Dubbel Heckfutin, or double snipe, Sw. ; Dobbelt 
 itsin, or double snipe, Norw. ; Stor Bekkiisiti, or 
 snipe, Tredekker, or three-decker, Dan.; b'cufo/Hi.r 
 major, Ginel.), the second in order of the Scolopax genus, 
 was likewise one of our summer visitants, and bred, it \\a^ 
 believed, near to llonniun, and most assuredly so on 
 Tjurholmen, an island in the river Gotha, at no very 
 great distance from the town of Gothenburg ; for only 
 last year an acquaintance of mine took its nest there. It 
 also breeds, though very locally as it would seem, through- 
 out a large portion of Scandinavia. As regards Sweden, it 
 is much more abundant in the central provinces, especially 
 in Upland, which would appear to bo its head-quarters, 
 than in the more southern or northern. Its limits 
 to the north do imt -mn t be well ascertained ; but 
 

WIDELY DISPERSED. 215 
 
 that it proceeds as high up as Bodoe, lat. 68, on. the 
 western coast of Norway, is certain, because Mr. Oxenden 
 Hammond met with it there.* I have my doubts, how- 
 ever, as to its breeding in the more northern parts of 
 Swedish and Russian Lapland, because I neither met with 
 it myself, nor does M. Malm make mention of it when 
 enumerating the birds found in the surrounding country 
 to the great Enare lake, lat. 69. 
 
 The geographical range of the Solitary Snipe is very 
 considerable, being found during the summer months not 
 only in Scandinavia, but in all the more northern and 
 eastern countries of Europe, and the western of Asia, as 
 far at least as the eastern tributaries of the river Obis, in 
 Siberia. But its limits are said to be more confined than 
 those of its congeners, the Woodcock and the Common and 
 Jack Snipe, and it is also said to be less numerous than 
 either of those birds. It winters for the most part, I 
 believe, in Africa and Asia Minor. 
 
 Sportsmen and others in Scania contend there are two 
 kinds of the Solitary Snipe, one smaller, and the other 
 larger, which they call Stor Dublett, i.e., great double 
 snipe, or TredticJeare, i. <?., three-decker. But Nilsson 
 says, that " unless the female of the S. major be meant, 
 I am unacquainted with the latter bird." 
 
 The Solitary Snipe is considerably larger than the 
 Common Snip%; its usual length being between eleven 
 and twelve inches, from tip to tip of wing nineteen 
 
 * "This was on the 17th August, 1851," so that gentleman wrote to 
 me. "Our route lay across a bog, when the dogs hunted up a very great 
 number of Solitary Snipes. I had never before seen them alive. They lay 
 very close, and rose silently, flying a very short distance. The dog caught 
 one, which I stuffed. If we had had guns with us, we could have killed a 
 large number of these fine birds." The specimen in question was subse- 
 quently shown me by Mr. Hammond, and I can testify to its being, as he 
 said, a young Solitary Snipe. 
 
21G ITS FLIGHT. 
 
 inches, and weight from six to eight ounces, according to 
 age and the season of the year. The female is somewhat 
 larger than the male. During spring and summer it is 
 comparatively lean ; but in the autumn, as a general rule, 
 excessively fat ; so much so, indeed, that on falling to the 
 ground when shot, it at times bursts its skin ; and should 
 several of these birds be placed together in the pocket or 
 the game-bag, the probability is that when one reaches 
 home their feathers will be found quite saturated with oily 
 matter that has exuded from their bodies. 
 
 The Solitary Snipe, independently of its superior size, 
 may readily be distinguished from the Common Snipe by 
 the most casual observer, by its shorter bill, its plumper 
 lo'ok, and its grey spotted breast, and, when on tin- 
 wing, by its outspread tail. The learned point out other 
 differences between the two ; amongst the rest, that 
 whereas the Solitary Snipe has sixteen feathers in its tail 
 (the outer ones of the adults being white), the Common 
 Snipe numbers only fourteen. 
 
 The flight of the Solitary Snipe is somewhat slow and 
 heavy, and almost invariably in a straight line, never zig- 
 zag, as with the Common Snipe. When flushed, moreover, 
 it never flies to any considerable distance, seldom, indeed, 
 to more than two or three hundred yards. Just prior to 
 alighting, it not unfrequently hovers, as it were, for an 
 instant in the air, but more commonly casft itself at once 
 to the ground as if dead, which, should it have been pre- 
 viously fired at, one might almost suppose to be the case. 
 Occasionally, when rising from the ground, it makes a 
 peculiar noise with its \\in-s, for which the Swedes have 
 nut, as far as I am a\\aiv, a name, but the Germans call it 
 
 "VVe are told by more than one author that the Solitary 
 Snipe, on taking wing, ne\er ijhe* utteranee to any cry 
 whatever. I'.iii this i> not exactly the ease ; for, though 
 
RETIRED HABITS. 217 
 
 many are then quite silent, others do give forth a short 
 and coarse sound, which may be represented by the word 
 bad. Some say this cry is confined to very obese birds, 
 and only emitted by them the first time of being flushed, 
 as afterwards they are altogether mute. 
 
 The Solitary Snipe would appear well deserving of 
 its English epithet ; for one never meets with these birds 
 in flights, or " wisps," as with the Common Snipe. A good 
 many, it is true, may occasionally be met with in near 
 proximity to each other ; but it is the goodness of the 
 pasture, I take it, and not a social feeling, that thus brings 
 them together. As evidence of such being the case, it 
 may be mentioned, that should several be flushed at the 
 same time, each one always takes its own independent 
 course. Commonly, one only meets with a single bird, or 
 a couple, at the same spot. It may happen, however, 
 that three or four others, forming, probably, part of 
 the same family, are lying close at hand, and which, on 
 hearing the report of the gun, likewise take wing. 
 
 We are told by a writer in " Svenska Jagarforbundcts 
 Nya Tidskrift," a periodical of great merit that, 
 "owing to the love entertained by the Solitary Snipe 
 for low and marshy ground, bordering on water-courses, 
 it follows that its dwelling-places are but little above 
 the level of the sea; and this bird, therefore, belongs 
 properly to the low lands of the Old World." But 
 this must surely be a mistake; because we learn from 
 the late Mr. Richard Bann, a good naturalist, who 
 spent many summers in Scandinavia, that, to his personal 
 knowledge, "the Solitary Snipe nests in considerable 
 numbers in the mountainous parts of both Sweden and 
 Norway, as high up as the range of the birch woods 
 extend. ... On the Dovre fjeld at Jerkin, and at 
 Fogstuen, some thousands of feet above the sea-level," 
 he goes on to say, "they are numerous on the grassy 
 
218 AN ALPINE BIRD. 
 
 swamps, avoiding the wet. They also frequently resort 
 to the small rills used for irrigating the land. Their nest 
 is placed on a hummock or tuft of grass, near the willow 
 bushes on the borders of swamps." 
 
 The testimony of Professor Rasch is equally conclusive 
 as to the Solitary Snipe nesting in alpine countries ; for, 
 in reply to my inquiries on this point, he says : "As regards 
 the southern portion of Norway, it breeds almost exclu- 
 sively in that tract of the fjiills called the ' willow region ' 
 (zona salicunt), though it is sometimes found nesting in tin- 
 highest range of the birch region. I have only observed 
 it on a single occasion hatching in the lower country. It 
 chooses principally for breeding-grounds the vicinity of 
 alpine ' shealings ;' in the luxuriant grass near to 
 which one often sees the tracks of these birds, the old hen 
 taking her chicks there a short time after they are out 
 of the shell. The region frequented by the Solitary 
 Snipe during the summer ranges from 2,500 to 3,500 
 feet above the level of the sea. During our llipa Jagt, 
 in the latter part of August, we have often shot it in 
 the same region where the Fjiill-Ripa is found, particu- 
 larly where the broad-leaved willow (Sali.r /n/tn/a) thrive-. 
 
 The Solitary Snipe, though often found in bogs and 
 marshes, would seem much less partial to wet ground 
 than either the Common or the Jack Snipe. Indeed, one 
 most generally meets with it in comparatively dry places; 
 such as tussocky moors and pastures, and not unfre- 
 quently in stubble fields, though it may be at no great 
 distance from ditches, rills, or the like. It is said to 
 give the preference to soils consisting of clay or mould, 
 and to avoid such ;is an' -andy, on account of the great 
 dearth of worms. 
 
 Localities overgrown with */"//-///*. or scdge-urass, 
 are its favourite resort* ; and hence, in (iermany, this bird 
 is called the i:i,'il.S<-lnii'i>J'i', or sed^e-grass snipe. This 
 
SHUNS WOODLANDS. 219 
 
 grass would almost seem to be essential to its existence, in 
 the breeding season at least ; for if, owing to increased 
 cultivation, or other causes, it disappears, the bird, we are 
 told, deserts its usual haunts, and nests elsewhere. 
 
 We are further informed that the Solitary Snipe 
 has an invincible aversion to localities even partially 
 overgrown with wood ; and that during the breeding 
 season it never dwells in a so-called Skogs-ling, or bushy 
 pasture. But, bearing in mind Mr. Dann's remarks as to 
 its nesting near willow bushes, &c., I must confess to some 
 doubts as to the correctness of this statement ; the rather 
 as, during the autumn, when these birds are migrating, it 
 is not at all unusual to meet with them amongst scattered 
 scrub bushes, where the ground is wet and marshy. 
 
 The Solitary Snipe would not appear to be erratic in 
 its habits, at least during its stay in Scandinavia. We 
 are told, indeed, that from its first arrival in the spring to 
 the end of July, when migration commences, it confines 
 itself almost entirely to the moor or the meadow that it 
 has selected for its summer abode, and seldom or never 
 leaves it unless it may be to repair to its Lek-stalle, or 
 pairing-ground. 
 
 Its food consists of larvse,* water insects, and small 
 
 a j? rom t Qe food, anc l the remains of food, found in the Solitary 
 Snipe's stomach, which is the thinnest amongst birds of the Scolopax tribe,' 
 says Sir Humphrey Davy, " I think I have ascertained that it requires a 
 kind of worm, which is not found in winter even in the temperate climes 
 of Europe ; and that it feeds differently from the Common Snipe. There 
 are certainly none found after the end of October in either Illyria or Italy; 
 and I believe the same may be said of the end of May, as to their summer 
 migration, or their breeding migration. I have opened the stomachs of at 
 least a dozen of these birds, and their contents were always of the same 
 kind : long, slender, white, hexapode larva?, or their skins, of different sizes, 
 from that of the maggot of the horse-fly to one thrice as long. I believe 
 all th<Jse insects were the larva; of the different species of the Tibulir (flies 
 known by the common designation of Father Long-legs). In the Common 
 
220 ITS FOOD. 
 
 snails, and worms. It is not probable that it partakesof 
 any sustenance that is above ground ; for though vegetable 
 matter and the fibres of roots have at times been found in 
 its stomach, it is most likely that they have been swallowed 
 along with its own proper food. Its digestion is rapid ; 
 and it is only in individuals that are shot early in the 
 morning that one can discover the least trace of undigested 
 food. Its " droppings" are usually of a dark-green colour, 
 and very thin. 
 
 " It is not its eye," we are told, " that serves it to 
 obtain food, but the feeling excited in the point of its bill, 
 so rich in nerves. This it inserts in the ground to the 
 depth of about an inch; and if there be anything livin- 
 there, it at once grasps it. The aperture made by its bill 
 looks as if formed by a slate pencil, and several of them 
 are often observable immediately near to each other." 
 
 It would seem the general opinion in Scandinavia that 
 the Solitary Snipe feeds during the daytime ; but observant 
 and well-informed persons assert, on the contrary, that, 
 if left undisturbed, it then remains stationary, and pro- 
 bably sunk in slumber. At such times it for the most 
 part lies between two tussocks, against which it leans its 
 body in a horizontal position ; its neck somewhat drawn in, 
 or contracted, so as to appear thick ; its bill inclined 
 downwards, the tip of it occasionally touching the ground, 
 and its legs drawn up, but not bent, so that it still stands 
 on its feet. Its position at such times is thus different 
 from that of gallinaceous birds, \\liidi draw in the neck 
 altogether, and bend the tarsal joint so that they rest on 
 their bellies. Such is the posture of the bird when it and 
 
 Snipe's stomach, which if ctrongcr ami l:irj_'<-r, I Imvr j.'t-n<-nilly 
 earth u'Ttn-, ami "ft en -.,!-, rice, and gravel. T conjecture tliat in 
 tin' li-nijicniti- < Innate- nf KiiP']>r must of tin- :ii|ii:itic larvavnii which the 
 Silitary Snip.- !'..!- ,u- r..n\ i rl.-il into Hie- in tin- lute -prin-j :itiil aiitmim, 
 which |.i..li;ilil\ limit- tin |" i i'l "(' I ln-ir migration." 
 
FEEDS ONLY BY NIGHT. 221 
 
 the sportman first catch sight of each other ; and (except 
 whilst casting a side-long glance at the enemy, when it 
 gradually raises up its short and light-coloured tail, till 
 the latter stands nearly at right angles with its body) in 
 this posture it continues until it becomes alarmed, or 
 tired, when it hurriedly draws up his legs, in preparation 
 to spring from the ground, and at the next instant takes 
 wing arid flies away. 
 
 Thus it rests during the daytime, and it is not until 
 the approach of evening that hunger compels it to rouse 
 itself from its lethargy, and to look out for food. This it 
 seeks only in wet and moist places. Sometimes, at night- 
 fall, it has been observed to fly to an open spot, free from 
 grass, on a foraging expedition. Here it marches to and 
 fro with its legs, and neck outstretched, searching for 
 food. Probably it again rests during the darkest period 
 of the night, and at early morning recommences feeding. 
 
 The Solitary Snipe is believed to be polygamous. Like 
 the Capercali and the Black-Cock, it has its pairing- 
 ground, where affairs matrimonial are carried on. " I was 
 already an old sportsman of thirty years' standing," says 
 M. Greiff, " before it came to my knowledge that these 
 birds had their ' Lek-stalle ' on a morass, where there was 
 a good ' Orre-Lek.' I had heard their cry, during 
 a whole spring, but not seeing anything, I concluded it 
 was occasioned by frogs. At last, however, I discovered 
 that it proceeded from Solitary Snipes, which looked like 
 so many large rats as they ran about amongst the tussock. 
 The cry commenced with a sound resembling the smack 
 of the tongue, and was followed up by four or five others 
 still louder, and finished with a sugning or sucking-in of 
 the breath, as it were, during which time the bird swelled 
 itself out in the manner of a Peacock, and flapped its 
 
 wings." 
 
 Again : " As the Solitary Snipe only inhabits wet and 
 
222 ITS LKK. 
 
 marshy ground," says Dr. Soderberg, " so it also selects 
 such for its 'Lek-stiille.' That with which I am particularly 
 acquainted, is situated on the outskirts of an extensive 
 morass, studded here and there with bushes, where tin- 
 ground is open and dry, and low sedge-grass grows between 
 the tussocks. On the same spot, which cannot be more than 
 1,000 to 1,200 feet in circumference, they have held their 
 ' Lek' for several consecutive years; and though there 
 are equally favourable localities in the vicinity, I could 
 never discover that they had any other place of rendez- 
 vous than the one in question . 
 
 " At dusk the birds begin to collect from all parts of 
 the surrounding country.* For some time they keep per- 
 fectly quiet, and concealed among the grass, where they 
 lie so close that one may almost trample on them before 
 they can be induced to rise on the wing. When, however, 
 night has fairly set in, the 'Lek' commences somewhat 
 in the manner of that of the Black-Cock, and in this 
 wise : They strike up together a slow whistling sort of 
 song, which nearly resembles the squeaking of mice. The 
 first simple notes, which may be expressed by ////, ////, ////, ////, 
 gradually increase in rapidity and sharpness, and finally 
 become confusedly mixed up, and finish with several 
 clear and long-drawn plii-p'ul, which are not without a 
 certain melody. During the song, some one individual 
 joins in with a sort of bass, like an air-bubble which 
 bursts on rising to the surface of the water ; and I at 
 first imagined that it proceeded from a bird running 
 through a puddle. This note is even more distinctly 
 
 * Curiously i-nou<r]i, all tin- l>ir<K frequenting tiller rcniltv.vous MIV 
 
 ln-lii-vcil to |ir.iccc<l til tin-Ill oil foot. M. lianlaill tells Us, illlli-cil. tll.'lt 
 
 though In- iv|uin-il to ;i ' l^-k stjilli-' at -.1 i-:irly Mil Imur a> (hi- o'clock in 
 tin- iifti-rnooii. In- coiilil not ,,!.,). r\t- am (,, arrni- tin-re tlyiiiir . out tliat 
 laU-r in tin- i-vi-iiiuii. wln-u tin- b-k ' connm-nci-il, a ^n-at Hiiiulx-r took 
 |>iit in it. 
 
ITS SONG. 223 
 
 heard than the song itself, and has probably given 
 rise to the belief that the ' Spel' of the Solitary Snipe 
 resembles the kndppnmffctr, or first note of the Capercali. 
 Taken altogether, the chorus of these birds, which in 
 calm weather is audible at a distance of from 150 to 200 
 paces, forms a far from disagreeable symphony, especially 
 when heard during the hours of darkness. 
 
 " At the conclusion of each of these songs there 
 always ensues a considerable pause, during which the 
 birds run to and fro ainongst the tussocks in chase of 
 each other, fighting, and making a great hubbub. They 
 arc not at all afraid ; and if the spectator remains perfectly 
 quiet, will occasionally come running close up to him ; 
 and even should he raise himself from the ground, they 
 will only retreat a short distance, and soon return again. 
 A shot, indeed, does not alarm them greatly. At length- 
 one of the company but I cannot take on myself to say 
 that it is always the same individual hops on to a tussock, 
 stretches himself and flaps his wings, and commences a 
 new song, in which all the rest immediately join. In this 
 way the ' Lek' is kept up until midnight, when all 
 remains hushed for a while ; but at early morn it com- 
 mences afresh, and continues until daylight. 
 
 " It is a moot point," the Doctor goes on to say, 
 "whether or not both males and females take part in 
 these gatherings, but it is one not in my power to solve ; 
 for, owing to the ' Lek-stalle' in question being some ten 
 miles from my home, the opportunities I had of visiting 
 it were very few. It is remarkable, nevertheless, that the 
 seven birds I myself captured were all males. The matter 
 in dispute is a weighty one, in regard as well to the 
 natural history of the Solitary Snipe, as to the propriety 
 of killing or sparing it during the pairing season. If it 
 be polygamous, and that males alone are present at the 
 ' Lek,' one might, without injury, kill a few of them ; 
 
224 NIDIPICATION. 
 
 but if, on the contrary, the females take part in the 
 'Lek,' they should be left for shooting in autumn with 
 the pointer. It is possible, however, that the females 
 are present at the ' Lek ' in the early part of the spring, 
 and do not retire from it until they have laid the full 
 complement of eggs and commenced sitting ; and that, 
 subsequently, the ' Lek' is continued by the males alone. 
 This I am inclined to believe is the case, because my o\vn 
 captures were made at the end of May, when the birds 
 were very lean ; and if so, provided that these birds do 
 not breed twice within the year, they (the males) need 
 not be spared. At what period in the spring the ' Lek ' 
 commences, I cannot state ; but even at the end of May 
 it was carried on with full vigour." 
 
 The number of Solitary Snipe that congregate at the 
 ' Lek-stalle ' depends of course on their abundance or 
 scarcity in the vicinity ; but that they are occasionally 
 very numerous, may be inferred from the slaughter 
 committed. It is said that, however their numbers may 
 be reduced by the net or the gun, the survivors will 
 continue to resort to the spot. 
 
 The Solitary Snipe, as observed, breeds both in the 
 lowlands and in the highlands of Scandinavia. About 
 the beginning of June the female forms her very simple 
 nest, consisting of a few blades of grass, either in the 
 depression of a tussock or between two tussocks. .1 lei- 
 eggs, commonly four in number longer, but less thick, 
 than those of the Woodcock are pear-shaped, and 
 pale olive-green in colour, with large black spots and 
 blotches, especially at the thicker end. Their usual 
 length is 1 inch (5 lines, and thickness 1 inch 2 lines; but 
 they vary greatly in si/.e. Often, indeed, one finds an 
 li'i; in the nest of this bird considerably smaller than the 
 remainder. "As out of a lesser e^i,' weaker chicks are 
 produced, so in this fact \\e have an explanation of the 
 
MIGRATION. 225 
 
 common observation, that of all birds, the Solitary Snipe 
 differs more in size than almost any other. Not unfre- 
 quently, indeed, one meets with an individual not much 
 larger than the Common Snipe, whilst others again 
 approach the Woodcock in bulk." 
 
 Whilst the female is incubating, one may almost tread 
 on her before she can be induced to desert her eggs, and 
 even when flushed she flies but a short distance, and soon 
 returns to them again. " I question," writes Professor 
 Rasch to me, " if the male seeks for or remains with the 
 female whilst she is sitting ; but when the young are led 
 by their mother to the feeding-places mentioned, near to 
 the alpine ' shealings ' (see page 218), he is undoubtedly 
 witli his family." The chicks are hatched in from seven- 
 teen to eighteen days, and begin to run, as the saying 
 is, "with the, shells on their backs." In their downy 
 state they have a very singular appearance, and then 
 much resemble the young of the Common Snipe. They 
 grow very rapidly, and by the 1st of August are in 
 a fit state to shoot. 
 
 The Solitary Snipe is the first of the genus Scolopax 
 to migrate from Scandinavia. Some usually depart as 
 early as the beginning of August ; and though stragglers 
 may remain after the middle of September, the main body 
 are usually gone by that time. During certain seasons, 
 however, these birds leave the country at a much earlier 
 period than at others. The cause is not exactly known, but 
 it is thought probable that the greater or lesser moisture of 
 the ground, and the consequent greater or lesser facility 
 in obtaining sustenance, has much to do with it. In proof 
 of this being the case, it may be mentioned that in 1860, 
 when there was a great deal of rain in the month of 
 August, they remained in the more central parts of 
 Sweden until the 20th of September ; but the previous 
 year, when the weather was very wet during the whole 
 
 Q 
 
226 MIGRATION. 
 
 summer, they left that part of the country in the middle 
 of August, or say a whole month earlier.* 
 
 The migrations of the Solitary Snipe are said to take 
 place simultaneously that is, at the same time as the hirds 
 bred in the southern parts of the country depart for foreign 
 lands, those that have passed the summer months in the 
 interior and far North, leave their breeding-grounds for the 
 coast. These, as with the Woodcock, are believed to travel 
 by slow journeys, resting frequently by the way. At their 
 several halting-places there is, therefore, a constant change 
 of visitors ; for as the one batch moves farther south 
 another succeeds it, and thus the movement goes on as 
 long as any remain in the country. 
 
 As with other defenceless birds, the migrations of the 
 Solitary Snipe always take place in the night-time ; not, 
 however, in greater or lesser flights, as with several other 
 hirds of passage, but singly, or in couples, or it may be in 
 families. On leaving the Scandinavian shores, they steer 
 a much more easterly course than their congeners the 
 AVood cocks, and the Common and the Jack Snipe (of 
 whom so many regularly winter with us in England), as 
 is evident from the fact that it is only 011 rare occasions 
 that they visit our country, and then, probably, owing 
 solely to having been driven there by northerly gales in 
 the autumn, or easterly in the spring. 
 
 Although the Solitary Snipe is the first of the Scolopa- 
 
 * Sir Humphry Davy would appear to entertain tin- like view c.f tin- 
 subject; for when speaking of the Batituy Snipe he says: " Their late 
 passage this year (1H28) would seem t.. h.i\e Keen :m indication of a wet 
 Rummer in the north of Kuro|>e ; Imt to form an opinion upon t'aets of this 
 kind requires much knowledge and caution. The [lerfeetioii of the larva- 
 of the Tilmla- on which this Sni]K' feeds, depends upon a nuinlxTof eiivuin- 
 stancea: the t. m|H-iatuie of the last year; the jH-riotl when the eggs were 
 laid : the In-ill of tin- Witter when they were depo-.it, -d. and the ipiantit\ of 
 rain alterwardx" 
 
MIGRATION. 227 
 
 cidse to depart from the Peninsula in the autumn, it is 
 the last to return in the spring ; for in Scania, where 
 these birds first land, they seldom make their appearance 
 before the end of April or beginning of May : and in the 
 far North, for instance, at Bodoe, lat. 68, on the western 
 coast of Norway, not until the end of May ; that is, they 
 revisit Scandinavia a full month later than the Woodcock 
 or the Common and the Jack Snipe. Kjserbolling assigns 
 the end of April as the period of this bird's arrival in 
 Denmark when on the way to its breeding-grounds in the 
 far North, and September as that of its return. 
 
 In closing these few remarks on the migrations of the 
 Solitary Snipe of which we in England are so much in 
 the dark it may be proper to add those of Sir Humphry 
 Davy, who seems to have studied the habits of this bird 
 more than any one with whose works I am acquainted : 
 " In the autumn," he says, " they pass more to the 
 east, both because they are aided by westerly winds, and 
 because the marshes in the East of Europe are wetter 
 at that season ; and in the spring they return, the larger 
 portion through Italy, where they are carried by the 
 Sirocco, which at that time is extremely wet. . . In 
 1827, the Solitary Snipe passed through Italy and Illyria 
 between the 15th of March and the 6th of May. I heard 
 of the first at Ravenna, the 17th of March, and I shot 
 two near Laybach on the 5th of May ; but though I was 
 continually searching for them for a fortnight after, I 
 found no more. This year they returned from the North 
 early, and I saw some in the marshes of Illyria on the 
 19th of August. In 1828 they were later in their vernal 
 passage, and likewise on their return. I found them in 
 Illyria through May, as late as the 17th, on which day 
 I shot three, and they did not reappear till the begin- 
 ning of September. I found one on the 3rd and three 
 on the 4th, and twenty were shot on the 7th." 
 
SHOOTING AT THE PAIRING-GROUND. 
 
 The Solitary Snipe, when fat, is looked on as tin' 
 most delicious of its genus ; and if justice be done to it 
 in the kitchen (as rarely happens in Scandinavia), is in 
 reality what the peasants call " kunga-mat" or a disli for 
 a king ; and being thus valued, is, as a consequence, a 
 good deal sought after. 
 
 Many are shot at the ' Lek-stiille,' of which mention 
 was recently made. "For him who has good eyes and 
 quick hearing," says Dr. Soderberg, "it is only needful 
 to shoulder his fowling-piece, and proceed to the nightly 
 rendezvous of the Solitary Snipe, and there wait in perfect 
 silence for a renewal of the brokcn-off concert, and be in 
 readiness to knock over the first that ascends a tussock ; 
 but from the darkness, and the resemblance the bird bears 
 to withered grass, stumps of trees, &c., it is no easy 
 matter, unless one be very near, to distinguish it. This 
 kind of Jagt," he continues, " succeeds best in the morning 
 at daybreak ; but under any circumstances it is not possible 
 to avoid shooting wide of the mark." The number of 
 Solitary Snipes thus shot is hard to say ; but we read of a 
 ' Lek-stalle ' in the vicinity of the town of Upsala, where 
 some seventy of these birds were killed in 1802. 
 
 But the greater number of these birds that fall to the 
 gun are shot during their autumnal migrations; which is 
 the less surprising, as, from their (light beinir slow and 
 heavy, and always in a straight line, they present the 
 easiest mark imaginable. 
 
 At the season in question, admirable sport in certain 
 localities is obtainable in both Sweden and Norway, as 
 may be gathered from what follows: "At the end of 
 July, when the meado\\s arc mown," says M. Cm-ill, 
 "shooting commences with the pointer, and continues 
 until the end of September. They may also be shot 
 in the spring; but I have remarked that this is injurious 
 to the autumnal Jagt. In the whole round of sportini; 
 
WITH THE POINTEH. 229 
 
 this is the most amusing. They are very easy to shoot, 
 and, where preserved, fifty or sixty, or even more, may 
 be killed in a day." 
 
 " I myself," writes Professor Rasch to me, with 
 reference to Norway, " never killed more than forty-two 
 Solitary Snipes in any one day; and the late Colonel 
 Helgesen shot sixty-one on the same day ; but M. Isaksen 
 is reported to have killed upwards of seventy in the same 
 space of time. These Jagter," the Professor continues, 
 " were formerly conducted on some flat and low islands 
 in the river Glommen, near to where it falls into the lake 
 Oieren, but the peasant proprietors themselves have now 
 learnt to shoot flying, and are well paid for their booty, 
 and no one at the present day is, therefore, allowed to 
 sport thereabouts." 
 
 It is on record, moreover, that in the autumn of 1847, 
 when the Solitary Snipes were unusually numerous, five 
 hundred of these birds were shot in the Rungs-ting, or 
 Royal meadow, near Upsala. 
 
 My own doings with the Solitary Snipe have been very 
 unimportant. Altogether, it is true, I have shot a good 
 many of those birds, but never any considerable number 
 on any one occasion. The best shooting I ever had was 
 one afternoon, near the town of Gothenburg, where on 
 a small extent of marshy land, I bagged ten and a half 
 couple. I then saw only a very few, probably not more 
 than five or six, besides those shot. But, comparatively 
 scarce as they were, yet had the day been before me, and 
 a sufficiency of country, there is no doubt I might readily 
 have doubled or trebled the number stated. 
 
 Many Solitary Snipes are taken in the Stick-Nat, 
 spoken of at page 61 of this volume. " That used for 
 the capture of these birds is," Dr. Soderberg informs us, 
 "from 30 to 40 feet in length, 10 to 12 inches in depth, 
 with meshes about one inch square. Sometimes it is 
 
230 NETS AND SNARES. 
 
 provided with a ' grimmaj or ' walling,' but not always ; 
 for if one keeps a good watch on the net when set, this 
 addition is not needed for so small a bird as the Snipe. 
 Should the net, however, be left unattended the whole 
 night, the ' walling ' is an advantage, as it is then next 
 to impossible for the captive to extricate itself from the 
 meshes. The net should be dyed green. It is placed in 
 a zigzag form amongst the tussocks at the ' Lek-stalle,' 
 and in such wise that if the bird follows the one n<H- 
 strdckning or space between two of the pegs that fasten 
 the net to the ground it becomes entangled in the next, 
 which forms an angle with it. And it has happened to 
 me," the Doctor proceeds, " that when one of the birds 
 has been chasing a rival, both have been made prisoners 
 in the same compartment of the net." 
 
 The Slick-Xiit would seem to be a very destructive 
 engine ; for we read that " no less than sixty Solitary Snipes 
 have been taken in one of them at a pairing-ground in 
 Upland in the course of a single night ; and still," the 
 record goes on to say, " their numbers on the following 
 night seemed not materially diminished." 
 
 Besides the Stick-Nat I am not aware of any device 
 being employed in the Peninsula for the capture of the 
 birds in question ; but in parts of Denmark, Kjaerbolling 
 tells us, a sort of springe, that will hereafter be described, 
 is employed for the purpose. 
 
 The Solitary Snipe, like other birds of chase in 
 Scandinavia, are said to have greatly decreased in number 
 of late years, partly attributed to the diminution of their 
 favourite breeding-grounds, owing to increased cultivation, 
 but principally to the exterminating war made on them 
 during the pairing season by both nets and guns. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 The Common Snipe. Widely dispersed. Accidental Varieties. Resorts. 
 Food. Social Habits. Breeding. It drums. Curious Legend. 
 Migration. The Jack Snipe. Extensively spread. Snipe-shooting. 
 Widtskofle. The Ruff. Its Pugnacity. 
 
 Common Snipe (Enkel Beckasin, or single snipe, 
 Sw. ; Skuddefoll, or horse of the mist, Norw. ; 
 Dolbelt Bekkasin, or double snipe, Danish; Scolopax 
 Oallinago, Linn.) was a summer visitor with us, as also 
 throughout the length and hreadth of Scandinavia, as 
 high up at least as the 70 ; but it is much more plentiful 
 in the midland and southern parts of the Peninsula than 
 in the far North. In Denmark it is also very numerous. 
 The Danish name for this bird is identical, it will be 
 noticed, with that by which the Solitary Snipe is known 
 in Sweden. Naturalists and sportsmen will therefore do 
 well to bear this circumstance in mind, or otherwise great 
 mistakes may be made. 
 
 The Common Snipe is much more generally distri- 
 buted than its congeners the Woodcock and the Solitary 
 
232 ACCIDENTAL VARIETIES. 
 
 Snipe, as it belongs not only to the Faunas of almost 
 all European countries, but to many of Asia and Africa. 
 
 This bird measures from ten to eleven inches in length, 
 and from tip to tip of wing seventeen to nineteen inches ; 
 the bill alone is near three inches long longer, in short, 
 than that of the Solitary Snipe, which bird, as shown, is 
 of considerably greater size. It weighs about four ounces. 
 According to Nilsson, the female in somewhat larger than 
 the male; but Kjaerbolling tells us the reverse; so, as doctors 
 differ, the reader must decide the matter for himself. 
 The flight of this bird is very rapid, usually zigzag, 
 and against the wind. Commonly its katscli ! katsrli .' 
 is heard on its rising from the ground, and generally it 
 flies to a considerable distance before again alighting. 
 
 Accidental varieties of the Common Snipe are occa- 
 sionally met with. We read of individuals wholly white, 
 or white with rusty -red streaks, and of others more or less 
 marked with white. 
 
 The learned in Germany appear to believe in the 
 existence of a second species of the Common Snipe, to 
 which they have given the name of S. Krchtnii. In 
 regard to size and colour, this bird is described as bearing 
 nearly a perfect resemblance to the S. Gv/linayo, the 
 only material difference being, that whereas the Common 
 Snipe has only fourteen tail-feathers, the S'. J}/-efniiii 
 numbers sixteen. Swedish naturalists, however, think it 
 probable that the newly-discovered species is a mere variety 
 of the S. (i<t//h/itffo. 
 
 Wet and marshy grounds are the favourite resorts of 
 the Common Snipe. One oftentimes meets with this 
 bird, it is true, amongst dry heather, or the like, or it may 
 be in stubble fields; but this I take to lie tin- exception 
 and not the rule. 
 
 Its food consists of worms, insects, larv:e, and molluaks. 
 Digested gnu and othi . r< getable matter have occasional!] 
 
BREEDING HABITS. 233 
 
 been found in its stomach ; but these it is thought have 
 accidentally found their way there along with its proper 
 sustenance. 
 
 We in England entertain the notion that the Common 
 Snipe is a social kind of bird, and one that from choice 
 associates with its fellows. Swedish and Danish naturalists 
 tell us, on the contrary, that " though large numbers are 
 not infrequently met with in the same morass, they always 
 lie separate from each other ;" thereby implying, I imagine, 
 that it is the favourable nature of the feeding-ground, 
 and not a feeling of sociability, that causes them thus 
 to consort. This is somewhat incomprehensible to me, 
 because both in the English fens and in Ireland, one 
 very often flushes them from the selfsame spot in flights 
 or wisps. 
 
 Whether the Common Snipe is polygamous or mono- 
 gamous I am not prepared to say. The learned in Scan- 
 dinavia tell us that " during the pairing season they run 
 after each other in nearly the same manner as the Ruff, 
 and one can then readily approach to within gun-shot of 
 them." But of this matter I have neither personal know- 
 ledge, nor has any written description as to the manner 
 in which these birds make love hitherto met my eye. 
 
 During the pairing and breeding season, especially in 
 fine and calm weather, the Common Snipe, as is well 
 known to sportsmen, is often heard to "drum" over 
 one's head. On rising into the air on these occasions, it 
 cries dicka ! dicka ! dicka ! or rather, perhaps, vittja I 
 vittja ! vittja ! and after attaining to a certain height, 
 descends rapidly again to the ground ; in which while its 
 wings quiver, as it were, and one hears a singular neighing 
 kind of noise. This noise, which is common to both sexes, 
 long puzzled the learned ; some imagining it proceeded 
 from the bird's bill, and others from its throat. M. Altum 
 has now, however, satisfactorily proved that it originates 
 
234 DRUMMING. 
 
 from neither the one nor the other, hut is caused hy the 
 air forcing itself, during the bird's rapid descent, through 
 the quill feathers of its outspread tail. 
 
 The neighing kind of noise in question made by the 
 Common Snipe during the breeding season has caused it 
 in Germany to be called the Himmelsgeiss, or heaven's 
 goat ; in Norway, the Skuddefoll, or horse of the mist ; 
 and in parts of Sweden, the Ilorsgok, or horse cuckoo ; 
 and many believe to this day that at one period it was a 
 veritable steed. " Once on a time," so runs the legend, " a 
 peasant had a horse, which for several days together was 
 led by a servant to a distant pasture entirely destitute of 
 water, without the animal having been previously allowed 
 to drink. One fine afternoon both master and man pro- 
 ceeded to the field, which was well fenced, for the purpose 
 of fetching home the horse ; but on arriving there they 
 found, to their great surprise, that he had vanished alto- 
 gether. Whilst pondering on the matter, they, to their 
 still greater wonderment, heard a neighing overhead, and 
 the next instant saw the lost steed quietly drinking from 
 a spring in an adjoining pasture. They hastened to secure 
 the animal; but as soon as he had drunk his fill, and 
 under their very eyes, he was transformed into a Snipe, 
 and forthwith flew up in the air, where lie was after- 
 wards heard neighing as long as daylight lasted." 
 
 The Common Snipe, like the Solitary Snipe, breeds 
 both in the lowlands and in the mountains; at times, 
 indeed, very high up on the fjalls. The female makes a 
 very inartificial nest on marshy ground, on or near to 
 a tussock. Her eggs, usually four in number, greatly 
 resemble, in form and colour, those of the S. major, but 
 are somewhat smaller. " The young Snipe," Sir Humphry 
 Davy tells us, "soon become of an enormous size, bein^ 
 larger before they can fly than their parents. The old 
 birds arc exceedingly attached to their offspring, and if 
 
THE JACK SNIPE. 235 
 
 one approaches the nest, make a loud and ' drumming' 
 noise above the head, as if for the purpose of distracting 
 the attention of the intruder." 
 
 The Common Snipe, according to Nilsson, first appears 
 in Scania from the 15th to 20th March. The earliest 
 comers, still in a state of moult, are males ; the females 
 appearing later. The autumnal migration commences 
 about the middle of September, and by the end of 
 October they have for the most part left the country. 
 Kjterbolling also assigns the middle of March as the time 
 of this bird's arrival in Denmark, and October as that of 
 its departure from thence. 
 
 The Jack Snipe, or Judcock (Half-enkel Beckasin, or 
 half-single snipe ; Rdr-Sncippa, or reed-snipe, Sw. ; Smaa- 
 Bekkasin, or little snipe, Norw. ; Stum Bekkasin, or silent 
 snipe, Danish ; Scolopax Gallinula, Linn.) was very rare 
 in the Ronnum country during the summer ; and the like 
 may be said to be the case at that season in all the more 
 central and southern parts of Scandinavia ; more so, 
 possibly, however, in imagination than in reality, owing 
 to this bird lying so close in the long grass as seldom 
 to take wing unless one almost tramples on it. But 
 in the autumn, during migration, it was numerous with 
 us, and everywhere else in the south of Sweden, and 
 probably of Norway also. In Denmark, spring and fall, 
 it is common, and according to Kjrerbolling, breeds there 
 once in a time. 
 
 It arrives in Scania towards the end of March, either 
 alone or in company with the Common Snipe, and the 
 migration continues until the middle of April. The 
 males are said to arrive first, the females not until eight 
 days afterwards. In the autumn, it is the last of the 
 Scolopax genus to leave the country, many remaining in 
 the more southern parts of Sweden until the end of 
 r or beginning of December ; and if the season 
 
236 GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE. 
 
 prove unusually mild, stragglers occasionally winter 
 there. On the 28th of February, 1858, indeed, I myself 
 shot at a Jack Snipe that rose from a small open rill near 
 the town of Wenersborg. 
 
 In the early part of the autumn this bird was much 
 less plentiful in my neighbourhood than the Common 
 Snipe ; but as the season advanced, and the latter began to 
 leave us, the Jacks became much more numerous ; and 
 even after the Common Snipe had all but disappeared, and 
 the frosty nights had set in, they not unfrequcntly remained 
 on our bogs until quite late in November, when I have 
 shot many of them. 
 
 The geographical range of the Jack Snipe is very 
 considerable, being found in almost all European countries ; 
 as also, according to Pennant, in Siberia. The llussian 
 naturalists met with it in the vicinity of the Caucasus, 
 and Colonel Sykes includes it amongst the birds of the 
 Deccan. Strickland says it is abundant at Smyrna in the 
 winter time. 
 
 The Jack Snipe is by far the smallest of the genus 
 Scolopax, being little more indeed than half the size of the 
 S. Gallinago ; its length is about eight inches, expanse of 
 wings fourteen inches, and weight two ounces. The 
 female, Nilsson tells us, is less than the male. 
 
 The flight of this bird is straightcr and less rapid 
 than that of the Common Snipe, and it seldom flies 
 to a distance of more than a few hundred paces before 
 alighting. It seems to be the general belief that on 
 rising from the ground it utters no cry whatever; and 
 hence its Danish designation of Slum Bekkushi, or the 
 silent snipe. But if I am not greatly mistaken, one 
 does at times hear a slight sound of some kind proceed 
 from the bird. 
 
 The Jack Snipe is quite as unsocial a bird as the 
 A. iiinjui; lieing seldom met with otherwise than singly 
 
NESTING. 237 
 
 or in pairs. Once in a time, it is true, three or four are 
 found nearly together ; but these constitute, I imagine, a 
 family ; or it may be the locality affords more than usual 
 attractions. In other respects its habits would seem 
 greatly to assimilate to those of the Common Snipe. " It 
 feeds," says Sir Humphry Davy, " on smaller insects 
 than the St. Gallinago: small white larvae, such as are 
 found in black bogs, are its favourable food ; but I have 
 generally found seeds in its stomach, once hempseed, and 
 always gravel." 
 
 Some few Jack Snipes nest, as said, in the midland 
 and southern portions of Scandinavia, and a pair or two, 
 there was every reason to suppose, at no very great 
 distance from Ronnum.* But the great breeding-grounds 
 of these birds, so far as Scandinavia is concerned, I believe 
 to be amongst the Norwegian t and Lapland mountains, 
 especially the latter whence, of late years, very many 
 of their eggs have been sent to this country and often 
 at an elevation of several thousand feet above the level 
 of the sea. 
 
 According to Kjoorbolling, the female makes her nest 
 in a marsh, and lays four eggs, which are shorter and 
 
 " When duck-shooting two or three years ago on Kollands-O a large 
 island in the Wenern, thirty to forty miles to the north of Ronnum I was 
 informed by my companion, M. Teuckler, that the Jack Snipe most certainly 
 nests there ; that he has on several occasions shot the young birds when 
 hardly able to fly, and with blood-feathers still in their wings ; and that his 
 dog has caught others. 
 
 t " In Southern Norway," so Professor Rasch writes me, " 1 
 have not found the Jack Snipe breeding; but doubtless such is the case, 
 as I have shot it in Gulbrandsdalen during the first days of August. A few 
 pairs are said to nest on the extensive Fjeldmyr, or alpine morass, between 
 Fogstuen and Jerkin, on the Dovre-fjeld. According to M. Earth, it breeds 
 in the Lofoden islands, and the Reverend M. Sommerfeldt observed it in 
 Hast Finmark in 1857, where it nests in marshy ground, interacted by 
 rivulets, in the willow region." 
 
238 MIGRATION. 
 
 rounder, and less pear-shaped than those of the Dunlin 
 ( Tringa alpina) ; in colour they are grey olive - green, 
 marked with brown spots and blotches, especially at the 
 thicker ends. 
 
 With the breeding habits of the Jack Snipe, however, 
 we (the public at least) are at present but little acquainted. 
 We know not, for instance, if it be polygamous, or if it 
 confines itself to a single partner; or whether the male, 
 like some other birds, deserts the female when she is 
 incubating, and whilst the chicks are young, and yet 
 rejoins his family at an after-period. All that we know 
 with certainty is (and for this I am indebted to Professor 
 Rasch) that during the breeding season it " drums " when 
 in the air, in manner of the Common Snipe, and, according 
 to Mr. Dann, of the Solitary Snipe also. 
 
 Though, doubtless, many Jack Snipes nest in Scandi- 
 navia, yet the principal breeding-grounds of these birds, 
 as also of the Woodcock and the Solitary Snipe, are, I 
 imagine, in countries far to the eastward in Finland, 
 Russia, and Siberia. And I am confirmed in this opinion 
 by a perusal of the accompanying memorandum, kindly 
 furnished me by Mr. Thomas Carew Hunt, our late popular 
 Consul at Stockholm, who previously resided for a long 
 time in Russia : " At Archangel, and all along the shores 
 of the White Sea, the Woodcock, Solitary Snipe, and .hick 
 Snipe, are common birds, differing in no respect from those 
 of England and central Europe. All of them are migratory 
 to Archangel, from the South in spring and the North in 
 autumn, and appear to breed at great distances above 
 Archangel, the latitude of which is Gi 40' N. 
 
 "The first bird met with in autumn is the Solitary 
 Snipe, which is found during the latter part of August 
 in dry pastures near marshes, and disappears with the 
 first hard night-frosts in the latter part of September. 
 The Sabinc Snipe is found with it, but very rarely. 
 
SNIPE-SHOOTING. 239 
 
 " The next visitor is the Woodcock, found, when the 
 Solitary Snipe is disappearing, along the skirts of the forest, 
 near pastures, where the birch, poplar, and mountain ash 
 grow in a thick undergrowth in brushwood. They make 
 but a short stay, if the cold increases rapidly, as it does in 
 some years. 
 
 " A regular succession of night-frosts, that drives away 
 the Woodcock, brings in the Common Snipe, which makes 
 a short stay, and is succeeded by the Jack Snipe. Neither 
 of these birds comes in the same numbers as the Woodcock 
 and Solitary Snipe. The Jack Snipe remains until the 
 first fall of snow. 
 
 " All these birds are found in the latter part of summer 
 in and near the grass-lands west of the Kola Hills, as 
 well as about Kola (lat. 68 N.), in the northern island of 
 Nova Zembla, and along the banks of the river Mesen 
 to the south of it." 
 
 In Scandinavia, as said, some value is placed on the 
 Solitary Snipe, but the Common and the Jack Snipe, 
 from their diminutive size, and from their eatable quali- 
 ties not being duly appreciated, are but little sought 
 after, excepting for the sake of sport. A good many are, 
 however, killed to the pointer, especially in the south of 
 Sweden. 
 
 Speaking generally, the Snipe-shooting in the Penin- 
 sula, owing to the wooded nature of the country, is far 
 from good ; but there are localities where, if a man holds 
 his gun straight, any number of these birds may be shot 
 in a day. Even the bogs near to Ronnum are not to 
 be despised ; and had it been an object with me, I 
 might readily have bagged 300 to 400 couple of Snipe 
 in the course of the season. But it was seldom that I 
 went in pui-suit of those birds, and only once with deadly 
 intent. On that occasion a friend and myself, in the 
 course of a few hoiirs, bagged thirty-four couple of Snipe, 
 
240 
 
 IN SCANIA. 
 
 together with several Ducks, &c. ; and had not missing, 
 instead of hitting, been the order of the day, the number 
 might have been increased by at least one-third. 
 
 Near the town of Gothenburg there are also some 
 good bogs, where I have had fair shooting. One day, 
 and that a rather short one, I bagged, in addition to some 
 Ducks, &c., upwards of thirty couple of the Common and 
 the Solitary Snipe, for I then left the poor little Jack 
 altogether unmolested ; and on other occasions durum 
 the same season my sport was nearly equally good. But 
 this was in the olden time, when Snipes were probably 
 more plentiful than at present. 
 
 In South Wermland I have also met with tolerable 
 Snipe-bogs ; but being then in pursuit of other game, I 
 did not give them a fair trial. 
 
 WIDT8KOPLK. 
 
 In the province of Scania I have likewise seen some 
 c;i]>ital Snipe-bogs. The best, perhaps, arc those near 
 the baronial mansion of Widtskolle, depicted above, where 
 I was hospitably entertained, during the past autumn, 
 by its owner, M. Stjcrnsvfml ; but the Snipes \\ere 
 then for the most part gone, so that T did little execution. 
 
5? 
 
 = 
 
 
IN IRELAND. 241 
 
 Some years ago, however, a party from thence bagged, 
 between breakfast and dinner, fifty-seven couple of the 
 Solitary and Common Snipe ; and in 1850 Lieut. 
 Carl von Qvanten and the Count Alfred Piper so I 
 was told by the latter shot in one day about the like 
 number ; and of these also a considerable portion were 
 Solitary Snipes. 
 
 Good Snipe-grounds in Scandinavia being something 
 like legion, it is impossible for me to enumerate them. 
 By all accounts the best are in the island of Gotland, 
 where birds are very plentiful and the bogs boundless ; 
 but never having been there myself, I can, of course, 
 only speak from hearsay, which is certainly good for 
 very little. 
 
 After all, however, what is the Snipe-shooting in 
 Scandinavia, as compared with that in our own fens, and 
 in Ireland, where, during a portion of the winter 1821-2, 
 I bagged to my own gun, independently of 207 couple 
 of Woodcocks, and some other things, 655 couple of 
 Snipe. With very few exceptions, these were all Common 
 Snipe ; for in those days I rarely shot at Jacks. Had I, as 
 a rule, done so, the number specified above would very 
 probably have been nearly doubled. 
 
 Though the Ruff does not come under the designation 
 of a game bird, yet, as it is not seldom taken by certain 
 Swedish sportsmen for a Snipe, and bagged as such, I 
 venture to give the Ruff a place in this volume, the rather 
 as my friend Mr. Wolf has favoured me with the annexed 
 drawing, which very vividly depicts the peculiar habit of 
 these birds. 
 
 The Ruff (Bntshanc, Sw.; Bruushane, Dan.; Machetes 
 pnyna,?, Linn.) was a summer visitant to the Ronnum 
 country, and a few, it was believed, bred in our marshes. 
 This bird, at that season, is very generally distributed 
 throughout Scandinavia, from Scania to Northern 
 
 R 
 
2t2 THE KTIFF AND ITS HABITS. 
 
 Lapland, where, according to M. Malm, " it is very 
 common on all the swampy fjitll-moors, as high up ;is the 
 fir-trfee grows." It is likewise numerous in the Danish 
 islands. The females, Kj;rrl>olling tells us, " arrive 
 during the latter half of April, but the males not until 
 a fortnight later. They are, however, the first to 
 depart again, leaving early iu August ; but the females 
 and the young remain somewhat longer." 
 
 The Ruff has been famous from time immemorial for 
 its combative propensities, and in Sweden, as elsewhere, 
 these birds have certain arenas where the champions 
 settle their quarrels. " Their actions in fighting are 
 very similar to those of a game-cock : the head is lowered, 
 and the beak held in a horizontal direction ; the ruff, and 
 indeed every feather, more or less distended ; the former 
 sweeping the ground as a shield to defend the more tender 
 parts ; the auricles erected, and the tail partly spread, 
 upon the whole assuming a most ferocious aspect. When 
 either can obtain a fair hold with the bill, a leap succeeds, 
 accompanied by a stroke of the wing, but they rarely 
 injure each other.'' 
 

CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 The Krams-Foglar Their Migratory Habits. The Dona-fangst. The 
 Ring-Dona. The Bast-Dona. The Bygel-Dona. The Hiing-Dona. 
 The Lop-Dona. The Sprintel. The Dona-Gang. Artificial 
 Berries. Great Captures. Shooting Krams-foglar. 
 
 T)ESIDES the birds coming under the denomination of 
 L* game, and others of worth, such as some of the 
 water fowl and waders, there are many smaller birds 
 looked on by many as a delicacy, that collectively go 
 under the name of Krams-foglar. The meaning of this 
 term I could never exactly understand ; but as the word 
 /cram implies a collection, or medley, of all sorts of things 
 so at least it is to be inferred from the huxter, or 
 general dealer, being called a kram-handlare and as the 
 birds in question arc commonly brought to market, 
 without distinction of species, in small knippo); or 
 bunches of half a score or more, it seems to me not 
 improbable that hence has arisen their designation. 
 
 Under the above-named category are included all the 
 Thrushes ; viz., the Song-Thrush, the Missel-Thrush, the 
 Redwing, the Ring-Ouzel, the Blackbird, the Fieldfare, 
 
 u 2 
 
244 TIIE KllAMS-FOGLAR. 
 
 as also the "Wax-wing, the Bullfinch, the Pine-Bullfinch, 
 and in short almost every small bird that is eatahle. Of 
 these, as indeed of all other of the feathered tribe pertain- 
 ing to the Northern Fauna, some account is given in my 
 last work, " Scandinavian Adventures," and a further 
 description of them here is, therefore, needless. 
 
 The " Krams-foglar " sell in the market at a fair price, 
 more especially late in the autumn and in early winter, 
 when game is usually both scarce and dear ; and many 
 people, as a consequence, devote much of their time to 
 obtaining them, which is chiefly effected by means of 
 Donor, or Snares. The l)<ia-fuyxt, as this method 
 of capture is culled, is, in parts of the Peninsula, more 
 particularly in the south, carried on to a considerable 
 extent, and this not only by individuals for a liveli- 
 hood, but " by old sportsmen on their last legs, who 
 pursue it as a pastime." 
 
 All, or nearly so, of the " Krams-foglar," arc birds of 
 passage. Before speaking of the different kinds of traps 
 and snares used for their capture, it may, therefore, be 
 desirable to say a few words regarding their migratory 
 habits, as by these the arrangements of the fowler must 
 necessarily be in degree guided; and I cannot do better, 
 therefore, than quote the words of Ekstrom, who gives us 
 information under this head, that is both curious and 
 highly interesting. 
 
 " All birds that on the approach of winter leave Scan- 
 dinavia for more southern climes," lie says, "*//>/., or 
 migrate, from the north and east to the south and west,* 
 and in preference when the wind is from the west and 
 south-west, seldom or never when it blows from the north 
 and north-cast. The several species of 'Krams-foglar,' 
 
 * This docs not liohl gownl as rcpinl- tln> Sulit.iry Snipe, as will |.i. 
 . .-nul it in iy I. thinr I'inU. 
 
TEE DONA-FANGST. 215 
 
 with perhaps a single exception, always journey during the 
 night-time. Their strdck-tag, or line of flight, lies for the 
 most part over wooded districts. Large open plains, 
 destitute of trees, they always avoid, unless these be so 
 very extensive, that by not following them they would 
 be led too much out of their proper course. The localities 
 where the migratory birds temporarily alight, and remain 
 for a longer or shorter period, cannot with certainty he 
 pointed out. They always stop during the daytime at 
 the spot over which they find themselves when morning 
 dawns. The length of time they remain at each of these 
 their resting-places, depends on the supply of food. If 
 they find but little, they stracka further so soon as 
 night closes in. Should some fine and warm days occur, 
 they stop awhile in the district where they alighted ; but 
 if the night be misty, one may be assured their flight will 
 be renewed at once. Should the afternoon prove rainy, 
 of which their instinct will have forewarned them, it is 
 certain that those which arrived in the morning have 
 flocked, and will remain, because birds never stracka on 
 the approach of wet weather. When it is calm, they 
 are generally stationary, but when a westerly or south- 
 westerly storm arises, one may be sure that stracknitiy 
 is immediately resumed, and that in good earnest. 
 
 "Although these observations respecting the migra- 
 tory flights of birds," Ekstrom goes on to say, "especially 
 such as point out the days on which particular attention 
 ought to be paid to the ' Donor,' may not be without 
 benefit to the fowler, it will be of much greater moment 
 to him to know, and be able to select, the localities where 
 his operations can be carried on to the greatest advantage. 
 Large woods are not adapted to the purpose, because 
 the birds, are there more scattered ; unless, indeed, it 
 happens that the woods are bounded or intersected by some 
 broad sheet of water, stretching east and west ; for when 
 
246 THE DONA-GANG. 
 
 migratory birds, during the night-time, meet with a great 
 lake, and cannot see the opposite shore, they, from heing 
 uncertain if daylight might not overtake them before 
 reaching the land, will not venture to cross the water, 
 but alight at once. 
 
 " The most favourable situations for the ' Donor ' are 
 three in number: 1st. The wooded borders of a large 
 lake, more especially a skogs-uddc, or wooded promontory, 
 of no great width, that stretches out into the water. 2nd. 
 A akogs-backe, or wooded eminence, either in connection 
 with, or at but a short distance from a large wood ; and 
 3rdly A deep and marshy valley, through which Hows a 
 stream or brook, but where, nevertheless, the cover is 
 not too dense. In localities such as described, one com- 
 monly finds the Missel-Thrush in pine-woods ; the 
 Fieldfare amongst underwood, especially juniper; the 
 Song-Thrush and the Blackbird in young wood, consisting 
 either of pine or of deciduous trees, and the lledwing 
 in half-grown woods of the latter." 
 
 The Dona-yang as the pathway by the sides of which 
 the snares are set is called should be situated in marshy 
 ground, intersected by rills and water-courses. It ought 
 to be in order by the month of August ; that is to say, 
 the underwood cleared away, and the lower t \\i-s topped 
 from off the trees to which it is intended to attach the 
 " Donor." The pathway ought to he as serpentine as tin- 
 nature of the ground will admit of, and not too wide; a 
 common forest track, which is frequently selected for the 
 purpose, is sufficiently so. If practicable, three of the 
 trees, but not more, on which it is meant to suspend 
 the snares, should be visible at the same time. 
 
 The "Donor" are of dillerenl kinds, partly with 
 regard to tin- species of bird they are intended to capture, 
 and partly to the locality \\heiv they are placed. They 
 go under the several denominations of lling-Dona, 
 
THE KING-DONA.. 
 
 247 
 
 Bast-Dona, Bygel-Dona, Hiing-Dona, Lop- Dona, and 
 (three kinds of) Sprintel. 
 
 THE H1NG-DONA. 
 
 The letter A represents the stem or branch of the 
 tree to which the " Dona " is affixed ; B, a stick of 
 the thickness of one's finger, and about eight inches in 
 length, inserted horizontally, by means of an auger, in 
 the tree or branch A ; 0, a shoot from B, and standing as 
 near as may be at right angles to it, some six inches long, 
 and notched at the top; D, a line made of bast, one end 
 of which is attached to the shoot C, and the other (the 
 strands separating) is tied in a bow-knot around the tree 
 A; E E arc rings (hence the name of this "Dona") cut 
 from a year old elder-shoot, or other tree containing pith, 
 that traverse on the "bast line" D, and to which the 
 snares P P are secured by small slips of leather passed 
 through their outer ends, and G G bunches of berries, to 
 lure the hird, which are placed either upon, or suspended 
 to, the horizontal stick B. In the latter case, the point 
 of a knife is passed lengthwise through the wood, and the 
 stalks introduced in the opening, which, of course, closes 
 on them when the blade is withdrawn. 
 
243 
 
 THE UAST-DONA. 
 
 The " bast " spoken of, which is largely used in the 
 construction of the " Donor," consists of the inner bark of 
 the Lindentree, prepared in the following manner: In 
 the month of July, when the sap is rising, one takes from 
 the larger branches of this tree, or from the stem of the 
 young tree itself, as long strips of bark as possible. These 
 are placed in stagnant water, where they are allowed to 
 remain for about three weeks, and until such time as the 
 outer bark has separated from the inner, when they arc 
 taken up and dried. " Bast" may also be prepared from 
 the bark of the willow tree ; but with this difference, that, 
 prior to its being placed in the water to rot, the coarser 
 parts of it should be removed with a knife. 
 
 TIIK I! V-T I'..N v. 
 
 This is a simpler contrivance than the " Ring-Dona." 
 Having found on the tree or branch 15, to which it is 
 purposed to allix the device, a shoot A, suitable for < lie 
 purpose, one gradually bends it upwards in the form 
 shown in the dia-ram, where it is secured by the "bast- 
 line" C, which, tVoni the tension, is always kept on the 
 stretch. The Snares D D are fastened to this line 1>\ 
 passing (heir outer and knotted ends through its strands ; 
 
THE BYGEL-DONA. 
 
 249 
 
 and the berries that serve to entice the " Krams-foglar," 
 are placed upon, or appended to A, in the manner shown. 
 
 THE BYGEL-DONA. 
 
 This device is even more simple than the " Bast- 
 Dona," and is in consequence in more general use. It 
 consists of a hazel or other shoot A, free from knots, and 
 about 15 inches in length, the ends of which, after it 
 has been bent in the form shown in the sketch, are 
 inserted, by means of an auger, in the tree or branch B. 
 The Snares C C C are appended to the upper part of the 
 bovy, by passing their knotted ends through incisions 
 made in the wood with a knife, and the berries D D are 
 attached to the lower portion of the bow. 
 
 Another kind of " Bygel-Dona " is called the Los- 
 Sage, or loose bow. This consists of a hazel-shoot fourteen 
 to fifteen inches in length, the ends of which, after it has 
 been bent bow-form, are inserted, at about eight inches 
 apart, in a small block of wood (the cleft half of the 
 branch of a tree), nine to ten inches in length. This 
 device has the advantage over those named, that 
 it may be constructed in all its parts at home, and the 
 necessity of working in the open air, and having one's 
 lingers frozen, is thereby avoided ; as also, that it is 
 
250 
 
 THK HANG-DONA. 
 
 removable at pleasure, and from the auger not being 
 required, the tree in consequence escapes injury. 
 
 THK HAM; r.\ \ 
 
 This consists of a forked branch of birch, or other pliable 
 tree, the prongs of which, after being doubled down, arc 
 interwoven with each other, and, if needs be, further 
 secured by " bast," or the like. The snares and berries 
 are attached to it as seen in the sketch. This device, as 
 its name signifies, is suspended from the branch of a tree 
 or bush, and is said to be the most destructive of all 
 the "Donor," probably from the birds being less afraid 
 of it than of the others. 
 
 Fig. 1. 
 
 I',.-. 9. 
 
 i in i 'or IMIMUI. 
 
 Of these devices, which, as the term de-notes, are set 
 on the -muml, there are I'mir dillcrcnt kinds, and three <>r 
 
THE LOP-DONOR. 251 
 
 them are depicted above, the fourth being of a very similar 
 nature to one of the others. 
 
 1st. (see fig. 1.) A represents a hazel - sapling, 
 which, after being bent across a pathway, is secured to 
 the upright stick B, with "bast" in the manner seen; 
 and C C the snares. 
 
 2nd. (see fig. 2.) A is a hazel or other pliable wand, 
 of the thickness of one's finger, and from sixteen to 
 eighteen inches in length ; the ends of which, after it has 
 been bent in the form shown, are inserted in the ground 
 on each side of a pathway, which it thus spans, so to say. 
 The snares B B are afterwards appended to the bow in 
 the usual way. 
 
 3rd. (see fig. 3.) This consists of two sticks, A A, 
 placed crosswise over a small pathway, or run, of about 
 four inches in breadth, that has been previously prepared 
 for the purpose by means of a little rake. These sticks 
 are then tied together near their tops with "bast" or 
 string, and snares are affixed to the upper part of 
 them in such wise that they hang close together, and at 
 about two inches from the ground. 
 
 The " Lop-Donor " are commonly placed amongst 
 brushwood, frequented by thrushes and other birds 
 that feed much on worms, &c. The small pathways, 
 or runs, mentioned, should be raked every day, and 
 afterwards sparingly strewn with mountain-ash berries, 
 cranberries, and other berries, of which the " Krams- 
 foglar" are fond. 
 
 The sticks forming these devices, it is to be remarked, 
 should be fixed securely in the ground, and the snares 
 used be composed of five to six horse-hairs ; because 
 it not unfrequently happens that Woodcocks, and other 
 large birds, get entangled within them. And if time 
 permits, it is always desirable to erect small His-Hag, 
 or fences of spruce, pine twigs, etc., on both sides of the 
 
252 
 
 THE SPRINTEL. 
 
 pathways in question, the better to lead the birds into 
 the toils. 
 
 T11K Sl'lUXTEU 
 
 This is, perhaps, the best of all the " Donor," but 
 accuracy is requisite in its construction, and care neqdful 
 in its management. A is a piece of wood six to seven 
 inches in length ; but its shape, provided it be not too 
 clumsy, is not of much moment ; C, a coil of wire of no 
 great thickness, the outer end of which inclines upward, 
 and forms the spring D ; B, a deep notch at the upper 
 part of A, in the angle of which is a small aperture 
 made with a red-hot iron for the introduction of the 
 snare F; E, the "Ciller pinne," its innermost end resting 
 on the lower portion of the notch B, in which position it 
 is retained by a double knot tied in the snare F; and G, 
 berries placed immediately beneath the latter, to lure the 
 
OTHER KINDS OF SPRINTEL. 253 
 
 birds to their destruction. This device is attached to an 
 upright stake, or to a bush or tree. But should it be 
 considered preferable, one may insert a piece of wire H 
 in the "sprinte!" itself, thus forming a hook as it were 
 whereby to suspend it. 
 
 SECOND KIND OP BPHINTEL. 
 
 A second kind of " Sprintel" is made out of the 
 forked branch of a juniper bush. The smaller of the 
 prongs forms the spring; but should this not be sufficiently 
 pliable, it must be scraped with a knife, or otherwise the 
 snare, when set at liberty, might cut off the bird's leg. 
 
 A still simpler sort of " Sprintel " consists of a hazel 
 shoot of about two feet in length, which, when " upp- 
 gillrad," or set, forms a complete circle. This device is 
 suspended from the branch of a tree or bush, but 
 sufficiently near to the stem as not to be too much shaken 
 by the wind ; there should always be some twigs in its 
 front to prevent its falling off. 
 
 Although the two last-named "Sprintlar" have the 
 
:.'"> 1 THE VIND-HAR. 
 
 merit of being very simple, easily constructed, and 
 unattended with any kind of expense, they have the 
 disadvantage of not lasting more than a single season, 
 and often not so long. The weather, moreover, has too 
 great an effect on the spring ; for if wet, the latter becomes 
 weak and slow to act, and if cold and dry, brittle and 
 apt to snap asunder. 
 
 The "Donor" ought to be placed to the right and left 
 of the path, at about six feet from the ground, and at a 
 distance of from six to eight feet from each other ; and 
 if possible, matters should be so arranged that when a 
 bird alights at the one " Dona," it should see others both 
 before and behind it. 
 
 The fowler must be particularly careful that the snares 
 hang evenly within the bow of the " Dona," and the one 
 somewhat higher than the other. If they are found to be 
 twisted, as is not unfrequently the case, during storms, or 
 a change in the weather, he, whilst holding UK- knotted 
 end of the snare in the right hand, draws it between the 
 thumb and finger of the left, until it becomes quite 
 straight. The "Ring -Dona" has in this respect an 
 advantage over the others, that to right the snare \\hen 
 out of order it is only requisite to touch the " ring." when 
 it immediately assumes its proper place. 
 
 To guard against the snares twisting, the " Dona," it 
 should be remarked, is not unfrequently provided with ;i 
 so-called riml-lnir, or wind-hair. This consols of one 
 or more horse-hairs which, after being passed hori/on- 
 tally around the bow of the "Dona," are fastened to the 
 tree or bush to whieh the latter is attached ; and when, 
 therefore, the snare is thus placed between the " wind- 
 hairs," it cannot get out of its place. 
 
 For the " Dona - fmgst," the fouler requires a goodly 
 supply of snares. These should be of black horse-hair, 
 taken in preference (as hciiii; touulier) from the tails ol' 
 
ARTIFICIAL BERRIES. 255 
 
 horses rather than mares. To prevent the snares from 
 twisting or " kinking," it is always desirable, prior to 
 spinning the hair, to immerse it in warm water, and, after 
 suspending a weight to the lower end of the hank, to 
 place it on a peg to dry. 
 
 The fowler should also be provided with an ample 
 supply of berries. Those of the mountain-ash (EonnMr, 
 Sw. ; Sorbus aucuparia, Linn.) are the best ; for, to say 
 nothing of birds giving the preference to them, they hang 
 better on the stalk, and keep longer than any others. But, 
 failing these, the hawthorn ; the TJlfbcir, i. e., wolf-berry 
 {Viburnum Opulus, Linn.); the alder buckthorn (Bkam- 
 nus Frangula, Linn.) ; the bird-cherry tree (Hdgg, Sw. ; 
 Primus Padus, Linn.), with others, serve the purpose. 
 
 The mountain-ash berries should be plucked as soon as 
 they are ripe, and have obtained their red colour, which, 
 in Sweden, is usually the beginning of September. If 
 allowed to remain longer on the tree, they drop off, and 
 are useless. The berries should be gathered in dry and 
 fine weather, and one should be careful that the several 
 clusters remain entire, as also to remove all leaves. It is 
 best to hang them up in a loft, or other airy situation, 
 where they may gradually dry. 
 
 During certain years it happens that mountain-ash 
 berries are very scarce ; in Germany, therefore, they have 
 hit upon a method of preparing artificial ones. Any kind 
 of meal is kneaded with water into a hard dough, of which 
 pills, so to say, are formed of the size of the berries in 
 question ; these, after having been perforated with a large 
 needle, are placed in a warm oven to dry. They are then 
 immersed in a strong dye, or varnish, of which cinnabar, 
 grated very fine, forms a component part, and afterwards 
 exposed in the open air and well dried for the second 
 time. Subsequently, they are strung, like so many beads, 
 on short pieces of thread prepared in a peculiar manner, 
 
256 VITTJADE. 
 
 and so hard as to resemble silkworm-gut. Several of 
 these threads are tied together, so as. to form large or 
 small clusters. 
 
 These artificial berries are used in precisely the same 
 way as the natural ones ; their value may not seem 
 commensurate with the trouble of preparing them, but it 
 must be remembered that, once ready, the labour is 
 ended, for, if prepared with care, and yearly dipped in 
 fresh dye, they may be used for several generations. 
 
 But even should the fowler be unprovided with 
 either natural or artificial berries, he is not altogether 
 without resources. On one occasion, when M. Ekstrom 
 was thus situated, he " unravelled," he tells us, "an old 
 red nightcap, and placed the knots formed out of its 
 threads in the ' Donor,' which to a certain extent 
 answered the purpose." 
 
 In the more central parts of Sweden the " Dona-f;ingst " 
 commences in the beginning of September, the time some- 
 what depending on the early or late appearance of the 
 night frosts. In the ben'innini* of the season the "Donor " 
 
 o o o 
 
 should be rl/f/tnle, or examined, twice in the course of 
 the day, but when " striickning" is at its height, at least 
 three times, viz., at ten in the morning, about mid-day, 
 and at four in the afternoon. For the most part v how- 
 ever, twice a day in the fore and afternoon is sufficient. 
 It would never do to allow them to remain unexamined ; 
 for it must be evident to every one that when birds 
 are captured, and are straggling in the snares, they 
 cannot but scare away their comrades. 
 
 Another reason why the man should pay frequent 
 visits to the "Dona- 14 -mig " is that some birds, more 
 especially the Thrushes, are so cunning as never to 
 alight on the "Dona" itself, but, whilst flying past it, 
 pluck the berries from oil' the stalks. AVhen it is observed 
 that these unwelcome visitors are inclined thus to feed 
 
SHOOTING KRAMS-FOGLAR. 257 
 
 for nothing, one must either remove the several clusters 
 of berries to within the how of the " Dona," and place 
 additional snares outside of the latter, or lower the snares 
 so that they hang opposite to the berries. When now the 
 bird in its attempt to seize them flies either beneath or by 
 the side of the " Dona," it is all but certain to be secured 
 in the toils. 
 
 A third motive for the fowler to visit the " Dona- 
 gang " is that, if left long unwatched, Jays and other 
 birds of prey are pretty sure to find their way to the 
 spot, and take the captives from out of the snares. On 
 these occasions, therefore, he should never be without a 
 loaded gun ; neither should he neglect to provide himself 
 with a goodly stock of berries, to replace those that 
 have been consumed by the birds, or that have fallen 
 from off the branches of themselves. 
 
 The "Dona-fangst " succeeds best in September, and 
 the first half of October ; subsequently, the captures dimi- 
 nish in number, and by the middle of November, when 
 the snow falls, the fowler usually takes up his snares, and 
 stows them away until the next season. 
 
 The slaughter thus committed amongst the " Krams- 
 
 O O 
 
 Poglar " is often very great. We read, for instance, that 
 in the autumn of 1852 no less than 1,200 of these birds 
 were taken on a small property, in Scania, of less than 300 
 acres in extent. 
 
 Various contrivances besides the " Donor " are also re- 
 sorted to for the capture of the " Krams-Foglar," such as 
 nets, bird-lime, &c. ; and many, likewise, fall to the gun, 
 especially late in the autumn, and during the winter, 
 when, impelled by hunger, they often collect in large 
 flocks near to the homestead, where are in general to be 
 found several mountain-ash or other trees bearing berries. 
 In parts of the country, indeed, these trees are planted 
 for the purpose of luring the birds in the winter-time. 
 
 s 
 
258 Git EAT EXECUTION. 
 
 If the tree resorted to by the " Krams Foliar " be at 
 a considerable distance from the homestead, the fowler not 
 unfrequently constructs a sort of hut, within gunshot of 
 it, where he patiently awaits their coming, which usually 
 occurs either at daybreak, or in the evening, a little after 
 sunset. He should fire, we are told, when they are just 
 about to alight on the tree, or at the moment of their 
 leaving it ; for when once settled there they soon spread 
 themselves amongst the branches. To guard against this 
 happening, many pluck the berries from all the lower- 
 most boughs, leaving only a certain number near to the 
 crown of the tree. 
 
 Others, again, when all the berries on the tree arc 
 gone, or nearly so, have recourse to the clusters that they 
 have stored away during the autumn; these they tie to 
 a sort of bush, formed of twigs, which, after being attached 
 to a long pole, is hoisted to a little above the tree-top. 
 The " Krams Poglar " on their arrival generally alight on 
 the bush in the first instance ; and as they are commonly 
 closely packed together, great slaughter may then be com- 
 mitted amongst them. It is on record, indeed, that on 
 one occasion as many as fourteen fieldfares, and on 
 another thirty-six wax-wings, were thus killed at a single 
 discharge. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Devices for Capturing Birds of Prey. The Hok-Bur. The Slag-Bur. 
 The Bur med Sliiende Nat-Bagar. The Bur med Drag-Nat The 
 Slag-Nat. The Gyr- Falcon Trap. The Tobbehyttor. Owl versus 
 Hawk. Snares. Self-impalement. The Ryck-Niit. 
 
 TTAVING spoken of- the Game Birds pertaining to 
 Scandinavia, it may be proper to describe the 
 numerous traps and snares by which birds of prey, their 
 mortal enemies, are captured or otherwise destroyed ; of 
 such of the devices rather, as were not mentioned in 
 my last work, "Scandinavian Adventures," wherein an 
 account of many will be found. 
 
 The Northern Eauna certainly contains a most goodly 
 array of predatory birds, as it includes, according to 
 M. Svederus (and later authorities assure us there are 
 still more), no fewer than six species of Eagles, four of 
 Hawks, six of Falcons, one Kite, three of Buzzards, four 
 of Diurnal Owls, four of Nocturnal Owls, and three of 
 Horned Owls. To which may be added, as injurious 
 birds, the Raven-Hooded Crow, and the Magpie. 
 
 s 2 
 
2(50 
 
 THE HoK-BUR. 
 
 To extirpate the birds of prey and four-footed vermin, 
 which swarm everywhere in the Peninsula, would he an 
 impossibility, but materially to diminish their numbers 
 might be feasible enough, were the inhabitants seriously 
 to put their shoulder to the wheel. Instead of so doing, 
 however, they generally look on with the most perfect 
 unconcern, let the destruction of game be ever so great. 
 It is true that within the last few years they have begun 
 to bestir themselves, both as to the preservation of game 
 and the destruction of vermin; and if the new (iume 
 Laws be properly enforced -- for hitherto they have 
 been all but a dead letter a material improvement will, 
 no doubt, take place. 
 
 mi: ll"K iiri:. 
 
 The trap most commonly used for the capture of 
 Uawks, etc., is called the lli.k-l'.nr, tuul to my personal 
 
DESCRIPTION. 261 
 
 knowledge it is very successful. The height of this device, 
 which is represented above as " gillrad," or set, is about 
 four feet ; the diameter of the upper part, from three to 
 four feet, and, of the lower, less than two feet. It is in 
 two compartments, a moveable wire-frame separating 
 them ; the lower one, which is twelve to fifteen inches 
 in height, being intended for the reception of the decoy- 
 bird. The framework of the trap consists of slips of 
 wood which though left open in the diagram for the 
 better understanding of the plan of setting it are covered 
 over either with strong netting or wire-work. The stout 
 post on which the trap stands is about four feet in height. 
 B is the so-called giller-kors, consisting of a treble 
 'cross a sort of "hen-ladder," as we, perhaps, should 
 call it one end of which rests in an aperture in the 
 upi'ight C, whilst the other end, after passing through an 
 oblong hole in the opposite upright D, is supported by 
 M the " giller-pinne," or "trigger;" E the net, that 
 covers, when unfolded, the opening in the trap, which is 
 fastened in the middle and at both ends to the cross piece 
 P. To the front of the net is attached a slight metal rod, 
 and to the sides of the net rings, which, when the trap is 
 sprung, traverse on the metal rods G, G, in the manner 
 of a curtain ; L a stout wire, one end of which is fastened 
 to the " giller-pinne " M, and the other to the metal bar in 
 front of the net ; II H, lines attached to the ends of the 
 same metal rod, which after passing through the small 
 apertures I I, in the front cross-piece, unite in K, a 
 somewhat heavy weight, and A the small door by which 
 the decoy-bird, is introduced into the trap. The colour 
 of this, it should be remarked, is regulated by the locality. 
 If the soil thereabouts be of a light colour, a dark plumaged 
 bird is preferable ; but if the contrary be the case, a white 
 one. A Duck, a Hen, or a Pigeon, will answer the 
 purpose equally well. 
 
202 
 
 THE SLAG- BUR. 
 
 AVhen now the Hawk sees, and makes his swoop on 
 the decoy-bird, he necessarily displaces the " giller-kors," 
 or "hen-ladder" B, on which the \\eight K descends, 
 and in its fall draws the net E over the opening, and 
 escape for the depredator is effectually cut off. 
 
 THE SI..\C!-U1'K. 
 
 A second kind of "J hi \\k-t nip, also represented as 
 "gillrad," or set, is called the Slag-Bur. It is about 
 four feet in height, and the same in diameter. Its con- 
 struction is similar to that of the " Ilok-lUir " just 
 spoken of, except in u- tli:it it is provided with a lid (which 
 the latter is without). As with (lie M llok-Hiir," it stands 
 on a post or rather on four le-rs about four feet hi^li, 
 which is placed in some open and exposed situation, that 
 it may lie M-en from alar. 
 
 The manner of setting the " Slag-Bur " which in 
 principle is very similar to our Common Sparrow-trap. 
 
THE BUR MED SLAENDE NAT-BAGAR. 
 
 excepting that the lid is fully, instead of half, raised is 
 very simple, as seen in the above diagram. When 
 the Hawk, in its endeavour to seize the decoy-bird, 
 disturbs the " giller-kors," or trigger, the lid, acted on 
 by two strong circular springs at the back of the Bur, 
 at once falls, and the interloper is made captive. 
 
 FIG. I. 
 
 THE BUR MED SL\ENDE NAT-BAGAR. 
 
 A third device for the capture of hawks is called the 
 1 JBur med slaende nat-Mgar" or trap with netted bows. 
 The body of this trap, in regard to size and construction, 
 differs but little from the "Slag-Bur" just spoken of; 
 but the way in which it is " gillrad," as seen in fig. 1, 
 is very unlike. A is a heavy weight that, by means of a 
 line and a knot, rests on B, a small angular block of 
 wood. Z, the "giller-kors," the outer end of which, 
 after passing through one of the uprights, supports, by 
 means of the notch, C, the block, B, and D E, the so- 
 called Fdndarmar, implements of iron that act on the 
 
2(5-4 
 
 THE BUR ME1> DRAO-NAT. 
 
 bows, G G, in the manner of shears. When, therefore, 
 the hawk touches the " giller-kors," Z, this immediately 
 falls from off the block, B ; when the weight, K, descends, 
 :ind the netted bows at once overlap the opening of tin- 
 trap, as seen in fig. 2. 
 
 i in nru MKI> DHAC-NAT. 
 
 A fourth kind of hawk-trap is called the Bur med 
 drag-nat. It is somewhat higher and more oblong in 
 form than either of the two last described, but in other 
 respects nearly similarly constructed ; that is to say, it is 
 in t\vo compartments, and the framework is covered over 
 with either coarse netting or wire-work. Instead of a 
 lid or of bows, however, it is provided with a" net 
 traversing on metal rods, of which one is affixed to each 
 side of the trap. It is " gillrad," or set, in somewhat the 
 same manner as the "Hok-Bur" and the "Bur mrd 
 slaende niit-bagar " (see pages 2(50 and 2G3). The lines 
 suspending the \\ei-ht. alter passing through the upper 
 bars of the trap, are fastened to the metal rod attached 
 to the front of the net; and when, therefore, the hawk 
 disturbs the " giller pitme," the net, previously folded, is 
 forthwith drawn over the opening, and the bird is made 
 prisoner. But this trap is not e<|iial to the " Bur mcd 
 n;it-ba'_Mr," owin- to the capacity of its upper 
 
THE SLAG-NAT. 
 
 265 
 
 chamber not being increased, like that device, by the 
 trap being sprung. 
 
 FIO. I. 
 
 FIC.2. 
 
 THE SLAG-NAT. 
 
 Another device for the capture of the Hawk-tribe is 
 called the Slag-Nat, and has these advantages, that it is 
 but little expensive, and requires no other spring-power 
 beyond a hard-twisted rope. It is made of stout twine, and 
 attached to two half-circular hoops connected together by 
 the rope A B, and is fastened crosswise to C, a long and 
 narrow slip of wood. Distended, it measures some ten 
 feet in length, by eight in breadth. 
 
 When the net is " gillrad," the lower bow is thrown 
 back on the upper in the manner shown in fig. 2, in 
 which position both the net^ and the " giller-kors " are 
 retained by the hooked stick G; and to conceal the net 
 from view, moss and grass are afterwards sprinkled over 
 it. Usually the net is fastened to the ground by means 
 of wooden pegs, shown at the head of fig. 1 ; but should 
 it be placed on the bare rock, as is frequently the case, 
 it is hooked on to iron pins (see fig. 3), sunk in the 
 
2(56 THK GYK-FALCON TRAP. 
 
 rock for the purpose. The Hen, or Duck, that serves as 
 lure, being protected from injury by a wire covering, is 
 placed directly under the " giller-kors " D< When now 
 the Hawk sees the decoy-bird,* and attempts to seize 
 it, he necessarily touches the " trigger," on which the 
 imprisoned bow is set at liberty, and tin- net unfolding 
 and over-lapping the marauder, seals his late. 
 
 THK ''i I! KM.i ' N THAI 1 . 
 
 Another invention for capturing the Hawk-tribe, more 
 especially the Gyr-Falconone which, intheohh-n times, 
 
 AnartitU-ial l.ir.1 i- preferable to a living one, ... it i- i..,t thm 
 tu look so constantly after tin- trap. Tl..- skin ..f MMM W* f-l uwwen 
 best, being less aflV,-t,-,l I..N n.in or -lamp : Imt ii sl,,,,,l,l be prmi.le.l will. 
 the bill of a land bir.1, UMMUS,. tl.r pvat.T ].;irt ..f l.inU of |.ivy ]..,(',., tli.- 
 lutU-r. Bt-'forr the skin i- -tull'.',!, hmvcv.-r. it >li..ul.n' !! niinii|.iihit.'.l ; 
 Hnd if, in additi...., :i M.mll spiral .-pa.,.- ! pl.i.-.-d in it- neck, and often 
 
 mi.l.-r it- in-s, it ill 1, ..... .. 10 llrxiH.' tl.Mt thr lew! I'tviith of Mir will 
 
 -,-t it in ii.iiti.m. iin'l i.ir-1- "I' |.iw r:inn.>t i.ut npptweiito bcfiving, 
 
 ,..,!,,,. ,,f tl,.- .l,-,,y l.ml, it i- to ! n.-ti,-..,l. >ho,,l,l form a nuirk.-.! 
 contra-t to tl,.- ground, us in that ra-r it will ofi.-n l.nv a hawk, s,,arin- in 
 
 il,r air, from an hujredible ili-'ai 
 
THE TOBBEHYTTOR. 267 
 
 was much practised both in Norway and Iceland, when 
 falconry was the fashion is represented ahove when 
 " gillrad," or set. 
 
 In the foreground of the sketch is shown a short 
 wooden peg, to which a live Pigeon is tethered by a piece 
 of string three feet in length, the bird being so far allowed 
 its liberty that, by its flutterings, the attention of the 
 Quarry may be the more readily attracted. About six 
 feet behind the peg in question, is a stout post five 
 feet high ; against the base of it rests a circular net 
 six feet in diameter, the top of which, to facilitate its 
 fall, is loaded with stones. The upper line, or that 
 supporting the net until the moment of capture, as also 
 the lower line, the outer end of which is attached to the 
 leg of the decoy-bird, are held by the fowler, who lies 
 concealed in a so-called Tobbchytte,* a half underground 
 hut constructed of loose stones, etc., at a distance of from 
 one hundred to two hundred paces. 
 
 When the Gyr-Falcon espies the tethered Pigeon, 
 he makes several gyrations in the air, to see that all is 
 safe, and then swoops down upon it, and often with such 
 force as to sever the head from the body. Afterwards, he 
 usually leaves the bird for a while, and makes renewed 
 gyrations to satisfy himself that no lurking foe is nigh, 
 when he again descends to the earth, and drives his 
 talons deep into its body. On seeing this, the fowler, 
 with the lower line, pulls the dead Pigeon, together with 
 the Palcon, who clings to his victim with death-like 
 tenacity, under the net, and at the same instant lets go 
 the upper line, or that supporting the net, on which the 
 
 * Corruption of the German word Tanlenhiitte, i. e., pigeon-hut, German 
 and Dutch falconers being formerly in the habit of resorting to Scandinavia, 
 particular!/ some parts of Norway, for the purpose of pursuing hawks, 
 falcons, and other predatory birds. 
 
OWL VERSUS HAWK. 
 
 latter at once falls to the ground, enveloping in its 
 folds both the destroyer and the destroyed. 
 
 Hawks are also captured, we are told, by Owls trained 
 to the purpose ; for, owing to the animosity existing 
 between day and night birds of prey, the lla\vk, on 
 descrying the Owl, usually attacks it ; and when the Owl 
 has grappled with the latter, the fowler, who is on tin- 
 watch, covers both with a net prepared for the purpose. 
 
 Hawks, we are further informed, are taken in springes, 
 fastened by means of a slip of leather to a Pigeon, 
 which, after a long string has been tied to its leg, is set 
 at liberty ; for when the Hawk is in the act of pouncing 
 on the bird, it gets its head in one or other of the snares, 
 and presently falls helpless to the ground. 
 
 Hawks are also entrapped in the common flue-net, 
 set in such wise as to form a little quadrangle a few 
 feet in diameter. It is attached to sticks of consider- 
 able height, but with such slight materials as to give way 
 at the merest touch. The decoy-bird is left at large in 
 the little area, where, however, there is a sort of coop, in 
 which it can take refuge on the corning of the enemy. 
 The Hawk, seeing the fowl or duck, as the case may be, 
 swoops down upon it, and experiences no difficulty in enter- 
 ing the little enclosure; but when it attempts returning 
 to the upper air, the confined space prevents the proper use 
 of its long wings, and, as a consequence, it presently 
 comes in contact with the net, in the meshes of which it 
 is presently wrapped up, so to say. 
 
 Another plan of making the Hawk captive one recom- 
 mended by M. Greiff is to suspend a net on four sticks of 
 about four feet in height, thus form ing :i sort of canopy, 
 under which the decoy-bird is placed. ]lut the net, he 
 says, must be sullieiently large so as on all sides to reach 
 to the ground, in order that access to the Hen or Duek can 
 onlv be had from above. The material used for fastening 
 
WORKING THE DEAD HORSE. 269 
 
 the net to the sticks, he further observes, must be very 
 slight, so that on the coming of the Hawk it at once falls 
 to the ground, and he, as a consequence, becomes entangled 
 in its folds. 
 
 Another method of capturing these birds is to place a 
 Duck or Hen in an open coop, and to fasten many long 
 and sharp spikes about the latter ; for in making its swoop, 
 the Hawk is unable to stay its rapid flight, and is there- 
 fore tolerably certain to be impaled on one or other of 
 these murderous weapons. 
 
 Havens, Crows, and Magpies are often taken in snares 
 made of thin brass wire. These are set upon, and around, 
 the carcase of a dead horse, or other animal (or on lumps 
 of its flesh placed near at hand), laid out for the purpose, 
 in some exposed situation ; for whilst the birds are feeding 
 on the meat, some of them are pretty sure to get entangled 
 in one or other of the numerous springes. 
 
 The birds named are also often taken in the so-called 
 Hyck-Ndt, or " Pull-net," which, in form and construc- 
 tion, is similar to the Slag-Nat described a few pages back; 
 but it should be of larger dimensions, because Ravens, 
 Crows, etc., often congregate in numbers about the offal 
 that serves as lure, and it is therefore desirable the whole 
 of them should be covered by it. As the name of this 
 net denotes, there is no " gillring " apparatus, but in 
 lieu thereof, a long string is attached to the peg retaining 
 the upper bow, which the fowler, who lies concealed at a 
 distance, pulls away when he sees meet. 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Wild Fowl. FlilpjKT Shouting. Diurk Shoot in::. II. iiiMi-kitMi' I 
 Submersion. The Punt -Gun. Tin- Skjut-ko. Thr ('i-iiiolim-. 
 Curious Itiise. Reynard's Manceuvre. The SI ..... tin-,' Tul>. The 
 Fogel-Ref. The I-intu l.;iuta. The Wild Goose Snare. Tin- 
 Steel-Trap. 
 
 T 
 
 HE lakes and rivers of Scandinavia swarm with 
 aquatic liirds of one kind or another. .Many dillcrent 
 species bred in the vicinity of llonmmi, more especially 
 in the great lake Wenern, which was close to my residence. 
 Amongst. the rest the Mallard, the Teal, the ("Joldcn Kye, 
 the Widgeon, the Goosander, the .Merganser, the lUack- 
 throated Diver, the Red-throated Diver, the Great lilack- 
 hacked Gull, the Common Gull, the Common Tern, the 
 Black Tern, and the Caspian Tern. 
 
 The Waders that nested \\ith us were also numerous; 
 amongst which may he named the Golden Plover, the 
 Lapwing, the Common Snipe, and, as it was believed, the 
 Solitary and the Jack Snipe; also the Hull', the Oyster- 
 catcher, the Crane, the Water- Kail, the Spotted Crake, 
 the Coot, the Dusky Sandpiper (rarely), the Green Sand- 
 
MIGRATORY BIRDS. 271 
 
 piper,* the Red-Shank, the Wood Sandpiper, the Com r 
 mon Sandpiper, the Einged Dottrel, the Lesser Ringed 
 Dottrel, and prohably many others that have been over- 
 looked. I may here mention as a somewhat singular 
 circumstance that early in June, 1862, I shot a remark- 
 ably fine specimen of the Knot, in full nuptial dress, on 
 a small island in the Wenern. Is it possible that 
 this bird, the breeding habits of which seem entirely 
 unknown to naturalists, had visited our district for the 
 purpose of nesting ? 
 
 Ronnum being situated on the banks of the River 
 Gotha, the sole outlet of the Great Lake Wenern, and 
 only distant, as the crow flies, some twenty miles from 
 the western coast of Sweden, and consequently on the 
 high road, so to say, of the migratory birds ; we were 
 moreover visited, during spring and fall, by almost every 
 species of water-fowl that nests in high northern latitudes. 
 Swans were very numerous, particularly during the 
 autumn, and an odd one occasionally passed the winter 
 in the rapids of the Gotha. Wild geese t were also very 
 common in the fall of the year, especially on some low- 
 lying lands, ten to fifteen miles to the north-east of 
 Wenersborg, where they usually remained for several 
 weeks. No later than last September I myself saw 
 fully two hundred of these birds congregated in a 
 
 : ' The Green Sandpiper, it is now, I believe, pretty generally admitted, 
 I needs at times, at least, in trees and in the old or deserted nests of other 
 birds. I myself can testify to such being the fact, having on one occasion 
 found its eggs, four in number, in an apparently new nest of a Thrush, built 
 in a young spruce pine, at about four feet from the ground. 
 
 ^ A curious notion would seem to exist in parts of Scandinavia, in 
 respect to these birds. " As on the breaking up of the frost in the spring," 
 says Nordholm, when speaking of llVlsingland, " swans and wild geese are 
 always in company, and one much less in size than the other, it is the 
 belief of many people that geese are no oilier than the young of swans." 
 
272 FLAPPER SHOOTING. 
 
 large open field near the road-side, though in a locality, 
 it is true, where they were protected. 
 
 Once in a while we had, besides, strange visitors from 
 the ocean. On two occasions I have myself seen the 
 Cormorant in the Wenern, and once the Razor-Bill. 
 Instances are also on record of the Eider-Duck having 
 been shot either in the Lake itself or in one of its 
 numerous tributaries. 
 
 "When one considers the swarms of ducks and other 
 water-fowl that are bred in the inland waters of Sweden 
 and Norway, the number killed seems comparatively 
 small, which is probably in part owing to decoys being 
 altogether unknown in the Peninsula. Very many, how- 
 ever, do fall to the gun, though most generally in the 
 flapper state, or rather are then caught by the dogs, who, 
 in the early part of the season, are the principal execu- 
 tioners. But the manner in which the flapper-jagt is 
 usually conducted in Scandinavia will be best understood 
 by what follows : 
 
 " Duck-shooting," says Ekstrom, " commences from 
 eight to fourteen days before midsummer in lakes or 
 rivers, the sides of which are fringed with reeds and 
 rushes, and adjoining to which are wet pastures or morasses. 
 If the reeds be thick, xkott-gator, or shooting paths, are, 
 at stated intervals, cut through them, and in each of 
 these, or in natural openings in the reeds, a good ' shot ' 
 is posted prior to the commencement of the hunt. The 
 whole party several individuals usually taking part in tin- 
 amusement then move forward together, tin- land division 
 inarching abreast through the marsh, or meadow, as the 
 case may be, and the other division, embarked in small 
 punts, in a line with them. Should the water be so deep 
 as to prevent the dogs from hunting properly, one end of 
 a long and thin rope, to which bells are often attached, is 
 fastened to the stern of t lie outermost of (lie punt s. \\ hilst 
 
LAUGHABLE INCIDENT. 273 
 
 the other end is held hy the jagare nearest to the strand. 
 As the man and the punt move forward simultaneously, 
 the reeds and grass are thus regularly swept, as it were ; 
 and if there be any skulkers they are sure to be driven 
 forward to the " skott-gator," spoken of, where the gunners 
 are stationed. Should there not be a " sufficient number 
 of sportsmen to guard the several passes, nets, somewhat 
 similar to those described for the capture of the forest 
 birds, are made to supply their places. These, however, 
 must not be set in a straight line, but zig-zag ; and in 
 such manner that one-third of the net stands above the 
 surface of the water. When all matters are properly 
 arranged, the sportsmen on shore, and in the punts, 
 and also those stationed in the several ' skott-gator,' 
 will be quite certain to get shots enough. This kind 
 of jagt, however," Ekstrom adds in conclusion, " sel- 
 dom proves very successful, unless the party be suffi- 
 cientlv numerous." 
 
 w 
 
 Again: "Duck-shooting, with dogs trained for the 
 purpose," says M. Greiff, " commonly begins before the 
 greater part of the young ones are fully feathered. But it 
 is a destructive sport, and of little benefit to the larder. 
 People boast of having shot above a hundred ducks in a 
 day, but they omit to mention that at least two-thirds of 
 the number are not fit for eating." 
 
 Accidents not unfivquently happen at these great 
 flapper-hunts ; and no wonder, when one considers the 
 inexperienced hands in which guns are often placed, and 
 the very careless manner in which, speaking generally, 
 Swedish sportsmen are accustomed to carry them. 
 
 " Several young gentlemen," says Ekstrom, " were one 
 day engaged in. a Duck-hunt, some being in punts and 
 others wading through the marsh. The latter had not 
 proceeded far when the dogs found a brood of flappers 
 that at once took to the water. The vouth next to the 
 
 i 
 
 T 
 
274 Till. DOCTOR IN REQUEST. 
 
 strand immediately levelled Ids piece, and was in the act 
 of discharging it; on observing which, the individual in 
 the nearest punt sang out lustily, with an mmameable 
 expletive: 'Don't you see I'm in the line of tire!' But 
 this warning availed not, for an instant afterwards he 
 received several shots in the face". When, however, he 
 had in degree recovered from the effects of the unwel- 
 come salute, he raised his gun to his cheek, which was 
 streaming with blood, and cried out to the misdocr in a 
 stentorian voice : ' I'll cure thee of shooting at people.' 
 Seeing that the wounded man was in earnest, the unlueky 
 wight who had caused the mischief ran off at his hest 
 pace, hut had only proceeded a short distance when se\ era I 
 leaden pellets were lodged in his heels. The smarting of t In- 
 wound at once 'brought him up,' and caused him forth- 
 with to deposit the most fleshy part of his person in the 
 mud, M!I ere he drew his knees up to his chin, and \\ith 
 both hands seized hold of the soles of his feet. To tin- 
 great amusement of the whole company, there he sat like 
 a huge baboon, mumbling between his teeth that a 
 bastinado was not a fit punishment for a Christian man, 
 and shouting loudly for a doctor, to whom, in fact, lieu as 
 shortly afterwards sent. It was soon ascertained, however, 
 that his boots had suffered more than his legs, and that tin- 
 services of a shoemaker were more iv<[itired than th<e 
 of a follower of Esculapius." 
 
 Though multitudes of ducks, etc., are slaimhteivil whilst 
 in the Mapper stale, yet many others are shot when fully 
 fledged, and in a sportsmanlike way, on their rising from 
 the reed-beds. And admirable duck-shooting, in certain 
 localities at least, is obtainable in almost all parts of 
 both Sweden and Norway; but the best, probably, in 
 Non-land, where, Nordholm tells us, "there is more 
 wild fowl than in the rest of the Peninsula together;" 
 and to jud^e from what I myself saw whilst there, 
 
DTJCK-SHOOTING. 275 
 
 and the reports of others, such would really seem to 
 be the case. 
 
 " All the lakes and rivers near the Gulf of Bothnia," 
 writes the Honourable Richard Hely-Hutchinson to me, 
 " afford most excellent shooting. There you may see duck 
 and mallard, with teal, in swarms. I have no recollection 
 of my best day's sport, but I certainly shot more water- 
 fowl in one season than I ever killed before, or perhaps 
 ever shall again, at least with the small gun." And 
 Mr. Richard Dann, who spent several summers at Qvick- 
 jock, in Lapland, wrote me to the same effect. 
 
 I, for my own part, never had any very extraordinary 
 Duck-shooting in the Peninsula, though quite sufficiently 
 good to satisfy me. When my tent was first pitched 
 at Ronnum, ducks were tolerably abundant, both in the 
 river Gotha, and in the numerous inlets of the Wenern ; 
 but at an after-period, owing to drainage, and the increase 
 of gunners, their numbers fell off greatly ; and duck- 
 shooting being a rather favourite amusement of mine, I 
 not unfrequently devoted a day to the purpose. It was 
 not, however, until towards the end of July, when the 
 young birds were for the greater part fully fledged, that 
 I was accustomed to take the field. On the whole, my 
 sport was very fair, as in the early part of the autumn I 
 commonly bagged in the day from eight to twelve couple, 
 and sometimes more, of mallard alone ; and even when 
 the season has been far advanced, say the middle of 
 October, I have shot as many as seven and a half couple. 
 On one occasion a friend and myself bagged in a single 
 day twenty and a half couple of mallard; and in the 
 four consecutive days that we were together sixty and odd 
 couple, and all, as a rule, strong on the wing. Though I 
 did not give xip very much time to the sport, yet during 
 my first season, at Ronnum I shot to my own gun upwards 
 of one hundred and fifty couple of wild 'fowl, of which fully 
 
 T 2 
 
27G THE DUCK-IT NT. 
 
 two-thirds were mallard, and the rest golden eye, teal, 
 widgeon, &c. 
 
 Elsewhere in Sweden I have also had fair duck-shooting; 
 as, for instance, on Kollands O, a large island in the 
 Wenern, and on the so-called Wermlands N;i>, where I 
 have hagged in a day, in addition to other hirds, as many 
 as thirteen and a half couple of full-grown mallard. 
 
 The best shooting was always obtainable before the 
 reeds and grass were cut, for afterwards the ducks, owing 
 to the want of shelter, resorted, for the greater part, to 
 the open water, and were there difficult to approach. 
 Usually I shot from out of a small English duck-punt, 
 presented to me by the late Sir Francis Sykcs, which my 
 man, with a long pole, propelled in all silence through the 
 reeds and grass bordering the shore of the lake or river ; 
 and was thus often enabled to approach pretty near to the 
 fowl before they became alarmed and took wing. But if, 
 on the contrary, the water was too shallow for our little 
 craft and this was generally the case in the wet and 
 tussocky marshes where the best sport was to be had I 
 was accustomed to beat them on foot, often up to my 
 middle in water, in like manner as one would a covert, 
 and thereby was pretty sure to flush all the ducks that 
 were able to fly. 
 
 On these occasions, I was generally accompanied by a 
 steady pointer; though it is not quite clear to me that a 
 dog, be his breed what it may, is of use in Duck-shooting. 
 It is true he will occasionally pick up a wounded bird 
 that might otherwise escape, or one still unable to il\ ; 
 but then it must be taken into consideration, that from the 
 noise he unavoidably makes in the water, whether in 
 following his master or whilst pursuing maimed 
 Ducks, he not unfrequently flushes others that would 
 probably have lain still until one came within gunshot of 
 them. DOLTS, moreover, that have been much in the 
 
THE DIVING DOG. 277 
 
 water, almost invariably suffer from deafness and rheuma- 
 tism, or it may be from both ailments ; and, as a con- 
 sequence, are worn out before their proper time. 
 
 Besides, if the water be at all deep, not one dog in a 
 thousand, whether pointer or retriever, can properly 
 recover a wounded duck, or capture one that is unhurt. 
 Such, nevertheless, are to be found. Many years ago, when 
 at Haparanda, at the northern extremity of the Gulf of 
 Bothnia, I was informed by the commandant, Captain 
 Bergenstrale, that he then possessed a dog which assisted 
 him to fully the half of his bag ; for when the duck, 
 whether wounded or not, dived to the bottom, he would 
 immediately follow, often remaining under water a con- 
 siderable time, and, on again coming to the surface, 
 generally have the bird in his mouth. He was most 
 successful, the Captain said, when the water was clear 
 and the sun shining bright, being then better able to follow 
 
 O O 7 O 
 
 the movements of the quarry. The dog in question was, I 
 understood, sixteen years old, Avhich rendered his per- 
 formances still more remarkable. 
 
 The number of old Mallard-Drakes shot by me during 
 the autumn was very small ; but this is of easy explana- 
 tion. In the months of July and August, as is well known 
 to sportsmen, these birds are in a state of moult,* and, 
 for the most part, conceal themselves in the thickest 
 rushes, where one may almost trample on them before they 
 can be induced to move. Very frequently several lie 
 near together, not for the sake of companionship, but 
 from the nature of the locality. I was, indeed, assured by 
 
 " It is remarkable what a great change then takes place in the appear- 
 ance of the old Mallard-Drake. His usual brilliant plumage has entirely 
 vanished, and lie lias assumed so nearly the garb of the Duck, that were it 
 not for his superior si/.e, he might readily be mistaken for her. Few people, 
 indeed, are at that time able to distinguish one from the other. 
 
273 MAIMED BIRDS. 
 
 M. Kjiillberg, the proprietor of Storberget, a fine estate on 
 the eastern shores of the Wenern, that on one occasion 
 when his people were cutting a wet meadow near to tin- 
 house, they found in a patch of rough gras^. dotted with 
 bushes left for the purpose, upwards of sixty old Mallard- 
 Drakes that had taken refuge there, and all of which were 
 knocked on the head with sticks. The spoil, M. Kjallbern- 
 said, " filled a large sack." 
 
 Speaking of these birds reminds me of a singular 
 incident that occurred to an acquaintance of mint 1 , .M. 
 Backman, of Traneberg. He had taken in some high 
 grass two young Ducks, one with each hand ; and whilst 
 holding them up before him, preparatory to wringing their 
 necks, an old Mallard-Drake suddenly rushed between 
 his legs, by closing which he secured him also. 
 
 The chief take-off to Duck-shooting is the number of 
 maimed birds that escape. On one occasion, owing to 1 1n- 
 depth of the water and the tussocky nature of the marsh, 
 I lost no less than six couple of Mallard out of twelve and 
 a half couple that fell to the gun. To say nothing of 
 leaving the poor creatures to perish miserably, the annoy- 
 ance of losing prizes so nearly within one's grasp is 
 exceedingly great. As with us in England, the belief is 
 commonly entertained in Scandinavia, that Ducks, when 
 wounded, dive to the bottom and attach themselves, 
 by their bills, to weeds, where they remain until 
 life is extinct. But unfortunately the opportunity 
 was never a Horded me of testing the truth of this 
 singular notion. 
 
 At a later period of the autumn again, numbers of 
 Ducks are shot pa <Ii'<"j, <>r at Ilight-tinie. When the 
 reeds are cut and stacked,* these birds, then strong on the 
 
 III ni;iii\ jKilt.s of the coiiutrN, wlifii- li;i\ 
 
 |.|.,\ , I nil -I I'.. I I I H- r.lttl' illicit IX till' \1 illti'l III '1 1 til- 
 
THE WETTAR. 279 
 
 wing, mostly pass the day in the more open parts of rivers 
 and lakes, where they are very difficult of approach ; and 
 it is not until towards evening that they repair to their 
 feeding-grounds, often at a very considerable distance. 
 Their line of flight is in most instances precisely the 
 same, and this having been ascertained by the fowler, 
 he at dusk, or early morn, as the case may be con- 
 ceals himself in their path, and, as soon as they make 
 their appearance, pours, from his ambush, a deadly 
 volley amongst them. 
 
 When the season is still further advanced, numerous 
 wild fowl especially the Golden Eye, many of which 
 pass the winter in the rapids of the Gotha, and other 
 rivers are lured within gunshot of the fowler by means 
 of lF~ettar, or artificial decoy birds a system of shooting 
 occasionally practised by myself, though from the lack of 
 sufficient patience not always successfully. 
 
 Though possessed of a gunning-punt, I had no punt- 
 gun, or otherwise, it is probable, I might have done con- 
 siderable execution with it ; for during migration, especially 
 in the autumn, we were visited by large flocks of several 
 species of wild fowl ; as also by numbers of both swans 
 and geese. Indeed, with the exception of the late Mr. 
 Richard Danri, whose residence, Tjolholmen, was on the 
 west coast of Sweden, I never heard of any one in Scandi- 
 navia making use of a punt-gun ; and he, owing to the 
 locality not being very favourable for the purpose, was not, 
 I believe, very successful. But that great slaughter might 
 be committed with this deadly weapon in the lakes and 
 rivers of the Peninsula, may be inferred from the perform- 
 ances of Messrs. Hutchinson and Hodges, in the river 
 Elbe, during the winter of 1818, where "in twenty clays' 
 shooting with the punt-gun we bagged between us," 
 as Mr. nutchinson himself wrote me, " 1,175 head of 
 web-footed fowl. The greatest number of birds killed 
 
280 
 
 THE SKJUT-KO. 
 
 at any one shot was fifty-seven, consisting chiefly of Teal 
 and the like." 
 
 THE SKJl'T-KO. 
 
 Late in the autumn, when ducks, for the most part, ;uv 
 exceedingly wild and unapproachable in the usual way. 
 the fowler resorts to various expedients to circumvent 
 them. Sometimes he shelters himself behind a horse 
 trained for the purpose, but at others ensconces himself 
 in a so-called Skjut-Ko, or artificial cow, and in this 
 disguise, as shown in the above sketch by Colonel 
 Fritz von Dardel, he steals upon the birds. 
 
 "The 'Skjut-Ko' I myself made use of, and which 
 answered admirably," says M. von ( in-ill', " consisted of 
 hoops and splints covered with canvas, and afterwards 
 painted brown, so as to resemble a cow. Being hollow, 
 the sportsman crept into it, the ^iin forming one of the 
 
 horns, and bis feet the hind-legs of the animal. lUit as 
 one must OOnit&ntlj u'o in a bent position, the fatiirue is 
 
JOHNNY CRAPAUD IN DISGUISE. 
 
 281 
 
 great, and the device is, besides, difficult to transport 
 when fences or other impediments intervene." 
 
 A simpler contrivance for getting within gun-shot of 
 ducks is by means of a flat canvas screen, shaped and 
 coloured to resemble a horse or a cow, and inside of which 
 is a sufficiently strong wooden frame to retain it on the 
 stretch. To the middle of the figure is attached a stick, 
 which the sportsman affixes in the ground when he is 
 desirous of halting. The screen is borne on the arm by 
 a handle, an opening being left at the shoulder for the 
 barrel of the gun. 
 
 When, however, neither the Stalking-Horse nor 
 " Skjut-Ko " is at hand, the fowler envelops himself with 
 green boughs ; but in this case, we are told, the face must 
 be carefully concealed, because wild animals are especially 
 alarmed at the sight of the human countenance. A loose 
 covering of green or grey canvas, with small openings 
 for the eyes, will answer the purpose. 
 
 THE FllENOH SKJUT-KO. 
 
 Iii France the plan of approaching geese, ducks, and 
 other fowl, would seem to be somewhat similar to those 
 
THK CRINOLINE. 
 
 described; though, to judge by the above illustration, 
 the French "Skjut-Ko " is a somewhat more mana-ealile 
 affair than that spoken of by M. Grciff. 
 
 THK 
 
 In France, again, they have .-mother device for 
 approaching wild fowl, the construction of which would 
 seem to be very simple. The framework,* as seen in the 
 annexed drawing, consists of three or four hoops, connected 
 by lines, and is afterwards interlaced with green boughs. 
 
 This device is nm-t pi-ol.al.ly tin- origin of the lilies' crinoline. I',,.ili 
 were meant to attract in the one east- goose, in the i.tli.-r men. whom 
 it i to be sii|.|. -e.| the l.i.lios imagine to l,e c.pially silly. A ;'-.ieefiil fjirl 
 will alwiivs look well witli or without aiKeiititioiis eontrivam-es Imt if the 
 ilowa-.'er> of a eertaiu a.iri'. aii.1 \ ei L MMI; on eml.oii|>oiiit, who loxr tl,u- to 
 : ,ttir,. (I,. iia.l the -|i^ht.-t i'l.ri of the Imlii Tons a|.l>earanee which 
 
 tln-v tlnis a.-e..ni|.li>h, thex w-..nhl -iirrl\ ,li-..n.l Mirl, a hujily <inU- 
 inciimliranre. 
 
REYNARD'S WILES. 283 
 
 in such manner that the limbs of the gunner are left at 
 full liberty, so that he can move about at pleasure. 
 
 Whether the sportsman adopts a veritable Stalking- 
 Horse, a " Skjut-Ko," or a "Birnam Wood" disguise 
 when endeavouring to steal on wild fowl, he must not, on 
 any account, make directly towards them, but sideways, 
 and as if about to pass them. His pace should be even ; 
 and so long as the eye of the Quarry is upon him, he 
 should never halt except when about to fire. 
 
 But perhaps the most ingenious expedient adopted by 
 the Northern Chasseurs to beguile wild fowl late in 
 the autumn, is that spoken of by M. Bedoire, as practised 
 by the workmen at the Iron Works of Gysinge and 
 Soderfors. " During the autumn," says that gentleman, 
 " ducks collect in large flocks on the neighbouring lakes 
 and rivers, the strands of which are in general flat. The 
 fowler, on observing the birds, walks as near to them as 
 he can with safety, when, falling on his hands and knees, 
 he makes his further approaches slowly and cautiously. 
 In the meanwhile he causes his well-trained dog, who 
 should be of a reddish colour, to gambol before him, which 
 lie effects by every now and then throwing the animal a 
 crumb of bread that it catches in its mouth. The ducks, 
 attracted by the antics of the dog, gradually approach the 
 strand, and thus the man is often enabled to get suffi- 
 ciently near them to fire with effect. 
 
 " According to the accounts of the men in question," 
 M. Bedoire goes on to say, " it was from seeing the way 
 in which the fox at times secures his prey that they were 
 induced to adopt the plan spoken of, for that cunning 
 animal in the autumn resorts to a similar ruse to capture 
 young ducks. He then promenades near to the water's 
 edge, sometimes vaulting high in air, and at others 
 crawling on his belly, his brush in the while trailing along 
 the ground. These manoeuvres of his so excite the curiosity 
 
284 THE SHOOTING-TUB. 
 
 and tickle the fancy of the ducklings, that they gradually 
 swim towards him, occasionally so near.it is said, as actually 
 to seize hold of his tail with their hills ; but they usually 
 pay dear for their temerity, for the wily fellow seizes his 
 opportunity, and pounces on one or other of them. 
 To this device of the fox," M. Bedoire continues, " I 
 myself have been an eye-witness ; and it was only last 
 autumn that my bailiff shot one of these animals in the very 
 act of beguiling young ducks in the manner described." 
 Another plan of circumventing ducks and, late in 
 the autumn, one perhaps not altogether unknown ir 
 England, is thus described by M. Gobel, an ardent 
 sportsman, and a good shot. "In the middle of the 
 lake,* and in a thick cluster of reeds," lie soys, " I 
 sank a capacious tub to within a few inches of t'ue 
 surface of the water, and secured it by stakes. After the 
 tub had been bailed out, I seated myself on a stool at the 
 bottom of it, provided with several guns. My man then 
 rowed to and fro in the lake to disturb the fowl, and the 
 better to effect this object was provided with a pistol which 
 he discharged occasionally. The fowl, having no sus- 
 picion, flew round and about me in every direction, so that 
 it was impossible for me to load quickly enough to give 
 them all a salvo. But although I fired a number of shots 
 during the autumn, my success was not commensurate. 
 This was principally attributable to my view being very 
 greatly obstructed by the reeds, which rose fully two feet 
 above my head, and to the rapid flight of the fowl, so that 
 I seldom obtained other than snap shots, of which it is 
 probable that, on the average, not more than one in five 
 took effect. But during the present season," he goes on 
 
 * J'.n.sji.M, in South NVermlaml, :i <;iv : it resort for \vil.l low), \\li.-i.- I 
 inVM-ll' li:i\e *1iiit on -. -\er;il omrfou, oiiee in o>iii|uiiy with two IViemls, 
 when, in tin- eoin-M- nl' three to four lumrs, we l.ie_'i.'e<l ii|i\\:inls of twenty 
 
 i-nlljilc of Millhinl :i|n|ie. 
 
THE FOGEL-REF. 
 
 285 
 
 to say, " I have adopted a new system of ' jagt ' with the 
 great flocks of ducks. I load guns of large calibre with 
 heavy shot, slugs in short, and row in a boat towards the 
 fowl, and when they take wing, I fire into the thick of 
 them, and for the most part several have fallen." 
 
 7 
 
 TIII-: KOUKL I;I:F. 
 
 Many devices, besides those spoken of in my former 
 works, are had recourse to in Scandinavia for the capture 
 of water fowl. One is called the Fogel-Rcf, and is thus 
 described by Linnaeus, in his "Oliindska Resa,"1741,p.203. 
 " It consists of a very long line, to which are attached 
 wooden pegs, at a distance of about three feet apart, 
 to fasten it to the ground. On both sides of each peg 
 is a black horsehair snare, twenty inches in length, and 
 at its base a piece of a quill, to keep it in its proper 
 position. The 'Fogel-llef is placed along the shore, 
 so that when ducks and other small fowl are making their 
 way from the water to dry land they get entangled in it." 
 
 THE LINTU LAUTA. 
 
 In parts of Lapland the so-called Lintu-Lauta, a 
 Finnish invention I believe, is in common use for the 
 
L'Hi THE LINTU-LAUTA. 
 
 capture of wild ducks and other fowl. It consists of :i 
 raft, so to say, constructed of plank ends, and ;il>out four 
 feet square. B B arc unlnirked sticks, sonic twelve inches 
 in height ; C C a line passed through the upper part of 
 these sticks, thus forming a kind of railing; D D other 
 lines connecting the latter with the raft itself, and hct \\ecn 
 which the snares, composed of horsehair, or other suitable 
 material, are arranged in due order, as seen in the above 
 sketch. The "Lintu-Lauta " is moored in an opening in 
 the ice, at the breaking up of the frost in the spring, and 
 baited with the roots and leaves of aquatic plants. In 
 the attempts made by the hungry fowl to obtain access 
 to these delicacies, very many are captured. 
 
 In Lapland, moreover, at the season in question, wild 
 geese are often taken in snares as shown in the accom- 
 panying illustration. The locality where they arc set, 
 should in preference be a low and sandy InmUmujd, or 
 neck of land, stretching out into a lake, of about li fix- 
 paces in length, by twenty to thirty in breadth. Around 
 the more central parts of this spot the fowler constructs 
 an artificial barrier. This consists of a number of 
 mili<ifkr<l sticks, of about the thickness of one's linger, 
 placed zig-zag, at from ten to twelve feet apart, except- 
 ing at the several angles, however, where the space 
 between them is only about ten inches. These sticks. 
 at some ten to twelve inches from the ground, are linked 
 together by a string, or thin ylixljinl \\irc.* The snares, 
 from twenty to thirty in number, are placed at the angles 
 spoken of, and arc kept in their places by notches cut in 
 the bark of the sticks. Broken straxv. barley, and 
 the like, are strewn both outside and inside of tin- 
 barrier, but the greater portion within it. When the 
 
 U'irr that IIM* ITCH pMMd through tin- I'm-, as \M-1I for the |HII-|M. . .! 
 it, a. "I' ivinln ini: il iiH'i-i- 
 


GEESE HUNTS. 287 
 
 geese, who always in the first instance alight in the 
 water, see the tempting fare before them, they land and 
 make towards it. Presently, however, they are " brought 
 up," as sailors say, by the wire or string, as the case may 
 he ; but instead of endeavouring to pass over or under it, 
 they follow the obstruction to the first opening, where a 
 snare is placed, which generally proves their bane. 
 
 The greatest destruction, however, made amongst wild 
 geese, and other aquatic birds in Lapland, is during the 
 moulting season. This usually begins in the middle of July, 
 and continues for about three weeks ; but its commence- 
 ment and duration much depend on the state of the 
 weather ; for if the summer be cold and rainy, it begins 
 later and lasts longer. Whilst moulting, the geese seldom 
 frequent the great lakes, but resort chiefly to the numerous 
 small tarns studding the face of that desolate country. 
 In the night-time they are much in the water, but during 
 the day generally ashore, and often at a considerable 
 distance from the strand, seeking their food, or reposing 
 amongst the tussocks in the neighbouring morasses. " Dur- 
 
 o o o 
 
 ing the moulting season," so we are told by Lieutenant F. 
 Robson, " the Finnish Ny-Byggare, or squatters, as also 
 the Lapps, get up regular hunts. Provided with several 
 dogs, they proceed to the bogs whore geese are known to 
 resort, and which, although very wet and difficult to traverse, 
 are not impassable. Fire-arms are needless, it being con- 
 sidered superfluous to waste powder and shot when the 
 birds may be otherwise obtained, and the men, therefore, 
 are only provided with stout sticks. When arrived at the 
 scene of action, the dogs are slipped from their couplings, 
 and start the birds, whose only means of escape is by 
 reaching the nearest water. If they succeed in this, they 
 commonly manage to get off ; but should they not be so 
 fortunate, the dogs soon come up with them, and by a bite 
 in the head or neck presently put them out of their 
 
288 WANDERING GEESE. 
 
 misery. In the meanwhile the sportsman, with his stick, 
 kills such as he falls in with. But as on these occasions 
 the birds retreat very quickly, he would have much diffi- 
 culty in overtaking them, if he did not, during the chase, 
 proceed on the principle of never running directly after, 
 but alongside of and past them, and as if not aware 
 of their presence. In this case they, believing them- 
 selves unobserved, squat at once, and hide in the 
 grass, where they remain entirely motionless, so that 
 one may go directly up to the spot, and secure them with 
 the hand. The wild geese often lie so close as to sull'er 
 themselves to be wounded and mangled by the dogs with- 
 out giving the least signs of life ; but swans, and even 
 geese, will nevertheless, at times, place themselves on the 
 defensive, for which reason large dogs are used. As these, 
 however, only kill the birds, and are not taught to retrieve, 
 it may easily happen that the sportsman, after the termina- 
 tion of the hunt, and when collecting the spoil, has great 
 difficulty in finding it in the high and thick grass. The 
 summer of 1827," he goes on to say, "was not a success- 
 ful one; but during the preceding year the inhabitants 
 of Killinge, in the parish of Gellivara, thus captured 
 sixty wild geese, besides other fowl." 
 
 Again : "When you meet with the large geejsc during 
 the moulting season in the small mountain lakes," writes 
 Lrestadius, " and if a boat be not at hand, you may drive 
 them to the shore either by throwing stones, or by swim- 
 ming. In the year 1828, here in Karcsuando upwards 
 of one hundred wild geese were killed by several squatters, 
 in a remote and sequestered tarn." 
 
 The reverend gentleman tells us further, that, " whilst 
 moulting, the geese make long pedestrian excursions from 
 one lake, or tarn, to another ; and that in the autumn of 
 1*21, a Lapp knocked five of these birds on the head at 
 the summit of Hie \\ell known fjiill, Sulitelma.'' 
 
 
THE MALLARD TRAP. 289 
 
 In Lapland, moreover, during the spring of the year, 
 numbers of water fowl of various kinds are taken in the 
 common steel trap. This in form resembles that in use 
 for the capture of the fox, but the jaws are smaller, and 
 the manner of setting it is simpler. Near the mouth of 
 rivulets and other small water-courses, the ice always 
 melts first, and to the .openings thus formed the fowl, 
 which by this time have for the greater part arrived, 
 instinctively resort. In these openings, and where the 
 water is shallow, say fifteen inches in depth, the traps are 
 set. Those intended for the capture of the Mallard, and 
 other fowl that live principally on grasses and aquatic 
 plants, are baited with the finer leaves of the Ranunculus 
 aquatilis ; whilst fowl like the Goosander, the Merganser, 
 the Looms, &c., that subsist chiefly on the finny tribe, 
 are lured by a small fish of the genus Coregonus ; and as 
 the birds last named are always diving in search of food, 
 the temptation is irresistible, and they, in consequence, 
 pay the penalty with their lives. 
 
(' II APT Ell XXI. 
 
 . Elfsborg* Ctuttle. Kiinsu. Winga I'MMI'MII. 1 >aiinc'linliii.- 
 Bohus Castle. Siege of. Skiigge. Bobus Siniill. Devotion. Ku.-i- 
 ili- Guerre. Kon^-lf. Koyal Courti-\. The Itontiiv.- I'ortrnds. 
 The Vikingnr. (in-nt I tattle. Heroic Action. The NVi/anl's I>i-ath. 
 Surrender of tin- l-'i irtreas. Solskott. Slavery.- Mm strand. 
 The Paternosters. TheChurch. Golgotha. Tin- Harliour. * 'arl-ti-n 
 Castle. Skiirgard's Flotta. Tlie Lighthouse. Coin i. i - 
 
 AT an after-period I left the llormum country :md re- 
 moved to Gothenburg, where, or in its innm-dink- 
 vicinity, I resided several years. This town, which, after 
 the Dutch fashion, is everywhere intersected hy canals, 
 is situated on the river Gotlia, at smue twelve to lift ecu 
 miles from the sea. Formerly it was fort i lied and a place 
 of strength, hut at the present day little remains of the 
 defences, except ini; t he hroad and deep moat that surrounds 
 it on the land side. Including the suburbs, it contains 
 from 30,000 to 40,000 inhabitants, and, for its si/e, is 
 perhaps one of the handsomest arid best-built towns in 
 Europe. Of late years it has been greatly improved and 
 beautified ; and a line walk called the .///< ; , a mile or more 
 
GOTHENBURG. 
 
 291 
 
 in length on the outside of the moat, and a Botanical 
 
 O 
 
 Garden have 'been laid out for the recreation of the 
 inhabitants. But its greatest boast is the number and 
 extent of its well-endowed and well-conducted charitable 
 institutions. 
 
 Gothenburg, in a mercantile point of view, is most 
 flourishing ; more so, probably, than any town in the 
 north of Europe. At the present day a fourth of the staple 
 products of Scandinavia iron and wood that are 
 exported to foreign countries, go from thence. Its trade 
 is greatly on the increase, and manufactories of various 
 kinds are rising up on every hand. The vessels belonging 
 to the port are numerous, and many of them are of a 
 superior description. Since the repeal of our navigation 
 laws, I should add, the number of British ships visiting 
 Gothenburg has greatly increased. Ten to twelve years 
 ago they averaged about one hundred, but now two 
 hundred is much nearer the mark. 
 
 u -2 
 
292 ELFSBORGS CASTLE. 
 
 In olden times Gothenburg was a cheap place of 
 residence, house rent being low, and the necessaries, not 
 to say luxuries of life, procurable on very moderate terms ; 
 but owing to the price of everything having of late years 
 doubled or even trebled, the reverse is now the case, and 
 a man wishing to economize will do well to pitch his tent 
 elsewhere. 
 
 There are several objects deserving the traveller's 
 attention in the vicinity of Gothenburg; amongst which 
 may be enumerated Elfsborgs Castle, situated on an islet 
 of the Gotha, at some five or six miles below the town. 
 Formerly it was looked on as a place of strength, but :is 
 it is commanded by the hills on both sides of the river, 
 and as cannon now carry somewhat further than in days 
 of yore, it serves at present, I apprehend, little other 
 purpose than as a receptacle for a number of misdoers 
 who have been condemned to imprisonment for life. The 
 remains of the ancient fortress of Elfsborg, which in years 
 gone by was more than once a bone of contention between 
 the Swedes and Danes, are on the main land and not very 
 far distant from where the modern castle now stands. 
 
 Still farther down the river, and also on a rocky 
 island, is Kanso, the well-known quarantine station for 
 the port of Gothenburg. The La/arelto and adjacent 
 buildings, which are well and substantially constructed, 
 stand at the very edge of the water, and there being in 
 the back-ground a few trees and hushes, a somewhat 
 unusual sight on this iron-bound and dreary-looking coast, 
 the place has quite a snug and pretty appearance;; and 
 supposing the di'ti'nn not to be too strictly confined to t In- 
 house, I can fancy that spending :i few days here would 
 not be attended witli an\ \er\ ^reat discomfort. 
 
 Kear to the outlet of the river (Jot ha, moreover, and 
 likewise on a small rocky islet, stands \ViiiL, p a-l?cacon, the 
 light that has guided many a brave ship into the celebrated 
 
BOHUS CASTLE. 
 
 293 
 
 Winga Sound, where during the great wars of the early 
 part of the present century, our naval and mercantile 
 fleets, numbering together hundreds, or even thousands, 
 have often rode in safety. 
 
 Not far from thence, again, is Danneholm, which 
 anciently formed the line of demarcation between the 
 three northern kingdoms. Here the kings of Norway, 
 Denmark, and Sweden not unfrequently held conference, 
 and feasted together ; and on these occasions, it is said, 
 the table was so arranged that each monarch sat within 
 his own dominions. 
 
 BOHCS CASTLE. 
 
 Bohus Castle, or rather its ruins, kindly sketched for me 
 by Sir Thomas Maryon Wilson which is situated near to 
 the confluence of the Gotha with the Norra Elf, or northern 
 river, and at some ten to twelve miles to the north of 
 Gothenburg is another object of interest. It dates as far 
 back as the year 1310. " A murderer, who had contrived 
 
201 BESIEGED BY THE SWEDES. 
 
 to elude the bangtnan," so runs the legend, " had taken 
 refuge on /'*/// /////A- -Holm, the island whereon the 
 fortress is built, then covered with wood. One fine 
 day a venerable old man appeared to the culprit, and 
 directed him to proceed to ILikan, the then King of 
 Norway, and to exhort his Majesty forthwith to build a 
 fortress on the spot, with the assurance that if he could 
 procure a dog strong enough to bear the corner-stone of 
 the structure it should never be taken by the sword. The 
 outlaw immediately undertook the commission, and lin- 
 king, accepting the proffered terms, erected the strong- 
 hold." Erom its commanding position and massive walls, 
 it was in the olden time considered all but impregnable, 
 and as with the Castle of Elfshorg, is famous in Scandi- 
 navian story for the many bloody conflicts that have taken 
 place amongst the great northern potentates when con- 
 tending for its mastery. But it is said that " though 
 frequently attacked by one or other of them, it has never 
 yet, in accordance with the legend, been captured by 
 actual force." 
 
 Some incidents relating to its several sieges are, 
 perhaps, worth recording, that of 1 .">(!< 5 more especially. 
 Eric XIV., of Sweden, had entrusted the sie-e of this 
 fortress then in possession of the Danes to Nils I We, 
 one of the best and most valiant of his generals. On 
 the night of the 21st of .March batteries \\ere established 
 on the lull Fontin, which is near to it. The hea\\ 
 artillery consisted of (> whole Catowers, 7 half Catower-, 
 and several heavy ('ulverins. On the :!.">rd of March 
 lire was opened with a salvo of '.)() cannon-shot, which 
 had the eli'ect of knocking dov\ n the parapet of the 
 outer wall. It was not, however, until after this salute 
 tint J5o\e summoned the governor the brave Jens 
 Ulfstam to capitulate, \\liich demand liming been 
 negatived, lie kept up a terrible lire against the place. 
 
INCIDENTS OF THE SIEGE. 295 
 
 It was calculated that during the first three days the 
 Swedes sent the besieged 2,820 cannon balls. On the 
 25th of March the continued fire from the batteries 
 had made a breach in Roda-torn, or the red tower, one 
 of the three towers of the fortress ; when eight companies, 
 each consisting of 125 men, landed on the afternoon 
 of that day on Fastnings-IIolm in readiness to storm. 
 At dawn on the following morning (the 26th of March) 
 the batteries on Fontin were already vomiting death and 
 destruction on the dilapidated tower, and soon greatly 
 widened the breach. Sunrise was the signal for the 
 troops to storm. On three several occasions the Swedes 
 threw themselves with desperate fury into the open breach, 
 and were as often driven back by the valiant garrison. 
 After resting a while the trumpets sounded a renewal of 
 the charge. This time, however, the Danes awaited not 
 the coming of the assailants, but retreated from the walls, 
 when the Swedes, rushing frantically forward, took pos- 
 session of the tower. The conquerors, conceiving that 
 Bohus was already won, unfurled their national banner, 
 and Avildly shouted Victory! Victory! But at this 
 moment a mine was sprung by the besieged, when 
 Koda-torn, with 2,200 men, was blown, with a crash like 
 thunder, into the air. The poor fellows, environed in 
 fire and smoke, were carried to so great a height that their 
 blackened bodies looked like so many crows ; and whilst 
 aloft, so runs the story, were heard. to exclaim, in allusion 
 to their late joyful cry, " God be gracious to us we 
 thanked Thee too soon for our triumph." 
 
 The governor of the fortress, as it afterwards appeared, 
 finding that he could no longer withstand the assailants, 
 caused a large quantity of gunpowder to be placed in 
 the vaults beneath' the tower, which was ignited by an 
 heroic man of the garrison, another Decius, who, 
 receiving a promise in the name of the King that his 
 
29(5 ITS RESULT. 
 
 wife and children should be provided for, nobly volun- 
 teered to sacrifice his life for the good of his fatherland. 
 
 For the prosecution of the siege of Bohus, King Eric, 
 we are told, had cast a wonderfully large cannon or 
 mortar, "the mouth of which was so capacious that a 
 cobbler could sit within it and mend shoes." From this 
 extraordinary piece of ordnance, which bore the name of 
 Skagye, great things were expected, as may be inferred 
 from the following distich current at the time : 
 
 " Naar 'Skagge ' komnier til utl y 
 
 Son rioter lxw.de muure oy veyge ; " 
 
 which may be rendered 
 
 When ' Skiigge' begins to neigh, 
 Both walk* and foundations shake." 
 
 Luckily for the Danes, his Swedish Majesty's kind 
 intentions towards them were frustrated ; for, owing to 
 " Skiigge's " great weight, it broke through the ice 
 whilst being conveyed across the river Gotha, and sank 
 to the bottom, where it is believed to be lying at the 
 present day. 
 
 Even after the Bohm-small, as the terrible explosion 
 that had caused such a fearful loss of life is called, other 
 attempts were made, and continued until evening, to 
 storm the castle; but the terror created by the recent 
 catastrophe had so paralyzed every arm, that the Swedes 
 at length retreated from the breach. The siege was, 
 nevertheless, carried on for some time longer, though 
 without vigour, and was finally raised on the 1st of May, 
 K><'>6, after having lasted for 38 days. 
 
 At a subsequent period (1(578) Bohus Castle, then in 
 possession of tin- Swedes, was besieged by the Danes; and 
 
KONGELF. 297 
 
 the latter having succeeded in cutting off all communication 
 between it and the Swedish army lying in the vicinity, the 
 garrison was reduced to great straits for provisions, and 
 the enemy in consequence congratulated themselves on 
 the prospect of hunger soon compelling it to surrender. 
 One fine day, however, it happened that an eagle, whilst 
 flying over the Castle-yard, let fall from its talons a fine 
 salmon that it had just captured in the neighbouring 
 river. This " God-send" the besieged at once hoisted up 
 on the walls of the fortress. They also took the hides of 
 the cattle of various colours slaughtered during the siege, 
 which they placed one after the other on the back of the 
 only cow left them, and led her forth at intervals in sight 
 of the enemy; thus making them believe they had still 
 fish and meat in abundance. The ruse had the desired 
 effect; for the Danes, imagining that the garrison were 
 amply supplied with provisions, raised the siege and 
 retreated. 
 
 The town of Kongelf, situated on the main land, and 
 under the very guns of Bonus Castle, is of even still more 
 ancient origin than the latter, mention being made of it 
 in the " Sagas " of the sixth century. Though at the 
 present day little better than a large village, and only 
 famous for gingerbread said to be the best in the 
 Peninsula, it was in former times a place of great repute, 
 containing from 15,000 to 20,000 inhabitants, and car- 
 rying on a very considerable commerce with different 
 countries. In a political point of view, it was also of 
 importance, there being, according to tradition, a sort 
 of compact between the Kings of Sweden, Norway, and 
 Denmark that they should meet here every third year 
 to settle any dispute that might arise amongst them- 
 selves or their subjects. Hence the town was called 
 Kungaliall, or Kuncjasal, signifying a dwelling, or Hall 
 of Kings. 
 
298 KOYAL WOOINGS. 
 
 Affairs matrimonial were also, at times, arranged 
 
 here between the Scandinavian potentates, though not 
 
 always, as it would seem, with such courtesy as is 
 
 practised at the present day. In the year 997, so we arc 
 
 informed, Olof Tryggweson, the famous king of Norway, 
 
 the same who, some years previously, had by no very 
 
 gentle means introduced Christianity into that country, 
 
 was desirous, for political reasons, to form an alliance with 
 
 Sigrid, commonly called Storr&da, or the arrogant, the 
 
 Dowager Queen of Sweden, then some fifty years of age. 
 
 After sundry negotiations, by deputy, the high contracting 
 
 parties agreed to meet in Kungahall, where for a time 
 
 everything went on prosperously, and the marriage AV:C; 
 
 finally settled But "the course of true love never does 
 
 run smooth," and the truth of the adage was exemplified 
 
 in this instance; for when King Olof solicited his heathen 
 
 bride to be -baptized, the queen flatly refused to fore-o 
 
 the faith of her kindred and country, but told him that 
 
 he himself was fully at liberty to worship whatever God 
 
 he pleased. When this question of faith was raised, Olof 
 
 waxed very wroth, and forgetting all courtly manners 
 
 and what was due to the sex, struck her majesty in 
 
 the face \\ith the glove he held in his hand, exclaiming. 
 
 "Why should I marry thee, tlmu wi/eu-faced heathen 
 
 beauty?" "That blow shall one day cause thy death," 
 
 replied the deeply insulted woman, and the threat \\as 
 
 soon accomplished; for in the hopes of finding an oppor- 
 
 tunity to revenue herself. 1 he despised Sigrid irave her hand 
 
 shortly afterwards to the Danish kin-, Sven Tweskn . 
 
 or of the two-pointed heard. This monarch, in con- 
 
 junction with her m\n son Olof Skotkonung,* the then 
 
 rei^n'mi,' king of Sweden, and -larl Kric, who, for political 
 
 , :, 1-ill.V ill MTUS, >l..f "- l-'-t.-<l to til.- tlll-nll'-. ;,..,! 
 CMtlc.l Stolen,,,! ,:<!, illl|.lvill.' Ill-' NlM-.-lill^' Kill-. 
 

 KONGELF BEWITCHED. 299 
 
 reasons, had shortly before been expelled from Norway, 
 treacherously, at her instigation, fell upon Olof Tryggwe- 
 son, near to the island of Swoldern, when a murderous 
 tight took place, in which the Norwegian king lost both 
 crown and life. Sigrid was thus amply revenged. The 
 victors divided tlie lands of the conquered between 
 themselves, and the province of Bohus fell to the lot 
 of the king of Sweden. 
 
 Though Queen Sigrid might have had just reason to 
 complain of the brutal conduct of Olof Tryggweson, she 
 herself was not immaculate. It is related that when 
 pestered for her hand by a host of Sma-Kungar, or petty 
 kings, she, to get rid of her suitors, invited them to a 
 banquet, and, when they were overcome with wine, caused 
 fire to be set to the palace, where they were all consumed. 
 During the catastrophe she is said to have exclaimed, 
 " Thus Avill I treat all ' Sma-Kungar ' who pi-esume to 
 pay their addresses to me;" and hence her epithet of 
 " Storrada." 
 
 But the glory of Kongelf, like all other sublunary 
 things, was destined to pass away. This was in the year 
 1135, during the reign of King Harald Gillc, said to be 
 of Irish descent. " Extraordinary phenomena," we are 
 informed, " preceded the coming evil. On the night of 
 the first Sunday in Easter the inhabitants were roused 
 out of their sleep by unearthly sounds, by a strange 
 rustling in the air, and by noises resembling the march- 
 ing of an immense host of armed men. Half-naked, as 
 they were, the people rushed into the streets to ascertain 
 what was the matter, but no one could discover the cause 
 of alarm. The clogs howled and went mad, and those 
 bitten by them went mad also. These tokens, which 
 continued until Ascension Day, were believed to forebode 
 some impending calamity; and many, in consequence, 
 sold their property and removed elsewhere. Anders 
 
300 SURPRISED BY THE WENDIANS. 
 
 Brunsson, the parson, used his utmost efforts to allay 
 the panic. On Whitsunday he held a remarkable dis- 
 course to the people, telling them that instead of deserting 
 the place they should take courage, be careful of fire, 
 be constantly on the watch against the assaults of their 
 enemies, and leave the rest to God ; but his good 
 counsels, as well as other warnings they received, were 
 soon forgotten. 
 
 On St. Laurence's Day, however, when the greater 
 portion of the townspeople were in church, hearing a 
 sermon from Anders Brunsson, Einar, a brother of the 
 latter, rushed into the sacred edifice with the astounding 
 intelligence that innumerable vessels were rapidly ap- 
 proaching by both branches of the river, and that a large 
 body of cavalry were crossing Braltas, a hill in the 
 vicinity. Taken so completely by surprise, people knew 
 not what to believe; but many thought it mightbc tin- 
 King of Denmark, from whom no hostile attack was to 
 be apprehended. They, nevertheless, armed themselves 
 in all haste, and rushed down to the bridge, where 
 their worst anticipations were reali/ed ; for Ilettibur, 
 king of the Wendians,* and his lieutenants DunimiN 
 and Unibur, with a fleet of 250 war-galleys, carrying 
 11,000 men and 500 horses, was, in truth, at their 
 very doors. 
 
 There were then lying near to the bridge eleven large 
 ships, called OsterKJof'arorc, or such as traded to the Baltic. 
 These the heathens attacked in the first instance. The 
 townspeople defended themselves manfully, and the com- 
 bat raged fiercely for a long time. Showers of javelins 
 and arrows were poured on the assailants, as well from 
 the beleaguered ships as the bridge it sell', which was lined 
 
 A |M-o|.li- i.f |iir;iti--;il iiMl.it-. >.-ttli-l on tin- solltliiTn OOUtl <( tin- 
 Httltir, nml aft. i wiu.U i-..ii.|inTi-<l l.y tin PiiniHh kin}; 
 
SIEGE OF KONGELF. 301 
 
 with armed men ; and it was not until after a very 
 murderous fight, in which the "Wendiaus lost upwards of 
 1,200 of their number, that they succeeded in getting 
 possession of the vessels, as also of the town itself ; for 
 the inhabitants, finding they were unable to prevent 
 their landing, or to meet them on equal terms on shore, 
 retired with their valuables into the fortress, where 
 Saemund Husfreja and Asmund, his son, commanded, the 
 greater part of the women and children seeking safety 
 in the surrounding country. 
 
 The pirates, after plundering and burning the town, 
 prepared to storm the fortress. Before the attack 
 commenced, however, King llettibur offered the besieged 
 a free departure with their arms and valuables, if they 
 would give up the place ; but the heroic garrison replied 
 with one voice, " they would rather die to the last man 
 than receive favours from the heathen." The proffered 
 terms being thus rejected, the pirates, incited by rage and 
 the hope of booty, rushed like the waves of the sea against 
 the walls of the place ; but despair converted each of the 
 defenders into a bulwark against the destructive torrent. 
 All kinds of weapons then in use, such as the sword, the 
 javelin, the bow, and the battle-axe, were had recourse 
 to to repel the assailants. The slaughter was great, espe- 
 cially on the side of the Wendians, for each Christian 
 man (the townspeople having the advantage of position) 
 sent several of the unbaptized, according to the belief of 
 the times, to the regions below. 
 
 Whilst the combat was raging, two friendly chieftains, 
 Sigurd Gyrdarssou and Sigard, advanced, with 600 men, 
 to the relief of the sorely-pressed fortress. But the 
 former, seeing the number of the pirates, cowardly 
 retreated with his 400 followers, his name execrated by 
 his contemporaries and through all after-ages. Sigard, 
 however, died on the field of honour, and his band of 
 
302 HKKOIC CONDUCT. 
 
 200 fell in compact and beautiful order around the 
 corpse of their much-loved lord. 
 
 Another instance of devotion Avorthy of record also 
 occurred at this time. At the commencement of the 
 fight at Xungahall, the wife of Parson Brunsson, together 
 with other women, fled to the hamlet of Solherg with 
 intelligence of the enemy's landing; and hence the news 
 was soon spread over the surrounding country. When 
 the Ildrbud, or war messenger, reached Skurberg, he 
 found all the people at a Gdslabiid, or banquet. Amongst 
 the guests was a young peasant named Olfwer Stormund. 
 On learning what had happened, lie sprang to his feet ; 
 and seizing his helm, shield, and battle-axe, exclaimed, 
 " Good men and true, let us hasten to the assistance of 
 the townspeople, who are bravely risking their lives for 
 our sakes. It is better to rid our fatherland of the 
 heathen than to sit here getting drunk on ale ! " But all 
 refused, alleging they were sure to be slaughtered, and 
 without their friends being benefited by their death. 
 "Then, as none of you will accompany me," rejoined the 
 heroic jnan, " I will go alone and cut down one or two of 
 the enemy before I am killed myself." With these 
 words he set oil" for the fortress alone, though followed in 
 the distance by several of his friends, who were anxious to 
 see how the adventure would terminate. 
 
 "When the pirates observed ( Hfwer approaching, eight 
 of them rushed forward and attacked him. He, however. 
 s\\ ung his battle-axe around his head with such force and 
 dexterity as at one aiid the same blow, not only to cut 
 the throat of the man behind him, but to " brain " the 
 one in his front. The second time he lifted his formidable 
 weapon two other heathens were also killed ; and after- 
 \\ards he made such good use of it as badly to wound the 
 remaining four, and to cause them to take to flight. 
 Though covered with wounds, he started in pursuit ; and, 
 
THE MAGICIAN. 303 
 
 overtaking two of the men whom he had chased into a 
 marsh, he slew them there. He himself also stuck fast 
 in the mire; but his friends coming to his aid, helped 
 him out and conveyed him home, where, after a time, he 
 recovered from his wounds. 
 
 Whilst these events were passing, the assault of the 
 pirates on the fortress 'was perseveringly continued, 
 though now on less equal terms ; for the regular weapons 
 of the townspeople were all but exhausted, so that they 
 had few others remaining than stones and staves ; and, to 
 enable them to prolong the combat, they were even 
 obliged to split the latter in twain. The courage of 
 the Christians, nevertheless, failed them not; and when 
 the King of the Wendians offered, for the second time, to 
 spare their lives, they replied only by blows. 
 
 Two of the enemy's greatest champions now fell. One 
 was an archer whose shaft never failed ; and no one could 
 harm him, because his person was protected by the 
 bucklers of two of his comrades. Ssemund Husfreja said, 
 therefore, to his son Asrnund, " We will both shoot at one 
 and the same instant; thou shalt aim at the champion, 
 and I at one of the shield-bearers." They did so ; and 
 when the man drew aside his buckler to guard himself, 
 Asmund's arrow found its way between the two shields; 
 and, hitting the champion in the forehead, passed out at 
 his neck, so that he never dre'w his bow again. 
 
 The other champion was without any visible armour, 
 and was bold enough to go up to the very gate of the 
 fortress, where he slew a sentinel on guard; but, in spite 
 of all the arrows directed against him, he escaped unhurt, 
 and was therefore looked on as a Trollkarl, or sorcerer. 
 When the parson, Anders Brunsson, saw this, he took a 
 portion of the sacred fire from the altar; and, after 
 blessing it, placed it within some soft down affixed to an 
 oaken arrow. This he handed to Asmund, who forthwith 
 
304 HIS PEA I II. 
 
 bent his bow and shot at the magician, who at once, and 
 like a dog, fell dead to the ground. At this sight the 
 heathen gnashed their teeth in rage, and howled like so 
 many wolves, for the man was one of their greatest 
 champions. 
 
 The attack now ceased for a time, and the chiefs of 
 the Wendians took counsel together. They were at first 
 undetermined how to act ; and the besieged almost 
 imagined they were about to retreat. One amongst the 
 townspeople, however, who understood their lanmiaye, at 
 length heard the king say : " These people are hard to 
 conquer, and we have already lost so many officers and 
 men, that, even were we to get possession of all they 
 own, it would have been better for us had we never come 
 here. During the early part of the day they dci'ended 
 themselves with speaivs and arrows ; afterwards they 
 assaulted us with stones, and now they beat us like so 
 many dogs with sticks; but from all this I draw the 
 conclusion that their store of weapons bey-ins to fail them; 
 therefore let us with all our force once more renew tin- 
 attack, and see how matters will go." 
 
 A fresh and equally desperate combat as the former 
 then ensued ; but the townspeople for a while remained 
 unconquered. This last attack, however, sealed their 
 fate; for their chief, Su-nmnd HusfVeja, fell covered 
 with wounds, and with him died all their hopes of 
 deliverance. For the third time, and after the bat t It- 
 had lasted the whole of the day, King llettihur 
 promised them, not only their lives if they would sur- 
 render, but permission for every man to take away with 
 him from the fortress as much as he could carry; and, 
 as they had now no other resource, these terms wen- 
 acceded to. But no sooner had the unsuspicious towns- 
 people given themselves up to the enemy, than all the 
 \\oimded and children were mercilessly put to death; 
 
SOLSKOTT. 305 
 
 whilst the remainder of the men, as well as the women, 
 were reserved for servitude. 
 
 The palace was stripped of all its valuables, and the 
 church sacrilegiously despoiled of the Holy Cross, &c. 
 On the Wendian king entering the sacred edifice, it is 
 said that, after looking around him in wonderment far 
 some time, he, in like manner as Titus when in the 
 Temple of Jerusalem, exclaimed, " The raising of this 
 structure evidences much love to the God to whom it is 
 dedicated, but to me it seems He was wroth with those 
 whose duty it was to afford it protection." 
 
 The work of devastation completed, the Vikingar, 
 taking with them the plunder they had amassed, and such 
 of the inhabitants as had been spared, hoisted sail and 
 steered their course homewards. About the time of St. 
 Laurence's Day it is not unusual "to experience what is 
 aclled a Solskott, that is, a sudden and suffocating heat. 
 Such occurred as the pirates were about departing. 
 King Rettibur inquired of Parson Brunsson, who was 
 amongst the prisoners, the cause of the phenomenon. 
 The worthy man, either from design or conviction, 
 replied that " it was a token of wrath on the part 
 of the God of the Christians, because the Holy Cross 
 was in the power of the Unbaptized, and that even 
 worse might happen." On hearing this, the heathens 
 forthwith] put him, together with the Cross, and other of 
 his Trolltyg, or sorcery wares, as they called them, into a 
 boat, which was pushed from vessel to vessel until it 
 reached the shore. 
 
 The other captives were carried to Wendia, and but few 
 of them ever lived to revisit their native country. The 
 greater part ended their days in slavery, and those that 
 were ransomed and returned home resembled men who 
 had risen from their graves. The recollection of the horrid 
 fate to which they had been subjected weighed like a curse 
 
 x 
 
306 MARSTUAND. 
 
 on their minds, so that they were never afterwards them- 
 selves again. 
 
 Thus fell Kungahall, the Jitrrliga, or beautiful, as it 
 was called, to rise no more to its former nourishing con- 
 dition. But the capture of the place cost the victors dear, 
 two-thirds of the heathen, as it is supposed, having fallen 
 in the conflict. The immense assemblage of human bones 
 recently found on the battle-ground, and which it is painful 
 to state were sent to this country to enrich our fields, testify, 
 indeed, to the great slaughter on the occasion. 
 
 MAUSTRAND. 
 
 Marsrand, famous for its fortress, its capacious and 
 excellent harbour, and its fine lighthouse, which is situ- 
 ated at about thirty (English) miles to the north-west of 
 Gothenburg, is also deserving of the traveller's notice. 
 Formerly, the rocky island on which the town is built was 
 called M(i*i'-xlr<nid, or the Sea-gulls' Strand, from the 
 number of those birds frequenting it; but the deriva- 
 tion of its present name is wrapped in mystery ; some 
 saying it comes from 31tn-c, the sea, but others, from 
 the circumstance of a high-horn maiden, \\ho had been 
 wrecked off the coast, ha\inu been drifted to land on the 
 of the ill-fated reneL 
 
 catastrophe is said to have occurred on the 
 
THE PATERNOSTERS. 307 
 
 " Paternosters," a most dangerous reef of rocks, several 
 hundreds in number, lying in the open sea, at less 
 than six (English) miles from Marstrand, which rocks, 
 according to Parson Odman, " are more perilous to sailors 
 than either Scylla or Charybdis:" Before the erection of 
 the present lighthouse, indeed, they were an open grave 
 to mariners navigating this part of the Cattegat, and are 
 supposed to have swallowed up more people than all the 
 rest of the western coast of Sweden. In Catholic times, 
 therefore, no one passed these much-dreaded rocks without 
 saying his paternoster; and hence the name by which 
 they are now designated. 
 
 The town of Marstrand stands near the water's 
 edge, and is of ancient origin, having been built by the 
 famous Norwegian king Hakon Hakouson, in the early 
 part of the 13th century. Formerly it was a place of con- 
 siderable importance, and carried on a large trade, espe- 
 cially in herrings, of which at one period it exported about 
 50,000 lasts, or 600,000 barrels, annually. But its com- 
 merce is now nearly gone, and the inhabitants, reduced to 
 a few hundreds in number, exist chiefly, I believe, oil the 
 money spent by bathers, who during the summer months 
 resort to the place in numbers. 
 
 The church, also supposed to have been built in the 
 13th century, is of the Byzantine order, and was formerly 
 dedicated to the Virgin Mary ; and though sadly van- 
 dalized in modern times, is believed to be one of the best 
 specimens remaining in the province of the architecture 
 of the Middle Ages. Several fine monuments adorn the 
 sacred edifice, and amongst the epitaphs is the following 
 to the memory of the Governor, M. Wolberg von Tungel- 
 felts, who died in 1747 : 
 
 " Den dygtlen fort till aran <>pp, 
 H;ir hvilar nil sin triittu kn>|>]>. 
 
 x 2 
 
308 EPITAPHS. 
 
 Hun godt och omit med <'arl stod nl. 
 Fran Hjelteiis kroning till dess slut, 
 Till Seland och wid Fredrickshall. 
 En trogen man nti silt kail. 
 Ulrica dyr hail tjente sen ; 
 KIIII.I; Frcdrik ock uf trohet ivn. 
 Gaf iirlig tjenst i krig ocli frid 
 I stilla och orolig tid. 
 Sen Gud och Kung han givf hwar sitt, 
 Och hjertans nojd blef werlden qwitfc" 
 
 Which may be thus translated :- 
 
 "That man whom virtue raised to honour, 
 Here rests his wearied limbs. 
 
 In good and bad fortune he stood by King diaries. 
 From tlie hero's coronation to his death, 
 In Zealand and at Fredrickshall. 
 lie ],r..ved himself in his calling a true man, 
 Ulrica dear and King Frederick, 
 lie afterward.- most faithfully served. 
 
 Both in war and jieaee lie honourably |H-rfonuel hi> duty, 
 In quiet and in troublous times. 
 To his God and his King he gave their due, 
 And left the world with heart's content." 
 
 Another epitaph to the memory of Nils Bagge (1708) 
 runs as follows : 
 
 MtUe pereat, in*epultu# jaceat, cow '"'/<' /"/</ Ixtbeut, qua s/>ettl- 
 
 - < 'Invent." 
 
 Which may be rendered : 
 
 M.,v he !,;>)! wretchedly ; may he lie unburiod ; may he have his 
 (.art with .linlas, who \iolale- thi- i;ra\c'.' 
 
 At .M:ir-iraucl. then- is a hospital, though for a rather 
 limited numhrr of p:iti.-nts. I lUlpeot. It is of prolix 
 Ion- stiiinling, mention bi-ing made of it in the publir 
 
PRIESTCRAFT. 309 
 
 records so long ago as the early part of the 17th century. 
 There is also a public school for the education of the 
 poorer classes, but not always in the most flourishing 
 condition, it would seem ; for, as by the returns of 1844 
 the teachers were two and the pupils nine in number, 
 each pedagogue had, therefore, to instruct only four and 
 a half "young ideas how to shoot." He must necessarily 
 have had a somewhat easy time of it ! 
 
 Amongst other lions of the place is St. Eric's Grotto, 
 a cave of 24 feet in breadth and 30 feet in depth, where, 
 when the enemy had possession of the town, several of the 
 inhabitants are said to have taken refuge. And outside 
 of this grotto, again, St. Eric's Kdlla, or spring, which 
 even within the memory of man has been used as an 
 Ojfer-Kalla, or sacrificial well, offerings, in the shape of 
 money, or pieces of metal, such as pins, needles, &c., 
 having been thrown into it. A draught of the water 
 was, moreover, considered a panacea for all kinds of dis- 
 orders; and it was even supposed that to the individual 
 who knew of this well and did not avail himself of its 
 virtues, some misfortune would inevitably happen. So 
 much for priestcraft ! 
 
 Near to the town, the guide also points out to the 
 traveller the Galyberg, or Gallows-hills, where, on the 
 4th June, 1706, a dreadful execution took place. " The 
 sufferer," Parson Odman charitably tells us, " was an ad- 
 vocate from Livonia, named Johan Henrich Schonheit, 
 who as a warning to other ungodly people was justly con- 
 demned to death, for that he, as a blasphemer of God's 
 holy word, had called the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper 
 a priestly lie and invention. When his heretical and 
 sacrilegious writings had been burnt before his face, his 
 right hand was hewn off, and his tongue cut out, and 
 afterwards he was beheaded. His body was burnt, and 
 his hand and tongue were nailed to the post where 
 
310 CARLSTEN CASTLE. 
 
 malefactors are bound whilst undergoing corporeal 
 punishment." 
 
 The harbour formed by the island on which the town 
 stands, and those of Koon and Klofver, which adjoin it. 
 securing it alike from the storms of the North Sea and the 
 attack of enemies, is one of the best and most capacious on 
 the western coast of Sweden. It consists of two parts, the 
 Coapvaerdic hamnen, or that for the reception of merchant 
 ships, which is about 600 feet in length, and between 30 
 and 40 in depth ; and the Orlogtkanuten, or man-of-war har- 
 bour, where the depth of water exceeds iO feet, and the 
 anchorage is infinitely more extended. There are two 
 entrances to the harbour, the northern channel, not ad- 
 mitting, with safety, vessels drawing more than 22 feet 
 water, and the southern, which may be navigated by those 
 of the very largest burthen. 
 
 Marstrand, or more properly Carlsten Castle, which 
 stands on the plateau of the island, and immediately 
 above the town, has, from its solid masonry and tower- 
 ing height, a most imposing appearance. Including the 
 lighthouse at the top, it is 130 feet high, and nearly 300 
 feet above the level of the sea. The covered way leading 
 to it has in places been hewn to the depth of 3."> feet out 
 of the solid rock. Of late years it has been greatly en- 
 larged and strengthened, and can now, it is said, mount 
 400 guns, and contain a garrison of o,000 men. It is well 
 supplied with water, though somewhat brackish, by means 
 of a well sunk within the walls. 
 
 The Swedes are justly proud of this noble fortress, which 
 in tin- event of war may not improbably make a consider- 
 able figure in history. Tin; Reverend M. Ilolmherg, the 
 historian of the province of Bohus, when speaking of it, 
 says: '('arlstm, both from it * commanding position, and 
 the strength and solidity of its defences, may with justice 
 be classed amongst the Mioni;<>t places in Europe; and had 
 
ITS IMPREGNABILITY. 311 
 
 not modern inventions taught us the axiom that no walls 
 are so stable or so lofty that they cannot be beaten down 
 or surmounted, one might with safety call it impregnable. 
 Nevertheless, whatever art and nature united can effect 
 to counteract this fact, has in this instance been done. 
 Regularly to besiege the castle would, in the opinion of 
 experienced military men, be almost impracticable, because 
 westerly storms, coupled with the numerous rocks, 
 sunken and above water, that lie to the southward and 
 westward, would prevent troops from effecting a lodgment 
 on the island ; and to land heavy ordnance there would at 
 all times be an impossibility. But even supposing these 
 objects accomplished, it would be totally impracticable to 
 erect redoubts on sufficiently high ground as to batter the 
 fortress to advantage, or to form defences for the men, 
 owing to the almost total absence of soil on the rock. 
 Were the enemy landed on the island of Koon, however, 
 which is hardly to be imagined, they might certainly fire 
 from thence at Carlsten ; but then the land lies so low, as 
 compared with the fortress, and the distance is so great, 
 that the balls could effect but little against such massive 
 and gigantic walls. But even admitting a breach to have 
 been made, the worst would still remain, viz., to cross the 
 harbour, and storm the commanding heights in the face 
 of the many hundred port-holes vomiting forth death in 
 every direction, and that without the slightest shelter for 
 the assailants. We are here imagining the fortress being 
 left altogether to its own resources. But as must always 
 happen in war time, the assistance of the navy is to be cal- 
 culated on, which would render the attempts of the foe 
 hopeless. All these advantages have gained for Carlsten 
 the appropriate designation of the Gibraltar of Sweden, and 
 are a pledge that the Swedish flag, which from the Bastion- 
 Minerva now proudly caresses the wind with its forked 
 tongue, shall at all times wave over this the strongest of 
 
SK\l!(iAi:l)S-FIX)TTA. 
 
 northern fortresses. To the iron of the enemy," says the 
 valorous parson in conclusion, " Carlsten will never suc- 
 cumb, and we are convinced that the saying as to gold 
 being more perilous to Swedish might than steel, was for 
 the last time exemplified when the three crowns (the 
 arms of Sweden) were sold :it Sweaborg." 
 
 Carlsten Castle was erected chiefly to render the harbour 
 a secure refuge for the Swedish navy in case of war and 
 disaster. At one time it was contemplated, I believe, to 
 remove hither the \/Y//;V/.S'-;//O//", or flotilla of gunboats, 
 pertaining to the western coast, then stationed at ( !ot hen- 
 burg ; and this as well for its greater security, as that in 
 the winter-time it might be enabled, on an emergency, to 
 proceed to sea, which, if lying in the river (Jotha, would 
 be difficult, if not impossible, owing to the great accu- 
 mulation of ice. Objections were, however, made to the 
 change, the most serious being that the ship-worm (Tfi-alu 
 nacalis, Linn.) abounds to a remarkable degree in the 
 Marstrand waters. I myself, indeed, have now in my 
 possession a piece of wood taken from a vessel that had 
 been wrecked there a year or two previously, that is 
 jierl'eetly honeycombed by these destructive creatures. 
 
 On the summit of the Castle, and at a height of about 
 300 fret above the sea-level, stands the celebrated beacon- 
 light so well known to mariners navigating the Cattegat. 
 It was first erected in 1781; and in 1830 was enlarged 
 and converted into a light-house of the first rank. The 
 apparatus is of English manufacture. The 10 parabolic 
 reflectors, 4 of \\hieh are attached to each side of a square 
 frame, are of (silver) plated copper, '1\ inches in diameter, 
 and the number of lamps is the same. It re\ol\es in s 
 minutes, and in that time uives out four brilliant lights. 
 each lasting from -"> '" -"> (l seconds, with equal intervals of 
 darkness between them. Marstrand Light, which in clear 
 \\eather can be seen ;it a very great distance, may be 
 
THE CONVICTS. 313 
 
 readily distinguished from the lentical light on Winga, 
 at the entrance of the Gotha River ; as also from the light 
 on Hfillo some twenty miles north of Marstrand 
 which revolves in 6 minutes ; hut it is sometimes 
 mistaken for the Scaw Light, and is the cause, in con- 
 sequence, of the greater part of the wrecks that take 
 place on the " Paternosters." 
 
 Some two hundred convicts, condemned to imprison- 
 ment for life, either for crimes of a dark dye, or offences 
 often repeated, are confined in this fortress ; and to the 
 casual observer like myself, their fate is anything but an 
 enviable one. " In the year 1814," says M. Holmberg, 
 who gives a very instructive and interesting account of 
 these unhappy men, " their number was 179. The crimes 
 for which they were convicted were as follows : 120 for 
 theft (stold), 8 for sacrilege (kyrkostold), 16 for robbery 
 with violence (ran), 11 for forgery (forfalskninysbrott], 
 1 for piracy (sjorofceri), 3 for arson (mordbrand), 4 for 
 murder (morel), 1 for intent to murder (tilldmnade mord), 
 12 for manslaughter (drup), 1 for child-murder (barna- 
 mord), 1 for insubordination (siibordinations-broii) , and 
 one for violence to the judge whilst in the execution of 
 his office. Eleven of the prisoners were between 21 
 and 25 years of age ; 20 between 26 and 30, 63 between 
 31 and 40, 57 between 41 and 50, 22 between 51 and 55, 
 and 3 between 61 and 70. Of these, 136 had been in 
 Carlsten between 1 and 10 years, 36 between 11 and 20, 
 and 7 had passed from 21 to 30 years of their miserable 
 life in the fortress. 
 
 " The convicts are lodged in seven hvalf, or case- 
 mates, each divided into two compartments. These are 
 insufficiently lighted, ill-ventilated, and damp. This is 
 more particularly the case with the small holes intended 
 for the reception of such of the poor fellows that may 
 happen to be sick. In the daytime they are confined 
 
31 1- THEIR TREATMENT. 
 
 to two separate yards classed according to their behaviour. 
 But so slight a classification has only, to a trilling extent, 
 the good effect intended. The man guilty of theft or 
 insubordination, for example, must of necessity consort 
 with murderers and those who have committed crimes of 
 a much more serious nature than himself. It is clear, 
 therefore, that by such associations their reform is 
 rendered impossible, and the punishments to which they 
 are doomed, instead of making them better men, only 
 tend to their further demoralization. Were a larger space 
 set apart for the prisoners, and if they wore classed 
 according to their several crimes, the education they have 
 received being, at the same time, taken into consideration, 
 it would no doubt tend to their improvement, as also 
 render it easier to maintain the requisite discipline 
 amongst them. 
 
 " Each convict costs the State about annually, for 
 which outlay his labour at the fortifications is an equiva- 
 lent. One hundred and sixteen of them, on the average, 
 are thus employed throughout the year. In the summer, 
 they work twelve hours in the clay, but in the winter only 
 five. Their treatment is as mild as circumstances and 
 regard to their security admit of; that is, unless one 
 adopts the modern notion, which inculcates the propriety 
 of conciliating, or rather making much of rogues and 
 banditti, who, more dangerous and nntameable than \\ild 
 beasts, are always ready without t lie slightest provocation 
 
 as the records of the fortress in too many instances 
 
 show to thrust the murderous steel into, the heart of a 
 fellow-man. The idea so generally entertained as to the 
 severe lot of the prisoners in Carlsten is a bugbear; for 
 they, in reality, enjoy every advantage that individuals 
 in their circumstances can expect or hope for. The work 
 is not more severe than free men of the labouring class 
 \\oiild undertake for common \\a-cs; ard if thcv are sick 
 
DRACONIC LA.WS. 315 
 
 or wounded, the doctor is at their side in an instant. 
 Their food is both wholesome and abundant, and many 
 peasants in the vicinity have not such good provisions. 
 Neither do they want for society, such as it is ; nor is 
 there a dearth of amusement. They even manage to 
 procure newspapers. If they are expert workmen, they 
 can earn a good deal of money, which is deposited for 
 their future use in the keeper's hands. 
 
 " Brandy is, of course, prohibited in the prison ; but 
 through the connivance of certain parties privileged to sell 
 the convicts slops, &c., that pernicious liquor sometimes 
 finds its way amongst them. It is difficult enough to 
 keep them in order if sober, but when drunk, they become 
 quite unmanageable, and know no bounds to their rage 
 and insolence. Unless brought on themselves by their 
 own misconduct, they are not subjected to harsh treat- 
 ment. Should they be guilty of crime, they are punished, 
 it is true, with blows of a stick (prygel}, by imprisonment 
 in a dark cell, or it may be are put in irons ; but only in 
 accordance with the sentence, after full investigation, of 
 the Slotts-Ralt, a court composed of certain function- 
 aries attached to the fortress. Although condemned to 
 imprisonment for life, they have nevertheless good grounds 
 to hope that if they conduct themselves with propriety, 
 they will be pardoned after the lapse of eight to ten 
 years. Their situation, therefore, is by no means so 
 desperate as people generally imagine, especially when 
 one considers that they consist of the very dregs of 
 society. The insalubrity of their prison, and the insuffi- 
 ciency of clothing, is, with the exception of loss of liberty, 
 all they have to complain of. 
 
 " Shut out from the world, the prisoners in this 
 fortress have established a community amongst them- 
 selves a Republic in the strongest sense of the word 
 which they support by the most stringent Draconic laws; 
 
31(5 THE HVALF-STRAFF. 
 
 thus showing that the most lawless people cannot exist 
 without laws of some kind. Each casemate elects a 
 chief, who exercises great authority over his 'comrades. 
 But even he, if deemed culpable, is equally subject to 
 punishment with the rest. Equality is here fully 
 carried out, and democratic institutions in the highest 
 degree flourishing. We would respectfully submit 
 them for the guidance of those who arc desirous of 
 gladdening our native country with a similar state 
 reform. It is not needful to refer to Home, (i recce, 
 Switzerland, or North America, as in the prison cell of 
 Carlsten it is to be found in all its purity. 
 
 "Every offence, especially tale-bearing and theft, com- 
 mitted by a convict against his fellows, is punished with 
 the so-called Jlcalf-straff, or casemate punishment, than 
 which nothing can be conceived more barbarous. It is 
 always inflicted in the dead of the night, and consist s 
 in forcing the head of the culprit between his knees, 
 whereby he assumes the shape of a ball; and when thus 
 bound, and with his head downwards, he^s suspended 
 from a beam over the seat of the cloaca, in which terrible 
 state he is left until the morning. A severe and long- 
 continued cudgelling is generally added to the torture; 
 and if, as occasionally happens, the miserable man dies in 
 consequence, he is simply hung up by the neck in some 
 corner of the prison, when it is given out that he has 
 committed suicide. The convicts themselves have such a 
 horror of the punishment in question as has recently 
 been exemplified that to cause their removal to another 
 prison they have committed crimes, such as wounding 
 their officers with knives, to which the penalty of death 
 is attached. 
 
 " What a picture of the debasement of human nature," 
 sa\> M. llolniberi:, in conclusion, " does a glimpse of the 
 
 prison in question present. Hehohl the wretched being* 
 
REFLECTIONS. 317 
 
 who are confined there with a recollection of a life 
 steeped in crime ; abhorred by every one, and hating 
 every one. Behold the greater part, though at the height 
 of their wretchedness, yet endeavouring by all means in 
 their power to plunge, if it were possible, into a still 
 deeper moral abyss ; and in the dark corners of their 
 dungeons staining themselves with vices at which 
 humanity shudders. For these pitiable objects there has, 
 nevertheless, been a time when evil was not their guiding 
 star ; and when they fell, did they at once fall to the 
 depth of destruction in which they are now involved ? 
 May not bad education, ill-directed pursuits in early life, 
 and the criminal laws which, in reality, counteract the 
 design intended, have been equally the cause of their 
 backslidings as the bias of their own wicked inclinations ? 
 And when once they have entered upon the evil path, 
 what has been done to reform them ? or what is doing at 
 the present moment to save those whom it is still possible 
 to snatch from, destruction ? The reply to these questions 
 cannot, unhappily, be doubtful." 
 
CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 . Classical Uround. The Vikin^iv. - -Their Kxplc.it*. Thf 
 J)yr-hus. Tlie Biuita-sten. The Douum- Kinu'. lliillri>tnin-. 
 Their Antiquity. Historical Documents. The Elf Oi v 
 
 (OIIUS-LAN, the government in which the town of 
 Gothenburg is situated, is perhaps the most classic 
 portion of Scandinavia. Formerly, and prior to its 
 forming an integral part of Sweden, it pertained to 
 Norway or Denmark, and is remarkable in history as 
 having been the scene of manv bloodv battles between 
 
 * 
 
 the monarehs of these several countries, who all in 4urn 
 contended for its sovereignty ; as also for having been the 
 Htamhull,i.e. head-quarters, of the rikht</<tr,m sea-kings, 
 who a thousand or twelve hundred years ago made them- 
 selves so famous by their marauding expeditions. From 
 hence and the adjoining islands, indeed, issued many of 
 those formidable armaments which carried tire and sword 
 to almost every known country in the world. To the 
 antiquary, more especially, this province cannot but he 
 deeply interesting. Ancient feudal castles, the abodes of 
 these; desperadoes, no longer exist, it is true, and even 
 the ruins of the structures, \\hich lie tar bet \\een, are so 
 
DYR-HTJS NEAR WRANGSTAD. 
 
 319 
 
 dilapidated and moss-grown as to be hardly recognizable ; 
 but innumerable memorials of these celebrated men are 
 nevertheless scattered over the face of the country. 
 
 DYR-HUS NEAR WKANUSTAD. 
 
 Amongst the most remarkable of the antiquities are 
 the places of sepulture, or the depositories of the ashes 
 of the illustrious dead, with which, during our little 
 shooting excursions, we very frequently fell in. These 
 go by various names. That depicted above is called 
 a Dyr-hus, though for no other reason, as some will have 
 it, than that at the present day cattle at times seek its 
 shelter. It is situated on an oblong mount, 23 paces 
 in length by 8 in breadth, near to "VVrangstad, in the 
 parish of Bottna. The Tackhall, or roof-stone, which 
 is somewhat uneven and about 10 feet long by 7 broad, 
 rests in the middle on ten other stones, five on each side ; 
 
320 BYR-HUS AT MASSLEBERG. 
 
 thus forming a roundish grotto, the height of \\hieh is 
 5 feet and breadth G feet. The openings between the 
 side stones, which incline towards each other, are care- 
 fully filled up with smaller stones, the smooth edges of 
 which face inwards; thus proving that the leaning posi- 
 tion of the side stones is original, and not caused by 
 the pressure of the surrounding earth. The Tcchliiill, 
 which rests on the highest of the stones, can, by a touch, 
 be set in a rocking motion, which causes a dull and hollow 
 sound in the cavity. 
 
 Another Dyr-hus, not far from Mas>lel)erg, parish of 
 Skee, consists of a covering-stone, some 7 led in length 
 by nearly the same breadth, resting on six upright stones 
 that inwardh have a smooth surface. The apartment 
 thus formed is capacious and nearly circular. The 
 entrance is from the north. Calcined remains of human 
 beings have been found on the floor. 
 
HALLRISTNINGAR. 
 
 321 
 
 Then, again, a so-called Bauta-sten, at times covered 
 with Runic inscriptions commemorative of some ancient 
 hero or battle ; as also a Domure-lliiig, or circle of large 
 stones one of which is depicted in " Scandinavian 
 Adventures," are not of unfrequent occurrence. 
 
 HALLRISTNINGAH. 
 
 In Bohus-Liin, especially in the more northern portions 
 of the province, and near to the coast, one often meets 
 with so-called Ilallristningar, that is, figures cut in the 
 face of hard granite or gneiss rocks, for the most part 
 
 T 
 
322 HALLRISTNINGAH. 
 
 in such as are gradually sloping and which have a smooth 
 surface, owing to the action of the sea in past ages or 
 to the dripping of water. Here are seen men, women, 
 horses, oxen, cows, deer, dogs, birds, trees, serpents, 
 ships either with or without masts and sails, boats, 
 waggons, shields, swords, and other warlike weapons, 
 implements of agriculture, etc. By the grouping together 
 of the several figures attempts have been made to repre- 
 sent various events and occurrences ; such, for instance, 
 as battles by land or sea, journeys, hunts, love all'airs, 
 feasts. Like the " Sagas," however, the " lliillristnin- 
 gar " would not seem to contain a general history, but 
 to be merely a sort of biography of certain families or 
 it may be of individuals. 
 
 The figures in question vary greatly in si/e, many 
 being comparatively diminutive, whilst others, occasionally 
 at least, are of life-size. Some are excavared in the rock 
 to the depth of a couple of inches ; but others, a-ain, so 
 slightly as scarcely to be felt by the linger. To make 
 them clearly out, indeed, it is often necessary not only to 
 wet the stone previously, but to view them in different 
 lights; not a few, owing to the action of the air and 
 water on the rock during so many centuries, are all 
 but obliterated. The figures are not so roughly cut as 
 might be supposed ; some less so than those on the more 
 ancient of the Runic-stones, and in many instances evince 
 the hand of a clever artist, as regards both design and 
 workmanship. Certain of the " llallristningur " show 
 that when, subsequent to their original execution, events 
 worthy of record have occurred, additional groups have 
 been added, and that on such occasions the artist has 
 not unfrcquently gone so carelessly to work in the 
 insertion of the new li-mv- as materially to injure those 
 x iotisly existing. 
 The annexed diagram is copied from a " Hiillristning" 
 
DESCRIPTION. 323 
 
 at Lissleberg, in the parish of Tanum, and is considered 
 one of the most interesting in Bohus-Lan, both in regard 
 to the subject-matter and the execution. " It is cut in 
 the northern face of a rather precipitous rock," says 
 the late M. Holmberg, " but owing to the moss covering 
 it was difficult to decipher. Several of the figures are 
 obliterated, but they do not appear to have been of 
 material consequence. Here are delineated agricultural 
 implements, duels, interesting forms of warlike weapons, 
 as for example, the bow and the battle-axe. But in this, 
 as in other " Hallristningar," it cannot be determined 
 with any degree of certainty whether the several occur- 
 rences stand in connection with each other or refer to 
 different times and places. It seems, therefore, as if one 
 ought to divide the picture into three several groups. 
 
 The upper one represents a hostile descent of the 
 "Vikingar" attacking and killing the inhabitants who 
 are occupied in peaceful pursuits and carrying away their 
 property. One sees here how a bowman shoots a man 
 who guides a plough drawn by two oxen or horses ; as 
 also how horned cattle are driven away to the armed 
 vessels, of which the largest, from its ornamented prow 
 and numerous crew, is evidently a so-called " Drak-skepp" 
 or Dragon-ship. On the back of one of the oxen is further 
 to be noted an unarmed man standing upright, and with 
 only one leg ; probably signifying a prisoner bound hand 
 and foot. The smallest of the animals has on its head a 
 comb-like ornament, the meaning of which it is hard to 
 comprehend. If the wavy line in the midst of the group 
 is symbolical of a serpent, it may imply the secrecy and 
 prudence shown by the Vikingar in the execution of their 
 achievement ; but if the sea be meant, it is to be looked 
 on as the course followed by the hero of the tale. In 
 the left corner is seen a man armed with a sword, who 
 has thrown down his shield, and is di'iving before him 
 
 Y 2 
 
324 THEIR SUBJECT-MATTKH. 
 
 another man smaller in stature, but with larger limbs, \\ li<> 
 defends himself with some cutting weapon. This is pro- 
 bably intended to designate the combat of the Vikingar 
 with such of the inhabitants of the country as v\ere able, 
 on the spur of the moment, to make head against so 
 unexpected an attack. 
 
 " The middle portion of the picture is occupied by 
 sixteen boats formed in line, and, as it would M-CMI, 
 without crews. To the left again, and over a vessel that 
 is manned, is seen a misshapen human figure with a pair 
 of formless hands, like unto wings, probably betokening 
 strength. This, beyond doubt, is a chieftain, who with 
 his few ships vanquished a fleet drawn up in battle-array, 
 consisting of as many vessels as the number of boats 
 without crews. The figure to the right of the last named 
 is evidently an unarmed man in a sitting posture, and 
 possibly a prisoner. 
 
 " The lowermost group is one of the most striking of 
 the ' Hiillristningar.' Jlere, surrounded by ships, are seen 
 four men, armed with axes, in combat with each other. 
 Two of them have swords, and the beak-like projection on 
 their faces shows that they wear helmets. At a distance 
 the birds of war await the coming slaughter, that they 
 may feast on the slain. The axes of the two men armed 
 with swords are raised over those of their adversaries, 
 implying that victory is on the side of the former; in 
 further proof of which, the champion to the right has 
 contemptuously cast to the ground his buckler,* whilst 
 his antagonist retains his on his arm. The handsome 
 ornament above the head of the champion to the left 
 
 For a man tlills t l:iy iiM.lr \ii* s.hirl.1 llinn^ (In- ti^ht. ;i- :m :ict of 
 lWilj admired bj the Old Nnrtlini.-n. :i"'l mic nt imfnt|Uciitly 
 <li|>layi'<l liv wurriors wlm, when maiHi'ii"! liy the din ami rar nl 
 
 battle, would, with a weapon in each haml, ni*h lirinllmi^ int.. tin- \n\ 
 tliick i if the < -iii-iii^ 
 
THEIR ANTIQUITY. 325 
 
 cannot be other than one to which, in our museums, 
 it would not be difficult to find a counterpart. Here 
 it undoubtedly signifies a decoration of great value 
 (a Dyrgrip, as it was called) carried away as spoil from 
 the battle. To judge by the axes, the combatants are 
 Northmen and ' Vikingar,' who have left their ships to 
 settle the quarrel on shore. The two fleets are lying on 
 each side of the combatants, but with their prows pointed 
 in opposite directions. Two of the vessels belonging to 
 that on the left have upright lines curved at the top, 
 which possibly, though not probably, signify masts. The 
 figure between the birds and the champions is not com- 
 pi-ehensible ; perhaps it means a tree." 
 
 Similar " Ilallristuingar " to those in question are 
 found, though sparingly, elsewhere in Scandinavia, as 
 also in other countries ; but are nowhere so numerous as 
 in Bohus-Liin, where between three and four hundred 
 have been already discovered, and many of which have 
 been depicted by M. Holmberg. " The whole of them," he 
 observes, " bear a striking resemblance to each other; and 
 were it not for their number, and the distance between 
 them, one might readily believe they were all executed by 
 one and the same artist." 
 
 With the learned in Scandinavia it is a somewhat 
 debateable point as to the period when the " Hallristnin- 
 gar" were executed; but M. Holmberg perhaps the 
 best authority on the subject is clearly of opinion that 
 it was during Heathen times, because neither Christian 
 symbols, such as the Cross, nor trace of Runes, are to 
 be found amongst them. He further believes that they 
 date from between the seventh and tenth century; cer- 
 tainly not prior to the former period, as it was then that 
 the marauding expeditions of the Sea-Kings, which form 
 their chief subject, became a national pursuit ; and that 
 these extraordinary people became acquainted with the 
 
326 HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS. 
 
 South of Europe, as shown by several of the drawings, 
 wherein are represented southern animals, such as the 
 Turtle, the Camel, the Rhinoceros. " That the ' Hallrist- 
 ningar' relate to history," he goes on to say, " must be 
 clear to the most casual observer, for one here sees the 
 whole occurrence portrayed, occasionally in a kind of 
 chronological order. No possible reason can be given 
 for the supposition hazarded by some, that their subject- 
 matter has been either invented or romanced. On the 
 contrary, it is quite clear that events and incidents have 
 been truly depicted by the artist after the manner of 
 the age, and that they are therefore to be looked on as 
 historical documents, and as such, constituting our earliest 
 written chronicles chronicles older than the Runic- 
 stones, and distinguished from them in this ; that the 
 latter give us the names without the occurrences, but 
 the former furnish us with the occurrences, and not the 
 names. The ' Ilallristningar ' have already been called by 
 me ' Sagas engraved in stone,' an expression I believe to 
 be well chosen, because they have one and the same 
 object ; viz., to perpetuate the exploits of distinguished 
 men. They treat of the heroes of the same people, and 
 are so far contemporaneous, that the Ilallristningar wen- 
 cut about the same time as a great part of the events 
 happened, which tradition afterwards romanced in the 
 written Sagas." 
 
 But although M. Holmherg looks on the " llallristnin- 
 irnr" as historical documents, it would be idle to attempt 
 their regular interpretation : First, because the "Saua^" 
 relating to the same events and occurrences have, in the 
 course of ages, been forgotten, thus rendering it impossible 
 to identify names, dates, and plaees ; :md secondly, because, 
 amongst the symbolical figures, now pretty well under- 
 Mnoil. there are some so singularly placed (at St:uii,'en:is. 
 in Hohus-Liin, for instance, where a ship is seen to rest on 
 
KEY TO THEM. 327 
 
 a shield, and in the ship an animal holding a "fot-sula," 
 or emblem of a " foot-print," in its mouth) to render it 
 quite impossible even to guess their import. Then, again, 
 there are other figures having no counterpart in nature, 
 and can therefore be only considered as creations of the 
 artist's own brain, and the meaning of which was only 
 known to himself, and those to whom he chose to 
 impart it. It is these fancy figures (if I may so call 
 them), coupled with the strange arrangement of some 
 whose signification is tolerably well known, that has 
 bewildered the learned, and caused them to cease from 
 all further attempts fo decipher the Hallristningar, " now 
 looked on as a puzzle that never can be guessed." 
 
 Large limbs and members (particularly aJ8oa at/Spot,-), 
 it may be proper to state, are understood to mean courage 
 and virility ; upraised and unarmed hands, fear ; fot- 
 sulor or foot-prints, journeys, more especially on foot (if 
 near a ship, a landing on the enemy's coast ; but if 
 attached to the prow of a vessel, it has been captured by 
 boarding] ; horses, riding ; horned cattle, spoil taken from 
 the foe ; stags, elks, wild beasts, &c., hunting; serpents, 
 witchcraft, cunning, and prudence ; birds,* defeat ; 
 weapons of attack, combats, and shields, victory and mar- 
 tial renown. Ships imply voyages by sea and Viking 
 expeditions; if they be without the usual upright lines, 
 which represent the crew, it is a sign that the men have 
 perished in battle. The so-called Hula a mere dot 
 or point is generally a symbol of unity of numbers, as 
 in the ancient Mexican hieroglyphics ; though not un fre- 
 quently it signifies misfortunes ; as, for example, when 
 
 ' Everywhere, when a battle is depicted, birds are invariably seen, in 
 like iiiMiiuiT MS in the ' Sa^as," which, when describing a combat, always 
 make mention of the Haven and the Eagle as tin- juests of heroes ami of the 
 ensanguined field. 
 
IMK KM-'-GRYTOR. 
 
 placed beneath ajli/iixj arroir, an >>/>/ift<'t/ ".re, or <tfalliny 
 and ilil'imj num. 
 
 Fi-r. -'. 
 
 I III. Ill lil 
 
 -Liiii, moroovor, is not destitute of natural ouri- 
 tin- most rciu.-irkablc of \\liicli. ]u-rli:ijs. is tin- so- 
 
COMMONLY IN PAIRS. 329 
 
 called Elf-Gryta* that one so frequently meets with in 
 the more hilly parts of Western Scandinavia. Figure 1 is 
 a section of a line of " Grytor " near to Surtur, a village 
 eight or nine (English) miles to the north of Gothenburg ; 
 and figure 2 represents a bird's-eye view of the same. 
 
 The " Elf-Gryta " is a circular hole in the granite or 
 gneiss rock, the sides of which are so smooth that one 
 might suppose it had been turned with a lathe. Its shape 
 varies from a spherical to a sharp ellipse ; but the most 
 common form is that of an egg with one end, say a third, 
 lopped off; generally, the sharp end of the egg is down- 
 wards, but in some instances the thicker end. The size of 
 the " Gryta " varies greatly, some being mere cavities in 
 the face of the rock, whilst others, again, are of almost 
 gigantic proportions. One near to Surtur is not less than 
 35 feet in depth, and 12 feet in diameter at its mouth, 
 and it is probable there are others still larger. But 
 from 5 to 6 feet in depth, by 2 to 3 in diameter, may be 
 looked on as the average size. 
 
 The " Grytor " are commonly found in pairs. In this 
 case the one to the north-east is invariably the most regu- 
 larly formed, and the deepest ; the other, or that to the 
 south-west, shallower, and scooped out, often with a 
 gutter running from it in the latter direction. When thus 
 in pairs, the distance between the " Grytor " is generally 
 from 10 to 12 inches. Sometimes the partition-wall is 
 so eaten away that there is an opening between them, 
 either above, or it may be about halfway down, in the 
 shape of an oval aperture worn by the eddying waters. 
 Two " Grytor " can never be found exactly alike, their 
 shape altogether depending on the locality and the con- 
 figuration of the surrounding rocks. Occasionally, the 
 
 * These go liy various names in Sweden: A7/-6V/y//-, or Elves' cul- 
 (lioiis ; J(Ut-Grytor, or Uumts' ealdnms, &e. 
 
330 DESCRIPTION. 
 
 form is very irregular, a mere curve in fact, hollowed 
 out of the rock, and always facing to the south-west or 
 north-west, but never to the north-east. 
 
 Such of the " Grytor " as have not been disturbed 
 are usually filled to the brim with boulder-stones, soil, 
 &c. Not unfrequently, indeed, one sees rank ^rass. 
 bushes, and even trees growing as in a llmver-pot, vegeta- 
 tion being facilitated by the moisture contained in them. 
 The diagram to the extreme left of figure 1 shows tlie 
 "Gryta" whilst in this state ; the several "Grytor" to 
 the right of it. after they have been cleared from refuse; 
 and the figure to the extreme right the relative propor- 
 tions between a man aud the " Gryta." 
 
 "I have excavated very many 'Grytor,'' -ays my 
 talented friend Mr. Alexander Keiller, of Gothenburg, to 
 whom I am indebted for the accompanying drawings, 
 as also for many others in my former works, " and shall 
 endeavour to give a general description of their con- 
 tents: Take, for instance, a 'Gryta' G feet in diameter 
 at the mouth, and 8 feet deep. The sod and earth (com- 
 monly from 12 to 18 inches in depth) being removed, 
 the tops of large boulder-stones now present theinselvo. 
 compactly embedded in gravel and sand ; so hard, in 
 fact, is the mass that there is the greatest difficulty in 
 removing any part of it. When the uravel is so far got 
 rid of that the boulder-stones become exposed, I blast 
 the latter with gunpowder. Should the stones be egg- 
 shaped, then the thicker end is constantly downwards.* 
 The stones of the first tier are almost invariably tin- 
 largest (there are exceptions, however, to this rule. ina- 
 much as 1 have found near the bottom of a 'Gryta' 
 
 * "If the lio|>j"T of si mill 1 l>-ei-\e,l when -rindini; Ix-an*. it will I* 
 
 seen that tin- vibratory motion w ill arran;.'e all the Leans with their hea\ ie.-t 
 ilownwanls ; ami the like U the MM w illi tin' >t M in <|iie>tion." 
 
THEIR CONTENTS. 301 
 
 a boulder so large as nearly to half fill it : such a stone 
 is always much polished and nearly round) ; then, next 
 to the sides of the ' Gryta,' stones of all sizes, and 
 similar to them in shape. Near to the bottom of the 
 ' Gryta,' again, are almost always found stones varying 
 from 2 to 10 inches in diameter, worn away to nearly 
 perfect spheres. Some, however, are egg-formed, or almost 
 oval. As a general rule, the boulders are smaller, and the 
 gravel and sand finer, towards the bottom. At the very 
 bottom the sand is invariably worn to a fine powder. The 
 ' Grytor ' I am describing, it is my full belief, have never 
 before been excavated. Everything proves they ai'e in 
 precisely the same state as the ice or glacier period of 
 Sweden left them. 
 
 " It must be borne in mind that when the ' Grytor ' 
 were under formation, the surface of the rocks was also 
 wearing away, so that they could never wear deeper than 
 in a given ratio, depending on the wearing of the surface 
 of the rocks above. 
 
 " It is now many years ag.0," Mr. Keiller further 
 remarks, " that I first made acquaintance with the ' Elf- 
 Grytor.' This was at Surtur. The formation of these 
 very remarkable cavities struck me greatly, and I have 
 since made them a study. Wherever I have travelled in 
 Sweden, I have always been on the look-out for ' Grytor,' 
 and carefully examined the localities ; and I have now 
 become so experienced that I can to a certainty point 
 out not only where one is to be found, but state with 
 tolerable accuracy its depth and diameter ; as also whether 
 it has been bored or worn, so to say, in the form of a 
 right-hand or of a left-hand screw. If we observe the 
 current of a river, we find that on the one side all the 
 eddies and vortices are found in the direction of the 
 stream ; or, on one side right-hand eddies, and on the 
 other left-hand eddies and vortices." 
 
332 THEIR ORIGIN. 
 
 Mr. Keiller afterwards enters on a long dissertation as 
 to the origin of the "Elf - Grytor," and elucidates his 
 theory with numerous illustrations ; but his account, now 
 in my possession, interesting as it certainly is, is far too 
 long for insertion in these pages. At a future time, 
 however, should this work he favourably received by the 
 public, and another edition be required, it may be thai 
 I shall give his valuable observations in a somewhat 
 concise form. 
 

 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 The Skiirgard. Wild Scenery. Inhabitants. Aquatic Birds. The Great 
 Black-backed Gull. The Common Gull. The Caspian Tern. The 
 Black Tern. The Mallard. The Long-tailed Hareld. Love has 
 its pains. The Eider Duck. 
 
 ASKAUGARD, or belt of islands, girds, in many 
 parts, both the eastern and western coasts of 
 Scandinavia. Such is the case both to the north and 
 south of the port of Gothenburg. Several of the 
 islands are pretty large, but by far the greater portion 
 inconsiderable in size ; for the most part, indeed, mere 
 Skar, or naked rocks (hence the term " Skargard") rising 
 but little above the surface of the water, and frequently 
 so diminutive as, in the distance, to look like the backs 
 of whales, or other monsters of the deep. Islands and 
 " skiir " together, they are as the sands of the sea in 
 number. "In places, large tunnels have been formed by 
 the waves in the dark fronts of the rocks, through which 
 the sea, during storms, rushes to and fro with a monoto- 
 nous and sullen roar, harmonizing well with the shrill cry 
 of the sea-mew, the sole requiem of the unburied bones 
 of the shipwrecked mariner, scattered along the coast, and 
 
334 I III SKARGA1U). 
 
 a melancholy foreboding to the poor fisherman of some 
 new disaster." In former times the larger of the islands 
 were well wooded, and a few, such as Oroust, are partially 
 so at the present day. But in general they are utterly 
 destitute of arborous vegetation ; though even on tin- 
 most barren of them a few stunted hushes may occasionally 
 be seen creeping forth from amongst the crevices of the 
 rock. Some of the islands have a scanty population, 
 consisting chiefly of fishermen and pilots, and are in 
 patches cultivated ; but for the most part they are only 
 tenanted by the feathered tribe, and have, on the whole, a 
 most sterile and desolate appearance. 
 
 AVith the exception of a few partridges, hares, and a 
 Black-Cock or two on one or other of the larger islands, 
 the sportsman will find but little in the shape of game in 
 the Gothenburg and neighbouring " Skargardar " ; but 
 as a set-off he will meet with many kinds of water-fowl 
 and waders, the species, however, varying greatly ac- 
 cording to the season of the year. 
 
 Of the aquatic birds that bred with us, I may notice 
 the following : The Great Black -backed Gull ; the 
 Lesser Black-backed Gull ; the Herring Gull ; the Com- 
 mon Gull ; the Common Tern ; the Arctic Torn ; the 
 Caspian Tern (rarely) ; the Black Tern (only occasionally) ; 
 Richardson's Skua; the .Mallard; the Teal ; the Wigeon 
 (sparingly); the Sheldrake; the Eider-Duck; the Ked- 
 breasted Merganser; the Black Guillemot; the Black and 
 the Red-throated Diver;* and I suspect the Cormorant 
 and the Shag also, for on one particular part of the coast 
 
 * Naturalists would s.-.'iu to entertain tin' notion that the.se liinls only 
 breed on the margin of fresh water lakes ; lint Mic-h is not always tlir CMO, 
 for I myself have found tin- not of tin- Ked throated liv.-r on :m island of 
 the (Jothenliur;; Skiirfjard, :iinl Kksir.mi tells us. when speaking of the liirds 
 >f Oroust, that the l.laek throated l>i\er l>reed.- frei|iu-ntly in tin- inner 
 .:u'.ird, meaning |.rot:il>ly tin- IMV-. and inlets of tin- inaiiiland. 
 
BIRDS FREQUENTING IT. 335 
 
 I used in the spring constantly to see numbers of those 
 birds. As visitors may be enumerated the Gannet 
 (rare) ; the Foolish or Common Guillemot ; the Razor- 
 bill (scarce) ; the Puffin (scarce) ; the Rotche or Little 
 Auk (rare) ; the Smew (rare) ; the Red-necked Grebe ; 
 the Great Northern Diver (rare) ; the King Duck (rare) ; 
 the Hooper or wild Swan ; the Grey-lag Goose ; the Bean 
 Goose ; the White-fronted Goose ; the Brent Goose ; the 
 Shoveller (rare) ; the Pintail ; the Scaup Duck ; the 
 Velvet Scoter ; the Common Scoter ; the Golden Eye ; 
 the Long-tailed Hareld ; the Goosander ;* and probably 
 some others that have been omitted. 
 
 Several species of Waders also nested in our " Skar- 
 gard ; " as, for instance, the Oyster-catcher ; the Turn- 
 stone ; the Ringed Dottrel ; the Little Ringed Dottrel ; 
 the Redshank ; the Golden Plover ; the Common Plover ; 
 and the Curlew. Whilst the Whimbrel, the Godwits, the 
 
 : A curious instance of the tenacity of life in this bird recently 
 occurred at Falkenberg, celebrated for its salmon fishery. Whilst a young 
 friend of mine was one fine afternoon taking a stroll with his gun on the 
 banks of the river, he, at a bend of it, suddenly caught sight of a Goosander 
 sailing about in all the freedom and majesty of unobserved solitude. 
 Sheltered by trees and bushes, and gloating over his expectant prize, the 
 eager sportsman crept stealthily to within gun-shot of the bird, when, not 
 liking to shoot it cockney-fashion whilst sitting, he shouted loudly to 
 disturb it. To his surprise, however, it did not take wing, and he there- 
 fore poured a volley into it, knocking out a quantity of feathers. But 
 though so sorely wounded, and half lifted out of the water by the discharge, 
 it still maintained its erect position, and a moment afterwards was swim- 
 ming about as quietly and unconcernedly as before. Another barrel was 
 discharged at the poor bird, and this time it was fairly knocked on its side 
 amidst a second cloud of feathers. At this moment my young friend's 
 eai-s were saluted with a ringing laugh from the other side of the river, 
 and shortly after became aware that a cruel trap had been laid for him by 
 a wicked carpenter, who had killed the bird the previous winter, and had 
 stuffed it for a decoy. My friend has never since liked to be reminded of 
 the wonderful tenacity of life in the Goosander. 
 
336 THE GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. 
 
 Grey Plover, the Knot, the Purple Sandpiper, &c., were 
 pretty common in our " Skargfird " and elsewhere on the 
 western coast of Sweden, when on the way to or from 
 their breeding-grounds in the far North. 
 
 In the Gothenburg and other of the Scandinavian 
 " Skargurdar," many of the birds enumerated fall to the 
 gun, or are otherwise killed, more particularly during 
 spring and autumn. But before speaking of t lie- 
 manner of their capture, it may be desirable for me to 
 say a few words respecting two or three of the (iulls 
 and Terns, which, subsequent to the publication of my 
 last work, " Scandinavian Adventures," came much under 
 my personal observation ; as also in regard to t In- 
 habits of some other birds, that with us were special 
 objects of pursuit. 
 
 The Great Black - backed Gull (llafo - Tntt, S\v. ; 
 Svartbul-, Norw. ; Larus marimis, Linn.) was pretty com- 
 mon in our " Skiirgiird," as also in the Wcnern, where 
 many breed on the numerous rocky islets with which that 
 magnificent lake is studded. The female lays from two 
 to three eggs, nearly as large as those of a goose, of a 
 grey-green, or olive-green colour, marked with brown-grey 
 or ash-grey spots. This bird nests early, often in single 
 pairs, but at times in small colonies ; and during incuba- 
 tion, which lasts four weeks, male and female are said to 
 sit alternately on the eggs. The young are grey for the 
 first year, after which they change their plumage in a 
 slight degree ; but it is not until the second year that 
 they assume the dress of the parents. Such, at least, I 
 have observed to be the ease with birds in confinement. 
 
 The Great Black-backed Gull, which, by the fishermen 
 on the western coast of Sweden goes by the name of 
 Prosten, or the parson, possibly from its lugubrious cry, 
 and from its plumage some\\ hat resembling the attire of 
 a clergyman when in full canonicals, would seem to be a 
 
READILY DOMESTICATED. 337 
 
 very voracious bird. Lieutenant Axel Geijer, indeed, 
 assures me it at times feeds on the young of water fowl, 
 and thai on one occasion he himself knew it to destroy, 
 in the course of a few days, nearly the whole of a brood 
 of Golden-eyes, some two to three weeks old. 
 
 When taken young this bird is readily domesticated. 
 I have had many in my possession that had the run of the 
 yard, or the garden, as the case might be, and were fully 
 as tame as barn-door fowls. Their wings were clipped ; 
 but a friend to whom I presented a pair allowed his their 
 full liberty, and, as a consequence, they were often 
 absent from home for days together. If hungry, however, 
 they would return, and after making several gyrations 
 over the homestead, alight on the roof of an outbuilding. 
 When called to by their pet name, they would alight on 
 the grass-plot in front of the house, where they ravenously 
 fed on the otfal of fish, or meat thrown to them. But though 
 liberty has charms it has its ills also, as these poor birds 
 experienced, for during one of their migratory excursions 
 they were seen by a gunner, who, unaware of their being 
 home-pets, shot them both. 
 
 Another of these birds, given by me to a youth in the 
 town of Wenersborg, had, like those in my own pos- 
 session, the run of the premises. For the most part its 
 wings were kept clipped, but at times this precaution was 
 neglected, when it would fly away, and for a while enjoy 
 itself with its wild congeners, who were numerous there- 
 abouts. During the autumn of 1800, it was supposed to 
 have taken its final departure, nothing having been seen 
 of it for a considerable time. One fine day, however, its 
 owner observed a large bird soaring high above the town. 
 At first he took it for a falcon, but on closer inspection 
 made it out to be his missing favourite; and on calling to 
 it by its name, it at once made a swoop downward and 
 alighted in a crowded thoroughfare at his very feet. On 
 
 z 
 
A STRONG DIGESTION. 
 
 food, of which it seemed to have had but little during its 
 absence, being offered the bird, the same was eagerly 
 seized by it, when it allowed itself to be once more 
 made prisoner. 
 
 "\Vhen domesticated, the Great Black-backed Gull is 
 very gluttonous, devouring everything that comes in its 
 way. This was somewhat ludicrously exemplified in the 
 case of a young one presented by me to a friend in 
 Wermeland. The kitchen-maid had lost two napkins or 
 dishclouts, for which ineffectual search was everywhere 
 made. At length, however, she noticed something re- 
 sembling a rag protruding from the bill of the bird in 
 question, and taking hold of it, she, to her utter astonish- 
 ment, drew forth, " hand over hand," from its gullet one 
 of the missing napkins, which it h;ul swallowed bodily. 
 What became of the other napkin was never ascertained, 
 though it was strongly suspected it had been previously 
 bolted and digested by the Gull ! 
 
 In an eatable point of view, many look on the 
 Gull family as little better than carrion; but from per- 
 sonal experience I can testify that with even moderate 
 cookery these birds, more especially when young, may In- 
 rendered very palatable ; not exactly " king's meat," or 
 a dish for a king, as the Swedish peasants say, but one 
 that a hungry man can with pleasure 1 discuss. The Dutch, 
 like sensible people, duly appreciate Gulls ; so at lea-t 
 may be inferred from the numbers one at times see> 
 hanging to the rilling of their vessels. 
 
 Of the Common Gull (//'*/- JA/*/', S\v. : /'ittk-.l/ittii/t', 
 Norw. ; Lants camtx, Linn.), which are numerous, both in 
 the " Skiirgiird " and the AVenern, 1 have little to relate, 
 other than that in a particular island of that lake, 
 near to the so-called Wermclands-Niis these birds are in 
 the frequent habit of " treeing." On several occasions. 
 indeed, I have niXM-lf seen them perched on the tops of 
 
THE CASPIAN TERN. 339 
 
 lofty pines, a habit that may possibly be common to them, 
 but which never before came under my observation. 
 
 The Caspian Tern (Skrdn-Tdrna, i.e. screeching tern, 
 Svv. ; Rov-Terne, Dan. ; Sterna Caspia, Pall.), the largest 
 of the European Terns, was owing to constant persecu- 
 tion rare in the Gothenburg and neighbouring " Skar- 
 gardar," and seldom met with there, excepting on the 
 outermost of the islands. From what Nilsson says, ope 
 would be inclined to believe this bird altogether confines 
 itself to the sea-coast. But if this be the Professor's 
 meaning he is under a mistake, because, to my personal 
 knowledge, a dozen pairs at the least nest every summer 
 in the Wenern. 
 
 According to Kjaerbolling, the Caspian Tern is found in 
 abundance on Sylt, an island lying off the western coast 
 of Sleswig ; the inference to be drawn from which is 
 that it is a social sort of bird, and fond of the society 
 of its fellows. Such is not the case in the Wenern, at 
 least, where we were never aware of more than a single 
 pair nesting on the same small rocky islet, the place 
 \\ith us usually chosen by them for that purpose. Once 
 in a time, it is true, a second pair might have its habitat 
 in the near vicinity ; but, speaking generally, we found 
 the several pairs miles and miles apart. With other birds 
 they would seem to live on a more amicable footing, for 
 I have on several occasions met with the nests of the 
 Great Black-backed Gull and the Common Gull in the 
 immediate vicinity of their own. 
 
 With us, the female made no nest whatever, but 
 deposited her eggs, one to three in number^ and yellowish- 
 white in colour, marked with ash-grey and brown spots, 
 in a small cavity, or indentation of the rock, and for the 
 most part near to its loftiest point. During incubation, 
 and afterwards, both male and female most jealously 
 guard both eggs and young, more especially the latter; 
 
 z 2 
 
340 THE MALLARD. 
 
 and when a person approaches the nest, they are very fear- 
 less, hovering around and about him, and uttering shrill 
 and piercing cries. Ilence their Swedish designation. 
 
 The young of this bird are readily reared and domes- 
 ticated; but they require peculiar food and treatment. 
 I once had two pairs, taken by myself in a distant part of 
 the Wenern, which throve well until the setting in of tin- 
 winter, when a sudden frost, for which due preparations had 
 not been made, put a period to their existence. 
 
 The Black Tern (Svart Tdrna, Svv. ; Sort Terne, Dan. ; 
 Sterna niyra, Linn.), which northern naturalists would 
 lead us to suppose is confined to the south of Sweden, 
 was an occasional visitor to our " Skiirgard. During tin- 
 summer of 1858, which was a remarkably warm one 
 indeed, it was not at all uncommon, both there and on 
 the river Gotha. In the Wenern, as elsewhere said, I 
 have also seen and shot this bird. 
 
 The Mallard (Grds-And, or grass-duck, Sw. ; Stok- 
 And, Dan. ; Anas Boschus, Linn.) was common during 
 summer in one or other of the larger islands of the 
 " Sksirg.ird," and in the reed-beds of the Gotha, and 
 Norra-Elf, as also throughout a large portion of Scan- 
 dinavia, from the extreme south of Sweden to the Polar 
 Circle. M. Wilhclm von Wright assumes Karesuando, in 
 Swedish Lapland, as its limit to the north, but stragglers 
 have been met with still higher up. If the winter be a 
 mild one, a few of these birds winter in the rapids of tin- 
 Gotha, and others of the more southern rivers. It is 
 very common in Denmark, during the summer at least. 
 Formerly, 1 entertained the notion, that the Mallard 
 only nested in marshy places ; but such is not the ca-e, 
 for of late years F .have found it to breed in wooded 
 localities, at a considerable distance from the water. 
 
 To jnd-v li\ what follows, it would seem as if (In- 
 habits of the Mallard in after-life are much dependent, 
 
ITS AVERSION TO WATER. 3il 
 
 as with men, on the way in which they are reared. 
 "At the Estate of Vissbo, in the province of Nerike," 
 says the President M. af Robson, " several duck-eggs, 
 together with some of her own, were placed under a 
 white hen, and in due time a single duckling, a male, 
 as it proved, was produced. He was reared in all 
 amity with his foster-brothers and sisters and never at- 
 tempted to accompany the other ducklings, of which 
 there were more than one brood on the premises, that 
 several times a day descended the hill near the house to 
 the lake below, but constantly remained with the hens. 
 He grew rapidly, became very fat, and at length could 
 fly. For amusement, he was often thrown into the lake, 
 but al \vays made the best of his way to land, quacking 
 loudly in the while, as if he had an aversion to the water, 
 and forthwith waddled back to the hens. If when cast 
 from the bridge it was to a height sufficient to spread his 
 wings properly, he would take a pretty long sweep, 
 whereby he was enabled to surmount the hill, when he 
 flew directly into the poultry-yard. It was his daily 
 practice cunningly to lead the liens to the confines of a 
 grass-plot, or other small declivity, that he might pair 
 with them,* and although he never succeeded in his 
 attempts, they gave rise to all manner of curious scenes. 
 He was not charged, however, with making love to his 
 foster-mother, the old white hen, whom ho followed 
 everywhere, more especially to places where food was 
 obtainable ; and it was believed that the affection he 
 
 * Naturalists lay no little strass on the pairing of birds that are looked 
 on as of different species ; but to me it seems that too much is made of this 
 matter. Even in a state of nature, strange misalliances are not so very 
 uncommon, and when a bird is in confinement " everything is game that 
 comes to his net." In one instance, as mentioned, a Capercali cock has 
 been known to have a numerous family with a Turkey hen, and in 
 another to make a desperate attempt to pair with a goose. 
 
IH2 SINGULAR INCUBATION. 
 
 evinced towards her was duly reciprocated. His fate was 
 sad ; for one fine day the kitchen-maid, mistaking him 
 for another, chopped off his head !" 
 
 Eggs, whether of the Mallard or other bird, are at 
 limes incubated in a strange way. "Whilst the shoe- 
 maker Defer, the carpenter Faldin, and the son of the 
 latter, were engaged in measuring some land on the shores 
 of the Lake Hjelmar," so we are informed by M. Hamn- 
 strom, " they disturbed a wild duck from her nest, con- 
 taining nine eggs, which Fiildin carried home, for tin- 
 purpose of placing tbem under a hen. On his arrival 
 there, however, and whilst making inquiries after a dry 
 nurse, the eggs were laid on a bed, with a sheep-skin 
 coverlid, on which a cat and her kittens, then some eight 
 days old, had previously taken up their abode. This 
 was on the 19th of May ; after which time grimalkin and 
 her progeny, the former for the most part, and the latter 
 constantly, contrived to keep the eggs warm, and that 
 without injuring, or even displacing, a single one. 
 
 " On Tuesday, the 27th of May, the first and second 
 of the duckling were hatched, when Mrs. Fiildin thought 
 it most prudent to separate the otherwise well-behaved 
 cat from her young step-children ; who, nevertheless, 
 were allowed to remain with their four-footed foster 
 brethren. The following day .Mrs. Fiildin's sensible and 
 motherly care was crowned \\ith a successful issue, for 
 four more ducklings appeared, and all six found them- 
 selves well satisfied with the warmth they derived from 
 the kittens. On Thursday, the 2!)th, a seventh egg was 
 also vivified, the remaining t \\ o proving rotten. 
 
 "During Ihe space of near a \\eek Mrs. Fiildin v\as 
 1'ortmiale enough to retain all the seven alive. They 
 drank milk like the kittens, and swam and disported 
 themselves in a till) of water placed at hand for the 
 purpose; the old eat looking on with great seeming satis- 
 

THE LONG-TAILED UARELD. 343 
 
 faction, and purred and gambolled about the vessel. 
 Their food afterwards consisted of grits alone. But the 
 best intentions are at times the cause of the greatest 
 misfortunes ; and so it happened in this instance. Mrs. 
 Eiildin would treat her little favourites to some fresh 
 grass. This was eaten by them with avidity ; but in the 
 space of three hours afterwards one and all of them died 
 in convulsions, most probably in consequence of some 
 poisonous plants being amongst the herbage. Mrs. Faldin 
 bewailed greatly over her progeny, which were always 
 lively and joyous, and declared that from the moment of 
 missing them their foster brothers, the kittens, suffered 
 greatly both in health and spirits." 
 
 The Long-tailed Hareld (Alfoyel, Sw. ; Us- And, i. e. 
 ice-duck, Norw. ; Hareldn glacialis, Steph.), whose proper 
 home is the Ai'ctic regions in Lapland, Iceland, Green- 
 land, Spitsbergen, for instance was very common 
 during spring and fall in our " Skargard." Once in a 
 time, indeed, stragglers, probably wounded birds, were 
 seen in the summer, but it is believed to nest only in 
 the more northern parts of the Peninsula, and that nearly 
 as high up as the North Cape itself. Some wintered 
 with iis, and many on the coasts of Denmark, in which 
 country, according to KjaBrbolling, it has been known to 
 nidificate. It would appear to be a very hardy bird, and 
 quite indifferent to cold, and that it is ice alone which 
 causes it to migrate to more southern climes. " When 
 the sea freezes during severe winters," says M. Wilhelm 
 von Wright, speaking of the island of Oroust, " a large 
 portion of these birds leave us, but some remain in the 
 open water caused by strong currents. It seems even 
 then unwilling to depart from the coast, for one finds it 
 at such times in considerable numbers about the outer- 
 most of the islands where, owing to the constant rise and 
 falls of the waves, the ice is ground almost to powder 
 
IS A RESTLESS BIlll). 
 
 labouring through the thick mass to the bottom in search 
 of food." Kilsson tells us, moreover, that " even 1 hough 
 the sea he for the greater part frozen over, and the cold 
 intense, many pass the whole of the winter oil' the coast 
 of Scania, in natural openings in the ice." 
 
 The plumage of this beautiful bird, which has a tail 
 like a cock pheasant, varies very greatly according to age, 
 sex, and season of the year; and it is remarkable that out 
 of fifty specimens hardly two resemble each other. With 
 its winter dress we in England are well acquainted, but 
 as that which it puts on in the summer is not so generally 
 known, it may be proper for me to describe it. The head, 
 neck, wings, and upper part of the tail of the adult male 
 are then black-brown ; breast lighter brown ; belly and 
 under part of the tail white ; sides beautifully greyish- 
 white ; sides of the head, in front of the eyes, red-grey ; 
 around the eyes a white ring, which is enlarged behind. 
 and tapers in a point towards the nape of the neck ; the 
 long-pointed shoulder feathers black, with broad chestnut- 
 brown edges; bill, feet, and irides the same as in the 
 winter. The dress of the female does not vary so -r.-alh 
 in the summer as that of the male. Its head and neck 
 are then quite black, most commonly interspersed with 
 greyish-white feathers; throat whitr-grey ; upper part of 
 the breast greyish-brown ; lower part somewhat lighter ; 
 back black-grey; shoulder feathers same colour, but with 
 lighter, and most -cm-rally with reddish edycs ; belly 
 and under part of the tail dirty \\hitc; upper part of 
 the tail-feathers Tcyish-hn>\\ n. with whitish--rcy cd_ 
 the two in the middle a little longer than the rest. 
 
 The Man-Id is a most restless bird, and perpetually 
 in motion. It rarely happens that one sees it in a state 
 of repose during the daytime. Tin- Hock for several 
 an- almost always in company s\\ im pretty fast against 
 the wind. and the individuals comprising it keep up a 
 
LOVE HAS ITS PAINS. 345 
 
 sort of race with each other. Some are always diving, 
 and as these remain long under water, and their comrades 
 are going rapidly ahead in the while, they are of course 
 a good way behind the rest on re-appearance at the 
 surface. Immediately on coming up, they therefore take 
 wing, and, flying over the backs of their comrades, resume 
 their position in the ranks, or rather fly somewhat beyond 
 their fellows, with the object, as it would seem, of being 
 the foremost of the party. This frequently continues 
 across the bay, or inlet, until the flock is " brought up" 
 by the opposing shore, when they all generally take wing 
 and move off elsewhere. There is but little doubt they 
 are feeding at these times, which is the more probable 
 from the water where they thus disport themselves being 
 usually shallow, and the bottom studded with rocks, from 
 whence they gather cockles, mussels, and pemvinkles, 
 which constitute the principal part of their sustenance. 
 " Fair play is a jewel," according to the old saw ; and 
 so, perhaps, thinks the Hareld, for it would really appear 
 as if it adopted the somewhat curious manoeuvre men- 
 tioned, to prevent its companions from going over the 
 ground beforehand. 
 
 Whilst pairing, which takes place in the beginning 
 of April, and long before its departure for the far north, 
 the Hareld is very noisy and clamorous. The males 
 are constantly chasing the females, while they them- 
 selves are pursued by numerous rivals. " It has been 
 remarked," says M. Ekstrom, " that certain of the females 
 are much more courted than the rest, a practice at one 
 time supposed to be confined to the human species. 
 Frequently, indeed, one sees an individual surrounded by 
 six or eight amorous males, the rest of the females looking 
 on with great dissatisfaction. Pain as well as pleasure 
 awaits on these filles de joie ; for imagining that even 
 though dead they will be equally courted as when alive, 
 
34G ITS SONG. 
 
 the sportsman always picks them out from the rest, so 
 that, when stuffed, they may serve to decoy their admirers 
 within reach of the murderous gun." 
 
 The song, so to say, of tin- Il:ireld, is not unmusical ; 
 it is something like Calloo, the name by which this bird 
 goes in the Orkney and Shetland Islands. Some people 
 liken it to the notes of the clarionet, and though mono- 
 tonous, it is very pleasing, especially when many join in 
 the concert. The sprightliness of the bird, its being 
 eternally on the move, and its wild and interesting ay, 
 tend greatly to give life to the " Skargard," which, without 
 animated nature, would be desolation itself. 
 
 Though Swedish naturalists tell us that the Harold 
 
 o 
 
 rarely breeds on this side of the polar circle, there is good 
 reason to believe that many nest in the morasses on the 
 Dovre-ficld, and other mountain ranges of Norway, which 
 are in a considerably lower latitude; but Lapland, more 
 especially the north-eastern parts, is probably its chief 
 resort during the summer months. It makes its ap- 
 pearance there about May, mostly in its dark summer 
 plumage, which, indeed, it in great part assumes prior to 
 leaving the sea-coast; and breeds in very great numbers 
 in all the fresh-water lakes and tarns studding the lace of 
 that wild country. 
 
 The female makes her nest, which is lined with down. 
 in marshy ground near water and amongst grass, or under 
 leafy plants that afford some sort of shelter; and lays 
 From five to seven en-s. somewhat smaller in size than 
 those of the barn-door fowl, and of a pale green colour. 
 When incubation commences, the males, which are not 
 believed to pair until the second or third year, abandon 
 their mates, and, like the eider and some other species 
 of birds, collect together in Hocks. As soon as the \oimg 
 can fly, the mother conducts them to their proper element, 
 the sea; and in the early part of August she may be seen 
 
THE EIDER DUCK. 347 
 
 with her brood in the bays and fiords of the more 
 northern parts of the Norwegian coast. Subsequently, 
 the several families flock, and take their flight gradually 
 to the southward. In September and October they 
 visited our " Skargard." 
 
 When in salt-water, the Hareld feeds on marine in- 
 sects, bivalve molhisks, and crustaceans ; and whilst in 
 the interior, during the breeding season, chiefly on aquatic 
 plants. It would appear, however, to eat the latter from 
 necessity rather than choice, for on its return to the 
 sea in the autumn, it is usually in very poor condition. 
 The feathers of the Hareld are much prized, and its 
 down held next in estimation to that of the eider. The 
 flesh, though somewhat fishy, may, by good management, 
 be rendered palatable. The better plan is to skin the bird 
 and scrape away the fat, then soak the body in water, or 
 if in milk all the better, for a day or more, and afterwards 
 pitch cock and roast it. 
 
 The Eider Duck (Ejdcr-Gas, i.e. eider-goose, Sw. ; 
 Estegg, Norw. ; Edcr-And, or eider-duck, Dan. ; Soma- 
 teria mollissima, Leach) is very common in the Baltic and 
 on all the western coasts of Scandinavia, from Scania to 
 the North Cape ; but more especially on certain islands 
 called Fugel-Vass, or bird preserves, on the north-west 
 coast of Norway, where it is protected which until the 
 past year or two has not been the case elsewhere in the 
 Peninsula and where the eggs and down are only taken 
 in very moderate quantities. 
 
 Ekstrom seems to think there are two kinds of Eider 
 namely, the Common, and the so-called Smal-nabbad, or 
 narrow-billed Eider spoken of by Brebm ; and he is led to 
 this conclusion from what Eabricius says of the habits of 
 the Eider found on the coasts of Iceland, which would 
 appear to differ materially from those of that bird fre- 
 quenting the eastern " Skargard " of Sweden. 
 
NESTS IN FRESH WATEB. 
 
 It is, I believe, a commonly received opinion that the 
 Eider in a wild state confines itself altogether to tin- 
 ocean. But this would not seem always to be the case, 
 for when, during the present autumn, I was staving with 
 M. Stromberg at Sjobohl, near Falkenberg, on the south- 
 west coast of Sweden, I was assured by him that the 
 Eider has been repeatedly shot in Rams/on, a fresh-water 
 lake, now partially drained, in the immediate vicinity of 
 his house, and at a distance, as the crow flies, of some 
 three (English) miles from the sea. He also assured me 
 that the nest of this bird has not unfrcquently been met 
 with by himself and others in the extensive peat-bogs 
 surrounding the lake. 
 
 E-amsjon, it should be remarked, lies sonic ten to 
 twelve feet above the level of the sea, with which (except- 
 ing by means of a canal recently cut to carry oil' its 
 superfluous waters) it has no communication whatever. 
 Its waters, nevertheless, are said to be in some degree 
 brackixli, and when very low, a slight crust of salt, or of a 
 substance resembling it, is observable on such parts of the 
 bottom of the lake as are left dry. 
 
 The Eider, like the wild swan and the Lonir-t ailed 
 ITareld, does not seem in any way ail'eeted by cold, how- 
 ever great it may be, and unless the sea is entirely I'm/en 
 over, remains on the coast during the whole winter. 
 Even should it be driven from thence by the ice, it is not 
 supposed to remove to any considerable distance, for as 
 soon as the frost breaks up it immediately returns to its 
 old haunts. Many \\inter in the Danish seas, where the 
 climate is somewhat less severe. I myself, on one occa- 
 sion, saw myriads of these birds about Christmas time 
 in the Little 15elt, or that separating Jutland from the 
 island of Funen. 
 
 During the \\inter, the Kider keep together in very 
 (locks, composed a- \\cll ol males as females, and at 
 
ITS VARIABLE PLUMAGE. 349 
 
 that time are exceedingly shy. Towards the spring they 
 separate in pairs, and in April were found in our " Skar- 
 gard," for the purpose of breeding. Until the female has 
 deposited her eggs, the male is always in her company ; 
 hut when incubation begins the males congregate, and one. 
 sees them in numbers floating, as it were, in the vicinity 
 of the rocky islets where their mates are sitting. Subse- 
 quently, and when they begin to moult, which is in 
 June, they keep more out at sea, and are then very 
 difficult of approach. 
 
 The plumage of the old male Eider varies much, 
 according to the season of the year. Towards the autumn 
 he loses his brilliant dress, and becomes in great part 
 black, and is, in fact, so altered in appearance as to be 
 hardly recognizable. The female, on the contrary, retains 
 her brown feathers all the year round, and little difference 
 in plumage is observable in her. 
 
 During the daytime, the Eider, unless disturbed, 
 spends fully as much of its time on land, or rather on the 
 cold naked rocks, so common in the " Skargard," as in 
 the water, and as it would appear, in a state of repose. 
 AVhat may be the case in the winter, I know not, but in 
 the summer it would seem always to pass the night on 
 terra firma; for when boating by moonlight, we frequently 
 started these birds from their roosting-places on the rocks, 
 but never saw them on the water. If this be really the 
 case, it would look as if the Eider, unlike most other 
 birds of the Duck tribe, which obtain the greater part of 
 their sustenance during the hours of darkness, feeds only 
 in the daytime. 
 
 Excepting from actual necessity, the Eider very rarely 
 flies to any considerable distance from water, its natural 
 element. Even when proceeding from one bay to another, 
 it will follow the indentations, however sinuous, of the 
 coast, rather than cross a headland. We are told, indeed, 
 
350 ITS FOOD. 
 
 that as with several other oceanic birds, " if it accidentally 
 loses sight of the sea, its powers of flight forsake it, 
 and it will alight on the ground and look about in state 
 of bewilderment, and at such times allow itself to be 
 .taken by the hand." When thus out of its latitude, it 
 occasionally finds its way to very singular localities. Last 
 autumn, when at Ellinge, in Scania, distant some twenty 
 miles from the sea, the proprietor, Count Carl Diiker, 
 pointed out to me a small pond near the mansion, where 
 some years before an Eider Duck had been shot by one 
 of his people. 
 
 This bird feeds on crustaceans and marine insects, and 
 some great authorities will have it on the linny tribe, 
 as well. It may be so ; but though on very many occasions 
 we have known the Eider, when dead, to dixgorge quan- 
 tities of cockles, crabs, and some of these of considerable 
 size, we were never aware of anything in the shape of a 
 fish. I speak of it in the wild state, for when domesticated, 
 it will eat almost anything. It obtains its food at the 
 bottom ; at times, it is said, at a depth of twenty fathoms. 
 To this I cannot testify; but certain it is that, even when 
 unmolested, it remains under water a very long time. 
 
 The weight of the male Eider, prior to pairing, and 
 when in tolerable condition, averages near six pounds; 
 that of the female about the same, or it may he somewhat 
 more. The largest we ever killed did not weigh fully 
 as much as seven pounds. 
 
 The female forms her nest of sea-\\eed, fresh grass, and 
 other coarse materials, and often in very bleak and exposed 
 situations. .Most commonly it is placed near the \\ater, 
 but at times a long distance from thence, and high up 
 xay a hundred feet or more on some rocky islet. She 
 lines it with a quantity of the soft and elastic down from 
 her own body ; and at the end of April, or beginning of 
 May, lays from I'm- to six eggs, of a pale -reen colour, 
 
ITS NESTING HABITS. 351 
 
 the size of those of a goose. It happens occasionally, we 
 are told, that two or three females deposit their eggs in 
 the same nest, and in company sit amicably upon them. 
 To this point I cannot speak from actual observation ; 
 but having frequently seen more than one female with the 
 same young brood, gives some countenance to the notion. 
 In those parts of Scandinavia where this bird is protected, 
 it is said to be so tame as to nest not only in the boat- 
 houses, but in the very huts of the fishermen, and whilst 
 sitting, to allow of being handled by them. Such domes- 
 ticity, however, was not found in our Skitrgard, where it 
 was subject to constant persecution. In most instances, 
 indeed, the old bird took wing when one was at all near 
 the nest, leaving the eggs or the chicks, as the case might 
 be, to their fate. 
 
 Bishop Pont oppidan gives a somewhat curious account 
 of the proceedings of the Eider during the breeding season. 
 " If the first five eggs are stole away," he says, " then 
 the -bird lays again, but only three eggs, and in another 
 nest ; if these are lost, then she lays one more. Eour 
 weeks the mother sits alone on the eggs, and the cock 
 stands watching underneath in the water, so that if any 
 human creature, or beast of prey, approaches, he gives her 
 notice by crying hu, hu ; and then she covers her eggs 
 with moss and down, which he keeps ready prepared, and 
 comes down to her mate in the water. But he does not 
 receive her very kindly ; and if her eggs are lost by any 
 accident, he gives her many blows with his wings, which 
 she must take patiently ; and after this he entirely deserts 
 her, and she is obliged to join the flock of her kind under 
 the same disgrace." 
 
 It is generally supposed that so soon as the young 
 
 ones are out of the shell, the mother conducts them to 
 
 the water; some say, however, that they remain in the 
 
 nest twenty-four hours afterwards, and until they have 
 
352 BEARING ITS PROGENY TO THE WATER. 
 
 acquired strength. But this I doubt, considering that 
 the delay, if there be any, arises from the eggs not being 
 all hatched, as is frequently the case, at one and the same 
 time. From the considerable elevation at which the nest 
 is occasionally placed, and the broken nature of the ground, 
 it is hard to conceive how she ever gets them down to 
 the water, it being quite certain that without aid of some 
 kind they could never of themselves find their way there ; 
 but how their transit is effected appears somewhat of a 
 mystery. I was assured, however, by a very respectable 
 man, the keeper of the lighthouse at "VVinga, that he 
 himself had often seen the old bird thus occupied. " She 
 threw the chicks over her neck, as a fox would a goose," 
 such were his very words, " and thus carried them to 
 their own element." 
 
 It is generally believed in Scandinavia that when her 
 progeny are in jeopardy, the mother, as is said of the 
 Merganser, takes them on her back, and, cither swimming 
 or diving, thus conveys them to a place of security ; but 
 this is probably a fallacy. It is true that when the body 
 of the old bird is submerged, which is always the case 
 when danger threatens, and the brood are collected about 
 her, it looks as if they were in the situation described, 
 but in reality, I take it, they are in the act of swimming, 
 and not resting on her. If such were the case, they must, 
 of necessity, hold fast by their bills, which they clearly 
 never do, their heads being always quite erect. 
 
 The Eider Duck is readily domesticated, as I can 
 state from experience, having myself reared several. 
 When in confinement they feed freely on worms, shell- 
 fish, and the like ; on almost everything, in short, that 
 is given to them. 
 
 In parts of Norway the down of the Kider forms a 
 
 valuable article of commerce. That obtained from the 
 
 -t, which is plucked by the bird itself from her own 
 
ITS FLESH NOT UNPALATABLE. 353 
 
 body, is reported to be very superior to that from the 
 dead bird. If taken from the latter, it should be in the 
 winter or early spring, for in the summer and autumn, 
 when the Eider moults, the down becomes so mixed 
 up with blood-feathers as to be of little worth. It is 
 stated by English naturalists, I observe, that each Eider's 
 nest produces half a pound of down ! If several birds be 
 contributors to the same nest, this, by possibility, is the 
 case, but individually it can hardly be, for the utmost 
 quantity we could ever obtain from any one bird in full 
 plumage little exceeded half an ounce. 
 
 Though Scandinavia sends some little eider-down to 
 market, yet Iceland and Greenland, according to Kjserbol- 
 ling, contribute very much more. " Every nest," he says, 
 " contains about the sixth of a pound of down ; and sup- 
 posing that from each of these countries alone about 6,000 
 pounds are annually exported, it will be seen that this 
 is taken from 72,000 nests. As at least three-fourths of 
 the quantity comes from Greenland, and as the Green- 
 landers seldom allow the eggs to remain in the nest, even 
 when half-hatched, and kill the Eider at all seasons 
 and under all circumstances, it is inexplicable that the 
 decrease in the number of these birds is not very consi- 
 derably greater than it is." 
 
 In Sweden and Norway the flesh of the Eider is looked 
 on as coarse, fishy, and nearly uneatable. All the birds 
 killed by us, nevertheless, went into the " pot," and were 
 far from unpalatable to poor people like ourselves at 
 least, who had not always the opportunity of enjoying a 
 good dinner. 
 
 2 A 
 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 Shooting in the " Skargilrd." Eider Duck Shooting. The Author'* IWt. 
 The Bivouac. Touch and Go. A disagreeable Swim. Tli> \\Vtt.-ir. 
 Diving Powers of Water Fowl. The Foyrl-Niit, Its Origin. 
 How to use it. Its Destructiveness. The lliitlines. Und.Twat.T 
 Shamble?. Duck or Die. Bird Clouds. The Eagi 
 
 THE usual plan of shooting water fowl in the Gothen- 
 burg and neighbouring " Skiirgiinlar " one often 
 adopted by ourselves is out of a small sailing boat. 
 Should it be calm, or the wind adverse, little, it is true, is 
 to be done ; but if, on the contrary, the breeze is fresh 
 and fair, so that without losing time in tacking, you can 
 bear down directly on the birds several species of which 
 are generally in view tolerable sport is always obtain- 
 able; and were a man to fire at all birds within range, 
 the powder-horn would soon be emptied. But even if 
 you confine yourself to such as are of some value, a pretty 
 good bag is always to be calculated on. 
 
 With us, as said, the Eidcr-Duck was a favourite 
 object of pursuit, for not only are its feathers valuable, 
 but from its large size it proves, in every sense of the 
 word, "a valuable acquisition to the larder." When 
 chasing this bird in a sailing boat, one should alwa\s 
 endeavour to obtain the weather gauge, as on taking win"; 
 it almost invariably (lies .to windward; and the harder it 
 blows the greater the ehanee one has of a shot; but then, 
 


EIDER-DUCK SHOOTING. 355 
 
 t- 
 
 as a set-off, the spray that, in rough weather, dashes over 
 the boat, is exceedingly inconvenient to both the gunner 
 and the gun. Erom the thickness of the Eider's feathers, 
 more particularly in winter and spring, when this bird is 
 in full plumage, it takes a great deal to bring it down, 
 and large shot are consequently requisite. Of Eider 
 alone, nevertheless, a young friend and myself have 
 thus not unfrequently bagged from eight to ten in a day, 
 and during one particular season (including a few killed 
 by other means) close upon a hundred of these birds. 
 
 The Long-tailed Hareld, the Sheldrake, the Merganser, 
 and many other species of aquatic birds, as well as waders, 
 often fell to our guns, so that the spoil, if not always 
 considerable, was at least varied, which to my notion adds 
 much to the pleasure of a day's shooting. With us, 
 moreover, few or none of the birds bagged were thrown 
 away, for such of them as were considered uneatable 
 were in most instances stuffed and added to our little 
 Natural History collection. 
 
 The accompanying illustration, by M. Korner, faith- 
 fully represents the nature of the Gothenburg " Skar- 
 giird," and the way in which we were accustomed to bear 
 down on Eider and other fowl. Erom stem to stern our 
 little craft was less than sixteen feet in length, but she 
 was, nevertheless, a tolerably good " sea boat," a needful 
 quality, as we were often exposed to very tempestuous 
 weather. But though so small, she was perhaps better 
 adapted to the purpose than one of a larger size, for let 
 the water be ever so shallow, or the passage between the 
 rocks and islets ever so confined, we could still sail with 
 impunity almost anywhere. And even if she struck on a 
 sunken rock, as not unfrequently happened, no great harm 
 was done, for by jumping into the water and giving her a 
 shove, she was in general soon afloat and away again. 
 Not so with a large boat, for in the event of her being 
 
 2 A 2 
 
356 THK AUTHOR'S BOAT. 
 
 * 
 
 stranded, especially on a lee shore, she would probably 
 
 stick fast for a while at least, which, to say nothing of 
 
 peril to life and limb, would be very disagreeable. But in :i 
 
 small boat like ours, there should never be more than two 
 
 individuals, one sitting aft to steer and manojuvre her, and 
 
 the other forward with at least two guns. A third person 
 
 is always in the way. For the more ready handling of 
 
 the craft when thus shooting sea fowl, a single sprit-sail 
 
 is perhaps best ; a foresail, or jib, is not only inconvenient 
 
 to manage when putting about in a hurry, but by 
 
 obstructing the sight of the sportsman, is much in the 
 
 way. Small as was our boat, we must nevertheless have 
 
 sailed some thousands of miles in her ; and this not only 
 
 in the Gothenburg and other " Skiirgiirdnr," but in th.- 
 
 open sea ; occasionally, indeed, to a distance of from fifty 
 
 to eighty miles from home. 
 
 i in: nivoUAC. 
 
 During the spring and summer months many were 
 the pleasant trips \\r thus made in the "Sttrgftrd," 
 
THE BIVOUAC. 357 
 
 where the scenery is striking for its desolation, though 
 enlivened somewhat by the cries of the Seagull, the 
 Long-tailed Hareld, the Eider, and others of the 
 feathered trihe. Indeed, if the weather be genial, what 
 with fishing, fowling, collecting eggs and specimens of 
 rare birds, and a bathe now and then, a man can hardly 
 spend a summer day more agreeably than amongst the 
 islands. On these occasions we seldom troubled ourselves 
 to look out for night quarters, but at dusk made for the 
 nearest islet, and with a stone for a pillow, and the sky 
 for our canopy, slept, as depicted above, on the naked 
 rock. Usually we were provided with a coverlid of some 
 kind or other ; and as we generally had coffee and a 
 sufficiency of eatables with us, the night was commonly 
 passed in tolerable comfort. 
 
 My most constant companion on these occasions was 
 Charles John Anderson, the now celebrated African 
 traveller, then a youth in his teens, and who even at that 
 early age showed the determined spirit of enterprise and 
 accurate observation of nature in all her varieties, which 
 have been since so fully displayed in his daring career as 
 a geographical discoverer and naturalist. His deeds, so 
 well known through his works, " Lake N'gami " and the 
 
 o ? o 
 
 " Okovango River," have established his fame; and I am 
 happy to say that he is about adding to his reputation by 
 the publication of a beautifully illuminated work on the 
 Avi-Fauna of South- Western Africa, which Messrs. Day & 
 Son are to bring out in their best style. 
 
 Once, however, when we were bivouacking in the 
 " Skiirgard," a mishap had well nigh befallen us, or rather 
 our boat. The shades of evening having set in, we, as 
 usual, landed on the lee side of a small island, and after 
 securely mooring, as we imagined, our little craft, and 
 partaking of an ample supper the gun and the fishing- 
 rod having added to our scanty stores we crept under the 
 
358 TOUCII AND GO. 
 
 blankets, and consigned ourselves to repose. An hour or 
 two afterwards, it came on to blow bard, and what was 
 worse, to rain heavily; and having no shelter whatever, 
 we were soon in a very unenviable condition. But a still 
 greater evil threatened, for a little past dawn I was sud- 
 denly awakened from a broken slumber by hearing my 
 attendant exclaim, " She's gone, Sir ! she's gone ! " And 
 sure enough she was gone, for on turning my eyes sea- 
 wards, I, to my great mortification, saw our little boat, at 
 some distance from the shore, careering helplessly on the 
 waves, which were fast driving her towards the rocks on 
 the opposite side of the bay. On these the sea was break- 
 ing heavily, and had she reached them she must inevitably 
 have been dashed to pieces. It appeared that though the 
 wind was off the land, the swell had chafed the rope 
 by which the boat was moored, and caused it to part. 
 The mast, with furled sail, was standing, and with the 
 exception of some trifling articles that we had taken on 
 shore, everything belonging to us, guns and stores 
 included, were on board of her. Matters did, indeed, 
 look black. Time admitted not of my reaching her by 
 swimming, which I should otherwise have attempted. As 
 luck would have it, however, then- was a fisherman's hut 
 observed by us on the preceding evening at no great 
 distance; so running thither at our best pace, we jumped 
 into the man's boat and pulled with all haste for our own, 
 which we happily succeeded in reaching as she was on the 
 point of being stranded. She had a double escape, for 
 whilst drifting across the bay in question, she slightly 
 touched, as we ourselves sa\v, on a sunken rock whereon 
 was much surf, and on which had she fairly struck, 
 she would certainly have liccn wrecked. On this very 
 rock, indeed, as the fisherman afterwards told us, a boat 
 containing seven peasant i;irls who were on their way to a 
 neighbouring market, \\as capsi/cd a l'e\\ years previously, 
 
A DISAGREEABLE SWIM. 359 
 
 when, lamentable to relate, all the poor creatures found 
 a watery grave ! 
 
 In two other instances, when in pursuit of wild fowl 
 in the great lake Wenern, our boat, from being insuffi- 
 ciently secured, drifted away from rocky islets where we had 
 landed without any person on board ; but both happened 
 in the daytime, and the mishaps having been timely 
 observed, I was enabled, by swimming, to recover the 
 craft. In the first instance the distance was very trivial, 
 but in the second considerable, and the risk something, 
 for had I not succeeded in reaching her, which was 
 problematical, as the wind was carrying her fast from the 
 land, my fate would have been sealed. 
 
 Provided the weather be fine, and the stores landed, 
 no great harm could possibly be done were your boat 
 thus to drift away altogether, for sooner or later you 
 would be pretty sure to be picked up by a fisherman 
 or vessel; but if, on the contrary, the weather were 
 tempestuous and inclement, and all the provisions and 
 extra clothing on board, it would be, to say the least, 
 exceedingly unpleasant, and might not improbably lead 
 to most serious consequences. Bearing all this in mind, 
 we were afterwards doubly careful, before retiring to rest, 
 to see well after our " ground tackle." 
 
 On another occasion and this was also in the Wenern, 
 where the seas, from being shorter, are even more dan- 
 gerous than in the ocean itself our little craft was in 
 considerable jeopardy. We had moored her at eventide 
 to the northern or lee side of a rocky islet, but had hardly 
 lain down to rest when the wind suddenly veered to the 
 opposite point of the compass, and blew with great 
 violence. The water thereabouts was shallow, and 
 studded with -sunken rocks, so that it was next to impos- 
 sible in the darkness to remove the boat elsewhere, and 
 she, as a consequence, was fully exposed to the fury of the 
 
300 THE WETTAK. 
 
 storm. Most fortunately, however, she was anchored to 
 a perfectly smooth and gradually shelving rock, so that as 
 the waves increased, myself and boy I having no other 
 attendant were by degrees enabled to draw her higher 
 and higher up the rock, and somewhat beyond their reach ; 
 and though full of water, and sadly knocked about, 
 she happily escaped with hut little injury outwardly at 
 least beyond the partial loss of her keel; and as the 
 weather on the following day proved fine, we were there- 
 fore enabled to continue our voyage. 
 
 To proceed. Another plan of shooting water fowl in t he 
 Gothenburg and others of the Scandinavian "Skiirgardar," 
 one which we ourselves also occasionally adopted is by 
 the aid of the so-called " Wettar" or artificial decoy -birds. 
 These consist either of such as are stuffed as, for example, 
 the Eider, the Long-tailed llareld, the Black Scoter, 
 the Merganser or of blocks of wood so fashioned and 
 painted as to resemble them. Each U'ette is attached, in 
 a squatting posture, to a small oval-shaped piece of board 
 or cork. Spring and autumn, the former especially, are 
 the proper seasons to bring these devices into play, as 
 from the fowl being then pairing, and the females on the 
 look-out for nesting-places, they are of course very much 
 more in motion. 
 
 In the daytime the Eider, the Long-tailed llareld, 
 and other diving birds, keep much' to the innermost 
 "Skiirgiird," and to the bays and inlets of the main- 
 land, where the water is shallower, and the facility of 
 obtaining food greater in consequence; but they pass 
 the night, for the most part, on the outermost of the 
 islands or on small isolated rocks, rising little above 
 the surface in the open sea beyond. During these their 
 iiiurnin- and evening (lights to and from their feeding- 
 grounds, they almost invariably pm-Mie the same course. 
 Thi< is noted by the lo \\ler, who at the first break 
 
 
HOW MOORED. 361 
 
 of day, or towards dusk, anchors his " Wettar " by means 
 of pieces of string and small stones, within easy gun-shot 
 of some headland or other that the fowl are in the habit 
 of passing ; and if it blows from off the shore at the time, 
 it is all the better, because they generally fly against the 
 wind. A flotilla of six to eight "Wettar," if good of 
 their kind, and well grouped, and if there be a ripple on 
 the water, have, whilst rocking to and fro on the waves, 
 an exceedingly pretty and natural appearance ; but to me 
 a rather melancholy one, for though apparently full of 
 animation, one well knows that, as with the life-like 
 human figures in Madame Tussaud's wonderful collection, 
 they " sleep the sleep that knows no waking." 
 
 Subsequently the fowler, who should be provided with 
 at least two guns, and, in preference, such as will carry 
 heavy charges, conceals himself on shore behind a boulder, 
 or should natural cover be wanting, he constructs a sort 
 of screen out of boughs, and there patiently awaits the 
 coming of the birds. A boat is indispensable on these 
 occasions, as well to enable the man to moor the "Wettar" 
 as to gather up the slain when the cannonade commences; 
 but it should be hidden in some neighbouring creek, so 
 as not to alarm the fowl. A second boat, to be rowed 
 or sailed to and fro in the vicinity of the ambush, to keep 
 the fowl on the move, is of great advantage. 
 
 Usually the fowler is not kept long on the look-out. 
 So soon, indeed, as it is well day-light, or even previously, 
 the amorous notes of the male Eider, which to my ears 
 are far from unpleasing, and the wild song of the Long- 
 tailed llareld, may be heard in the offing ; and presently 
 afterwards the fowl themselves, singly or in pairs, or it 
 may be in flocks, are seen to make towards the mainland. 
 Should they sight the "Wettar," they for the most part 
 diverge from their course and "fitlla," or alight, imme- 
 diately near to or amongst them. The slaughter now 
 
302 DIVING POWERS OF WATER FOWL. 
 
 begins. Some people consider it best to fire whilst the 
 birds are still on the wing, whilst others prefer waiting 
 until they are fairly in the water. In this case, however, 
 it should not be at the moment when they make their 
 first plunge, their bodies then being so deeply immersed 
 that little besides their heads and necks are visible, and 
 the chances of the shot taking fatal eflect are, in conse- 
 quence, greatly reduced. Oddly enough, fowl, especially 
 the Long-tailed Ilareld, are but little alarmed at the 
 report of the gun; and it frequently happens that a 
 second flock makes its appearance immediately after- 
 wards. Hence the saying of the old "SkSirgard" 
 shooters: "Alfogeln fatter last i L-i-nl-n>k" the meaning 
 of which is that the Long-tailed Ilareld stoops best to 
 the "Wettar," whilst the smoke from the recent dis- 
 charge still hangs over the water. When a bird is killed, 
 it is best to pick it up at once, for if allowed to remain- 
 to say nothing of its frightening others it may be drifted 
 by currents, or the wind, to a distance, and lost alto- 
 gether; but if only slightly wounded, it is hardly worth 
 while sending the boat in pursuit, for the diving powers 
 of most kinds of water fowl are such that the chase will 
 probably prove a failure. 
 
 Calm weather, and a heavy and lowering atmosphere, 
 are most favourable for shooting fowl to the '-Wettar;" 
 and if these be well placed, and birds plentiful, that man 
 must be a very bungler who does not make a good " bag." 
 It was said, indeed, of an individual residing near the 
 town of Marstrand that he had thus killed as many as 
 three hundred Kider- Ducks, besides other fowl, in the 
 course of a single season ! 
 
 The sport in question is an exciting one ; the rather, 
 as from the many varieties of fowl frequenting the 
 " SkiiruMrd." one knows imt \\hat bird will next make 
 its appearance. l!ut it has its dra\\ hacks ; for, unless the 
 
THE FOGEL-NAT. 
 
 363 
 
 weather be genial, a sportsman, whilst lying on the watch, 
 suffers somewhat from cold ; and if birds be scarce, or 
 the wind high, he may often have to wait long before 
 opportunity offers of discharging his gun. The great 
 drawback, however, to shooting sea fowl, whether it be 
 with " Wettar," or from a sailing boat in the way recently 
 spoken of, is, that unless they be killed outright, one 
 loses, on the average, fully a third of those that fall to 
 the gun. Times out of number have I pursued wounded 
 Eider for long distances, but in most instances without 
 success ; for, on coming to the surface to respire, they 
 seldom permitted more than the bill to appear above 
 water ; and in blowing weather so small an object is 
 not discernible at any considerable distance. 
 
 THE FOGEL-NAT. 
 
 The gun, as shown, performs its part on the Scandi- 
 navian coasts in the destruction of aquatic birds ; but 
 other contrivances are also resorted to during spring and 
 autumn to effect that object. One, called the " Eogel- 
 Isat," or bird-net, was formerly in very general use in 
 the Baltic " Skargiirdar " ; but at the present day, owing 
 to the comparative scarcity of fowl, it is in great measure, 
 I believe, laid aside that- is, as regards the Swedish 
 
364 OF ANCIENT ORIGIN. 
 
 islands; for on those pertaining to Finland, it is said 
 that recourse is frequently had to it. 
 
 This engine of which a good idea may be formed 
 from the above sketch is of very ancient origin, having 
 been used in Tartary and Siberia from time immemorial. 
 The Samoyedes are believed to have introduced it into 
 the countries bordering on the White Sea, from whence 
 it probably came to Sweden, where it has been known 
 for many centuries. The ancient Jagt-St(ultj<ir, or laws 
 relating to the chase, mention the use of this device as one 
 of the privileges of the inhabitants of the " SkJir^irdar " ; 
 and before the invention of gunpowder it was probably 
 the principal means by which the feathered riches of the 
 islands were made available. 
 
 The " Fogel-Niit," made of stout twine, is from 
 eighty to one hundred fathoms in length, and four to 
 six fathoms in depth, with meshes three to four inches 
 square. To its upper part, at intervals of about three 
 feet, are attached rings, which are threaded, so to say, on 
 a rope stretched between t\vo posts of some thirty feet in 
 height, placed on each side of a narrow strait or sound 
 where fowl are known to have their drag, or line of 
 flight. As the rings traverse on the rope in like 
 manner as a curtain on its rods, the net, by the aid of a 
 pulley, can be either folded up or distended with the 
 greatest facility: but however " taut" the rope be drawn, 
 the net will still " belly " a little, particularly if the space 
 over which it spreads be very great . 
 
 This net is more especially designed for the capture 
 of the Long-tailed Man-Id, the Velvet Duck, and the 
 Eider, their flight being rapid and heedless, and seldom 
 more than from six to ei^ht feet above the water. It is 
 not every kind of fowl, however, that can be taken by 
 tliis means. Some fly hi^h, and are more on their n-iiard, 
 discovering the danger in time to avoid it ; whilst the 
 
HOW TO USE IT. 365 
 
 flight of others, again such as the Gull tribe is so 
 heavy and slow, that they cannot but be aware of and 
 shun the net. 
 
 As with the " Wettar," the best time for the " Fogel- 
 Nat " is either soon after dawn, or towards dusk in the 
 evening, fowl being then not only more in motion, but 
 less able to perceive the toils. As said, they usually fly 
 against the wind, which should blow from the land if the 
 net be used in the morning ; but if in the evening, from 
 the sea : otherwise, little will be accomplished. When 
 there is a ripple on the water, the chances of success are 
 the greatest. Stormy weather is very unfavourable for 
 the purpose. 
 
 The " Fogel-Nat " being set, the fowler, holding in 
 his hand the end of the rope to which it is appended, 
 stations himself behind one of the uprights spoken of, 
 and patiently awaits the coming of the birds. If these 
 are few in number, and in compact order, he, just as 
 they are in the act of striking the net, lets go the rope 
 " by the run," when both birds and net fall together into 
 the water ; but should the flock, on the contrary, be 
 numerous and scattered, he eases the rope gradually, so 
 that not even the rearmost ranks can escape capture. 
 By the mere act of striking against the net, the fowl are 
 more or less entangled in the meshes ; but in their 
 endeavours, by diving or otherwise, to recover their 
 liberty, they usually become inextricably fixed in the 
 toils. The net is seldom dropped into the water for one 
 or two birds, it being thought better to allow stragglers 
 to escape, than for so trifling a booty to lose the chance 
 of making prisoners of a whole flock which may be 
 approaching at the very moment. It is said that if the 
 rope be not slackened when the fowl come in contact 
 with the net, they are pretty sure, however strong it 
 may be, not only to pass clean through it, but to carry 
 
366 ITS DESTRUCTIVENESS. 
 
 away with them several of the meshes: "On these 
 occasions, you cannot observe that the net has in the 
 slightest degree impeded the progress of the birds, which 
 shoot through it like a bullet ; and are only made aware 
 of their presence by a slight vibration, and by a dull 
 sound resembling the twang of a bovv-strinn." 
 
 If full daylight, it happens that one or other of the 
 flocks of fowl perceive the net in sufficient time to avoid it. 
 As they, however, for the most part, keep to the middle of 
 the strait, or sound,. over which it is set ; and as several 
 species the Eider and the Long-tailed 1 Ian-Id more 
 especially seldom or never in thtir flight cross tin- 
 smallest headland, there is no fear of their outflanking 
 it. Nor will they fly over it : and if, therefore, they do 
 escape, it is by wheeling about and retracing thoir course. 
 Though this net is more particularly intended for the 
 capture of the birds specified, it happens that others- 
 such as the Widgeon, the Tufted Duck, the Common 
 Scoter, the Merganser, and the llazor-bill, are taken by 
 its means. The last-named is a rather " troublesome cus- 
 tomer." Its flight is so very rapid, that a net capable of 
 holding an Eider, a much larger bird, is often broken by 
 it ; and when a prisoner, moreover, it defends itself 
 gallantly, and will often take a piece of flesh out of the 
 hand incautiously laid on it whilst iu the meshes. Groat. 
 at times, is the havoc committed by the " Fo^el-N-lt." 
 We read, indeed, of one hundred couple and upwards of 
 the Long-tailed Hareld having been taken at a single 
 haul, so to say, of this very destructive engine. 
 
 In the winter-time, again, such of the fowl as pass 
 that inclement season on the more southern coasts of 
 Scandinavia, are subject to much persecution ; for when 
 compelled by hunger to resort to " 7/W.w," or openings 
 in the ice, caused by currents or otherwise, they arc 
 .slaughtered by various expedients in great number-;. 
 
THE RATLINES. 
 
 367 
 
 Nets, for instance, are set in these openings for such 
 birds as obtain their food by diving, and probably 
 but few of those that alight in the open water escape 
 with their lives. It is recorded that near to the town of 
 Helsingborg, in Scania, more than three hundred fowl of 
 one kind or another were some years ago thus captured 
 in a single night. 
 
 Fig. 1. 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 9 
 
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 5 
 
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 5 
 
 
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 2 
 
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 3 
 
 6 
 
 9 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 9 
 
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 2 
 
 Q 
 
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 2 
 
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 Cb 
 
 
 
 
 
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 c^ 
 
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 6 
 
 
 
 
 
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 9 
 
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 ,._ -< 
 
 
 
 THK RATLINES. 
 
 At other times snares are substituted for nets in the 
 ' Wakar," or it may be in square holes that are cut in the 
 
UNDERWATER SHAMBLES. 
 
 ice for the express purpose. In this case a " rope- 
 frame " (see fig. 1), constructed somewhat in the manner 
 of a ship's " ratlines," and to each compartment of 
 which several fine wire-springes are attached, is sunk 
 horizontally in the aperture in question to within sonic 
 three feet of the bottom ; the operation hcing effected 
 (see fig. 2) either by means of long poles, or ropes 
 weighted at the ends. 
 
 I'MHIKW'ATKIi Ml \MI:U - 
 
 When, then-Jon', the fowl observe the open water, 
 wherein, perhaps, are placed several ""\Vettar" or arti- 
 ficial birds, to allure them, they alight, and diving down- 
 wards in search of sustenance, presently become entan- 
 gled in one or other of the snares, as depicted above. 
 This device is visited several times in the course of the 
 day, as well for the purpose of keeping the hole Tree 
 from ice as to secure the pri-nners. tin- greater number 
 of whom are made during the night. These, at times, 
 are said to be so numerous as to require one or more 
 sledges for their removal. 
 
DUCK OR DIE. 
 
 309 
 
 Another common plan of circumventing water fowl 
 in the winter-time is for the fowler to conceal himself 
 behind a sort of " screen," constructed of blocks of ice, 
 in the near vicinity of a " Wak," and to shoot them on 
 their arrival. Sometimes he makes use of "Wettar"; 
 but in general they are little needed, for when the birds 
 are half famished, the open water alone is a sufficient 
 inducement. We read of an individual in the Gulf of 
 Bothnia who during one particular winter thus killed, 
 exclusive of other fowl, so many of the Long-tailed Hareld 
 in one and the same " Wak," that their leathers alone 
 weighed upwards of sixty pounds, and occasionally as 
 many as from twenty to thirty at a single discharge ! 
 
 PUCK OR niK. 
 
 fcfc 
 
 We are told, moreover, that in some of the Scandi- 
 navian " Skargardar " neither the gun, the " Wettar," the 
 
 2 B 
 
370 
 
 "Fogel-Niit," nor the "Ratlines" arc had recourse to in 
 the winter for the capture of wild fowl, that object being 
 effected hy more simple and pvimitiv.- means. A " sewn' 
 is constructed of ice-blocks near to a Wak" (on tin- 
 side next the shore) frequented by birds that obtain t 
 food by diving. Two men, each armed with a Ion- pole, 
 lie in ambush at some little distance from the opening* 
 and when they observe a considerable number of fowl 
 congregated, they, on bands and knees, creep Btea 
 up to the " screen " in question. On reaching the latter, 
 they suddenly and simultaneously rise from their recum- 
 bent position, staff in hand, and, uttering loud cries 
 rush forward to the " Wak." Some few of the fo 1 may 
 take wing, but the greater part are so intimidated by the 
 sudden and uproarious attack as to be incapable of 
 doing, and therefore resort to the equally ready expedient 
 of diving. But they are soon compelled to come again 
 to the surface to breathe, on which their persecutors mer- 
 cilessly knock them on the head with their weapons ; and 
 thus, in the course of a lew minutes, the greater part of 
 a flock are destroyed. By this most murderous system 
 several hundreds' of suel. fowl as procure their sub- 
 sistence at the bottom are at times slaughtered in tin- 
 
 course of a day. 
 
 The quantity of aquatic birds such as ^ u 
 Golden-eye, and Long-tailed ITareld-that at times con- 
 gregate in "Wakar," and other openings in the ice, is 
 enormous. When in the winter of 1853, which was a 
 severe one, Mr. Alexander Keiller in an " iee-boat " was 
 crossing the Great I'.elt, then entirely fVo/.eu over, with 
 the exception of a very narrow channel in the middle, he 
 saw such multitudes of fowl as filled him with astonish- 
 mcnt . _ Billions," said he, " would give no idea of 
 ,1,,-i,. numbers; and when they took uin- it was not 
 simultaneously, but in succession, like unto clouds of 
 
I 
 
 .. saf v ?S fettkoL. 
 
THE EAGLES' FEAST. 371 
 
 dust that arise on a highway when swept by a whirl- 
 wind. Owing to their being so closely packed together, 
 it would have been impossible for the whole of them to 
 have flown up at once ; and when they were all fairly 
 on the wing, they literally darkened the air. The open 
 channel spoken of was fringed with the dead and the 
 dying. Many had perished from starvation, whilst not 
 a few, owing to their helpless condition, had been killed 
 with sticks. Others, again, had been destroyed by birds 
 of prey, more especially eagles, several of which were 
 seen perched on hummocks of ice gorged with the blood 
 of their victims." 
 
 2 B 2 
 
CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 The Otter. Its Habits. Its Prey. It-; Partiality for NV.itcr Fowl. 
 Value of ite Skin. Easily domesticat.'.l. Cat.i-N for itM-1: 
 for others. Mode of Hunting it Otter Nets. Otter shootinj; l.y 
 Moonlight. The Tramp Sax. Otter Traps. The Pansar Niit. 
 Keiller Ott.-r-Tr.ip. 
 
 rT^IIE Common Otter (Utter, S\v.; Odder, Norw.; 
 
 vnlyaria, Dcsm.) is frequently met with in tlic 
 Gothenburg and other of the Scandinavian " Skiirgardar," 
 both eastern and western, as also on the shores of the 
 mainland, where they arc rocky and precipitous. It is 
 likewise common in the lakes and rivers of the interior, 
 from Scania to at least as high up as Southern Lapland ; 
 but is said to he more numerous in salt than in fresh water. 
 Some will have it that there are t\vo species in the 
 Peninsula, vi/., the so-called '-S/.-i'ii'- Cf/t-r," i.e. that found 
 on the sea-coast, which is said to be the lighter in colour 
 and the smallest, and the "Flo<l-nt<->\" i.e. river-otter, 
 or that frequent ini: the inland waters; but this seems 
 more than problematical. 
 
 Be this as it may, however, the length of a full-grown 
 Scandinavian male Otter is, from nose to tail, about 
 
THE OTTER. 373 
 
 four feet, and weight from twenty to thirty pounds. 
 The female is somewhat smaller. It is reputed to 
 possess a quick sight, but dull olfactory nerves ; and 
 although water would seem to be its proper element, it 
 can, on occasions, make considerable pedestrian excursions. 
 Some assert that it has been known to ascend trees : not 
 an impossible feat it may be, but to my notions a some- 
 what improbable one. 
 
 We are further told that its skin in the dark emits so 
 strong a phosphoric light that the gunner, when on the 
 watch, has no difficulty in detecting its presence. This 
 may be the case ; but although on several occasions, when 
 netting fish in the night-time, we ourselves have heard this 
 animal's somewhat plaintive call-note apparently close to 
 the boat, we were never able to discover its whereabouts. 
 
 According to some authorities, the Otter is a great 
 wanderer. They tell us, for instance, that it spends the 
 summer months in the lakes and rivers of the interior, 
 where it rears its young; but that on the approach of 
 winter it leaves the fresh water and proceeds to the coast, 
 and there passes that inclement season; that during its 
 wanderings it is seldom alone, both parents and cubs 
 being generally in company ; that the family party steer 
 a pretty direct course from river to river, and from lake 
 to lake, though they are often very many miles apart, and 
 the intervening country is mountainous and rugged ; that 
 they journey in the night-time, and have their appointed 
 halting-places, frequently in the crevices of rocks and far 
 away from water, where they secrete themselves during 
 the daytime. 
 
 That Otters dwelling in rivers and lakes near the sea 
 often proceed there on the approach of winter, I can well 
 understand ; but that the migration should be anything 
 like general cannot possibly be the case, because during 
 all seasons of the year, to my personal knowledge, these 
 
374 PECULIARITY OF ITS TRACK ON THE SNOW. 
 
 animals are everywhere found in the far interior. II is 
 certain, however, that when the brooks and rivulets are 
 sheeted with ice, and that the fish have retired to the 
 deeps, the Otter not unfrequently seeks other and larger 
 streams where the water is open or partially so. Very 
 often, indeed, when the snow has heen loose and deep, 
 have I met with his track far away from water ; and as he 
 at such times makes no use whatever of his hind legs, hut 
 trails them after him sledge fashion whereby the prints 
 of his forefeet are obliterated one would almost suppose, 
 from the look of his "spur," that instead of being his 
 own work, a log of wood, or something similar, had heen 
 dragged through the forest. 
 
 The Otter seeks its prey for the most part at night. 
 During the day it generally lies concealed under the hank 
 of a river or lake, or it may he in the cleft of a rock at 
 some distance from water. Its food chiefly consists of 
 fish,* cray-fish, water rats, and the like, and in the spring 
 season, of eggs t and young water foul. The old birds at 
 times are also its victims. Three or four winters ago an 
 acquaintance of mine, when shooting in a tributary of the 
 river Gotha, killed a line male Smew a rare bird on the 
 western coast of Sweden which fell into the stream, then 
 partially frozen over ; and whilst he was pondering on 
 the best means of securing his prize, an Otter rose to 
 the surface and bore it tiway in its jaws. Beekman, the 
 fisherman mentioned in the note, assured me, moreover, 
 
 * Thiit tl- ottrr is M very imwrlc'iine guest in a fkhponcl everyone 
 knows, for if loft undwturlied it will soon make a elean sweep of <-\. i\ 
 tiling in (lie water. lnSc.l,n it is -.ii.1 that if linely pulverized slag or 
 scori;>- iVoin the iron for^e i I mi tin- lianks of tin- (mini. In- will 
 
 'me ni-.ir it. 
 
 t Beckman, a fisherman at Storbergt-t on tin- \\Yin-rn, i> my authority 
 for tlii- statement. Ili^ eonelii.siojis wire iiiiiwn from having often found 
 
 |iarti-le- of diii'k i-^j; -In-lU in tlie <lro|i|>in^- of tin- t Mter. 
 
PKEYS ON ADULT WATER FOWL. 375 
 
 that he himself saw one of these animals drag an old 
 Mallard under the water. 
 
 Some may have doubts of the Otter preying on adult 
 water fowl, but what follows must go far to convince even 
 the most incredulous that such is the fact. " In the 
 beautiful gardens and pleasure-grounds at Stuttgart " 
 so we read in the well-known "Forst-und Jasrd Zeitunsr" 
 
 O o 
 
 " where the public derive the greatest possible enjoy- 
 ment that nature, embellished by art, can afford, are 
 several artificial ponds and lakes well stocked with fish, 
 and inhabited by many water fowl, both tame and wild, 
 which nest in numbers in sheds skilfully constructed for 
 the purpose either on the islands studding the several 
 pieces of water or on the shore itself. Even swans, both 
 domesticated and in a wild state, breed here. During the 
 summer of 1824, and for seven weeks together, the eggs 
 in the nests of the fowl, as well in those on the islets as 
 the mainland, were constantly broken and sucked ; the 
 ducklings and goslings rapidly disappeared, and yet 
 neither their bones nor their feathers could be discovered. 
 Equally unsuccessful was the search after the remains of 
 the fish. Not so, however, as regarded the other inhabit- 
 ants of the waters, as from two to seven old ducks were 
 daily found, of which only the heads and necks were eaten. 
 Geese and swans, moreover, which the depredator had 
 been unable to master, were wounded, and soon died in 
 consequence. During all this time not the slightest clue 
 could be found to the culprit. The individuals who had 
 the superintendence of the fowl, were unanimously of 
 opinion that a fox or marten must have been the author 
 of the mischief. 
 
 " One moonlight night, about nine o'clock, the head 
 gardener, M. Bosch, proceeded alone to the spot where all 
 these spoliations had occurred, in the hopes of detecting 
 the robber. From nine to twelve the birds were in a 
 
376 CAUGHT IN THE ACT. 
 
 constant state of alarm and agitation, Hying and swim- 
 ming hither and thither, and at times uttering piercing 
 cries, making it quite evident that, though unseen, the 
 foe was near at hand. This was more especially the cast- 
 with the young wild ducks, which would not settle down 
 to rest until they had taken refuge on the dry land. It 
 was nevertheless impossible to detect the cause of their 
 uneasiness, or the reason why they would not pass the 
 night on the water. M. Bosch attempted, ineffectually, 
 to drive them back into their proper element, but they 
 carefully avoided it, and sought shelter with the guard 
 at the gate. A little after one o'clock ;i wild duck Hew 
 up, quacking loudly, and settled again very near to 
 M. Bosch. Presently he remarked a slight streak or 
 ripple, unattended with the slightest noise, on the 
 placid surface of the lake ; and though the motion was 
 more rapid, it resembled that of a large fish progressing 
 through the water. As soon as the Duck saw the ripple 
 in question approaching, it hurriedly took wing and Hew 
 away. The ripple came nearer and nearer to M. Bosch, 
 who, armed with a trusty gun, at length levelled and 
 fired. After the shot, however, nothing was to be seen. 
 and presently the water was as still as before. M. Bosch 
 subsequently procured a boat, and ro\\ed to the spot at 
 which he had aimed, and with liis ramrod searched the 
 bottom of the pool. Presently he felt something soft, 
 and after two or three inell'ectual attempts, succeeded in 
 bringing to the surface an enormous Otter, measuring 
 four feet from head to tail, and weighing twenty-three 
 pounds, which was after\\ ards st tilled, and is now in 
 the Museum at Stuttgart. From this time forward all 
 depredations ceased among the \\ater fowl." 
 
 In the southern parts of Scandinavia the Otter pairs 
 in February, but in the noithern in March. The period 
 of gestation with the female i> nine \\eeks. The cubs 
 
VALUE OF ITS SKIN. 377 
 
 are from two to four in number, and, according to 
 Ekstrom, at first grey (Bechstein says, nearly black, but 
 subsequently ligbter year by year), which colour gradually, 
 though early, turns to a more or less clear dark-brown. 
 The mother feeds them for awhile in the lair prior to 
 taking them abroad and teaching them to cater for 
 themselves. They follow her in her wanderings during 
 the whole of the summer. 
 
 The flesh of the Otter, though it may be eaten, is not 
 over palatable ; the less so should any fat adhere to it, 
 as in that case it tastes like stale salted fish. The better 
 plan of preparing it is, after removing the fat, and soak- 
 ing the flesh in water for a day or two, to roast it and 
 eat it with pepper and other strong spices.* 
 
 The skin of this animal is valuable. In certain dis- 
 tricts of Sweden it is sold by measure, every six inches of 
 its length the tail, after being doubled, counting with 
 the rest producing from one to two riksdollars, or as 
 many shillings. On the more northern parts of the Nor- 
 wegian coast, and in Swedish Norrland, where a large 
 number of Otters are annually captured, their skins 
 constitute a considerable article of export. Formerly 
 they produced a good price say near one pound sterling 
 each but at the present day are procurable on much 
 more reasonable terms. 
 
 Though the Otter is by nature of a shy and savage 
 disposition, yet, if taken young and kindly treated, it 
 soon becomes as tame as many other domesticated animals. 
 It attaches itself to its master, and shows not the 
 slightest disposition to escape. Indeed, when on a visit 
 
 * In Catholic countries, where flesh is forbidden during Lent and other 
 fasts, people look on the Otter as so nearly allied to fish as to eat it with a 
 perfectly safe conscience. In Egypt, in ancient times, this animal was 
 worshipped. 
 
EASILY DOMESTICATED. 
 
 some years ago to the distinguished Swedish naturalist 
 M. Ekstrom, I myself saw an Otter at the Parsonage 
 that, in like manner with a cat or dog, had the run of 
 the house, and more than once during the night-time I 
 heard it at my hed-room door. It had also free access to 
 the garden, in which was a pond, where it often disported. 
 It would allow itself to be handled by those with 
 whom it was acquainted, and to one of the dogs on the 
 premises it was said to evince a particular attachment. 
 This Otter had been captured when quite young, and at 
 the time I speak of was upwards of a year old. 
 
 Many other instances are on record of the extreme 
 docility of the Otter. M. Boje tells us, for instance, that 
 " the proprietor of Krako, in Norway, hud one, taken when 
 quite young and brought up by hand, that had become 
 a perfect lniis-iljnr, or house-animal. In the daytime it 
 slept under a wood pile, but of an evening was the 
 constant companion of the great yard-dog. When in a 
 room it would leap over seats and tables. Nothing was 
 given it in the house, and it was therefore obliged to fish 
 for itself in the lake." 
 
 Again : " Whilst a party were shooting young Ducks 
 at Jacobsberg, in Sodermanland, the property ot'.M. Watt- 
 rang," says the President M. af Robson, " a pointer bitch 
 came to her master carefully bearing in her mouth a very 
 small living Otter cub. It was carried home and reared, 
 but had no opportunity of resorting to the water. It 
 became perfectly tame, and gladly followed its owner 
 everywhere. It would cat almost anything, and expressed 
 special pleasure if offered tea ; but. if, whilst lapping the 
 liquid, it was handled or caressed, it would friim, or hiss 
 fiercely. It was particularly cleanly in its habits, and 
 always relieved nature in a certain spittoon; and 
 \\henever this uas presented to it, as for the sake of 
 fun was often the case, it \\as always ready to make a 
 
CATERS FOR ITSELF. 379 
 
 fresh contribution. The most remarkable circumstance 
 relating to this animal was, that it evinced a sort of 
 aversion, or rather hatred, at being cast into the water. 
 It happened often enough, nevertheless, that when fol- 
 lowing a party on the bridge at Jacobsberg, some one 
 unperceived would place his foot behind it and push 
 it into the river. When thus treated it would show its 
 displeasure by a kind of blowing or hissing, and at once 
 make for the shore ; and for the remainder of the day it 
 was generally very shy, and would spit like a cat if any 
 one attempted to take hold of or caress it. When five 
 years old, a sad mishap befell the poor creature. A fresh 
 gardener, under the impression that it was a wild Otter, 
 wilfully destroyed it ; and to make the matter worse, the 
 man afterwards applied to M. Wattrang for a reward ' for 
 knocking the hard-lived beast on the head.' ' 
 
 The Otter may soon be taught not only to cater for 
 itself, but for its owner. Olaus Magnus tells us that 
 formerly the Norwegian gentry not unfrequently kept 
 these animals in their kitchens for the express purpose 
 of supplying the household with fish. In later times, 
 indeed, one reads of many Otters thus regularly trained. 
 " Some years since," says the Baron Harlemau, " I wit- 
 nessed with much pleasure the performances of one near 
 Kungsholms-bro (that is, the bridge leading to the island 
 of Kungsholm) in Stockholm. Within a short space of 
 time it dived down frequently, and on each occasion 
 came to the surface with a fine fish, which it carried to 
 its master." 
 
 Captain Sven Littorin speaks of a similarly well- 
 educated Otter that had been reared from a tender age 
 by a peasant, and was in the man's possession for several 
 years. "It fulfilled," says he, "the duties of a regular 
 fisherman to its owner, and would often proceed to the 
 river, where it captured quantities of large fish, salmon 
 
380 CATERS FOR ITS OWNER. 
 
 amongst the rest, which it brought untouched to the house, 
 contenting itself with the refuse alone. Its master was 
 thus never without fish at any season of the year, and in 
 consequence sold his nets and other tackle, thinking them 
 needless now that he had so skilful a fisherman. From 
 motives of jealousy, however, the poor animal was at 
 length treacherously destroyed." 
 
 We are told of another Otter, belonging to a Polish 
 nobleman, " which like a dog guarded the stable and 
 carriage-house, proceeded to the lake and captured fish 
 when, ordered, and afterwards conveyed it home to its 
 owner. It also accompanied the dogs on shooting excur- 
 sions, and brought to land such of the Ducks as fell 
 into the water." 
 
 We further read that a peasant in Scania, named 
 Bengt Nilsson, had some years ago a tame Otter that 
 daily supplied his family with fish. By its means, more- 
 over, he was enabled to capture wild Otters : " Near 
 the house was a mill, and on both sides of the mill a 
 hiirh mil, or embankment, so that the Otter in question 
 was unable to come up into the mill-dam itself. To 
 enable it to do so, the peasant made a little ' lurk' or 
 doorway, in one of the flood-gates near the edge of 
 the water, through which he on several occasions lured 
 the animal ; and \\lien it at last became accustomed to 
 go to the 'lock,' this was so arranged by the man that 
 \\hen touched by the Otter, it could easily go out, but 
 not return. I'.eneath the 'lock' the peasant placed a 
 large box or chest, somewhat resembling those used 
 for the capture of eels; and many wild Otters from 
 the mill-dam accompanied the tame one into it, and 
 were made prisoner*." 
 
 ( ): one occasion 1 my-elf reared an Otter cub, and 
 had the animal in my posse-sinn about a year. But as I 
 \\as then living near the hank* of a navigable river, and 
 
MODE OF HUNTING IT. 381 
 
 fearing, in consequence, that if at large it might fall into 
 the hands of the Philistines, I never ventured to give it 
 its liberty. The animal was kept in an outhouse, and 
 constantly supplied with a large tub of water. Its food, 
 consisting chiefly of fish, was thrown into this tub, and 
 was brought up by it from the bottom. If the tem- 
 perature was moderate, it seemed fond of disporting 
 in its bath ; but in very severe weather it appeared 
 just as well pleased to nestle in some dry straw 
 placed in a corner of the shed, where it would coil 
 itself up in the manner of a dog, and pass much of 
 its time in sleep. 
 
 The Otter is captured in various ways in Scandinavia. 
 Many are hunted to the death, though not, as in England, 
 with a pack of hounds, but in a quiet sort of way. These 
 hunts usually take place in the winter, at which time, as 
 said, the animal is accustomed to take long pedestrian 
 excursions ; for when there is snow on the ground, it is 
 always easy to ascertain, in degree at least, its where- 
 abouts. A trained dog is needful for the purpose, 
 though any cur that lias courage, and takes kindly to 
 the water, answers well enough ; and if when young he 
 has aided in the destruction of one or two Otters, his 
 education is nearly complete. The beast emits a strong 
 and rank odour, so that the dog does not readily lose 
 its trail, and when thoroughly up to his business, will be 
 able to indicate its place of retreat, even though the ice 
 under which it is lying be five or six inches in thickness. 
 When the Spar is found and one generally knows 
 pretty well where to look for it, for the Otter year after 
 year keeps to the same track the hunter, with his dog 
 in a leash, and accompanied by a man bearing a wood- 
 man's axe, an ice-axe, and an Utter-gadd, or Otter-spear, 
 the shaft of which is about six feet in length, starts in 
 pursuit either on Skldor or on foot. If the track be 
 
382 MODE OF HUNTING IT. 
 
 quite fresh, it happens not unfrequently that tin- animal 
 is overtaken before reaching the water, or other place of 
 refuge, in which case it is quickly knocked on the head, 
 or otherwise despatched. Should it, however, have crept 
 into the cleft of a rock, the dog is slipped from his 
 couplings ; and as the beast is much more readily dis- 
 lodged from its retreat than either the badger or the 
 fox, he most commonly soon succeeds in driving it from 
 thence. If a river be close at hand, one should keep 
 watch near the bank, as the Otter, when ousted from its 
 lair, always makes for the water. But if it cannot be 
 induced to leave the rock, or that you are, unable by 
 the removal of stones or by digging to compel it to do so, 
 the dog ought again to be tied up, and you must lie in 
 ambush until dusk, when it is sure of its own free-will 
 to quit its retreat. Should it be too dark to shoot when 
 it comes forth, the dog must be once more released, when 
 the affair is generally soon over, because, provided the 
 ground be pretty level, and the start tolerably fair, it 
 cannot run so fast that a man may not overtake it. 
 
 But if the Otter has taken to an unfrozen stream, 
 one ought first to make a circuit of its outlet, to be 
 assured it is still there, and afterwards carefully search 
 its banks ; and if the dog knows his business, he will 
 presently find out the beast's hiding-place. If it be a 
 mere brook in which it has made its lair, the better plan 
 of dislodging it is to dam up the stream below ; for 
 when the water has risen so high that it can no longer 
 obtain air, it must of necessity " bolt." In this case, 
 however, it is always needful to place bushes across the 
 stream at some little distance altori- the dam in question, 
 as otherwise, when the \\a1er has driven it from it*. 
 retrcat, it may dive up stream instead of down, ami not 
 come to the surface to breathe until out of gunshot. 
 Should matters be properly arranged, the animal must be 
 
OTTER NETS. 383 
 
 singularly fortunate if on making its appearance it be 
 not either shot or speared. 
 
 Not unfrequently the Otter-hunter makes use of a 
 net made of fine twine, with meshes of about two inches 
 square. It is somewhat in the form of a sack, and of 
 about the like breadth and depth as the stream or brook 
 where it is used. Its depth is considerable, and it gra- 
 dually tapers towards the extremity, or bag, at the end 
 of which is a large float in the shape of a cross or of a 
 half-moon. The mouth of the net is provided with a 
 telning, or line, the under part of which is weighted 
 with leads or stones, and to the upper are attached 
 corks, or in lieu thereof oval pieces of birch bark or 
 some light wood. About the middle of the net, again, 
 is a second and still stouter line threading the several 
 meshes, by means of which the "bag" itself can be 
 closed at pleasure. The net is placed across the stream ; 
 and when the man who keeps watch over it sees the 
 "float" carried under water he knows the enemy is 
 within the toils, and on pulling the line last mentioned 
 the prize is secured as in a lady's reticule. Even should 
 the river or brook be frozen over, the net may be used 
 to advantage. One man guards it whilst his companion, 
 starting from above, thumps the ice with a billet of wood 
 in his progress doionwards ; and when he has succeeded 
 in rousing the Otter from its lair, he drives it before him 
 until enveloped in the toils. 
 
 In the winter the Otter not unfrequently secretes 
 itself during the daytime under the so-called landkallen ; 
 that is, the ice formed on the shores of lakes or rivers 
 at the first setting in of the frost when the water is 
 usually pretty high, but which ice, when the latter 
 subsequently recedes, is often quite hollow beneath, 
 being merely supported by loose stones, whereon it may 
 chance to rest. When in such a situation the dog has 
 
384 OTTEH-SUOOTING BY MOONLIGHT. 
 
 discovered the Otter's retreat, the ice should be broken 
 on both sides of the spot, and indeed at the same 
 instant of time; and if there be no opening between 
 the " Landkallen " and the water, the beast is pretty 
 certain to be destroyed. 
 
 The surest plan, however, of circumventing the Otter 
 in the winter is to shoot it by moonlight. For this purpose 
 the gunner ascertains in the daytime the holes in the 
 ice where it is accustomed to resort, which arc readily 
 known by its " spiir " and by the fish bones strewed near 
 to them, and at dusk lies in ambush for the beast, lie 
 must be careful, however, not to fire until it comes fairly 
 upon the ice ; for if only wounded, the chances are that it 
 will crawl to the aperture, and in all probability be lost 
 to him. To shoot at an Otter in open water, unless 
 shallow, is next to useless, for even if killed outright, it 
 most commonly sinks at once to the bottom. 
 
 In the pairing season the Otter is frequently shot l>y 
 Lack, or imitating the animal's call-note, a long-drawn 
 sort of whistle. Many persons for this purpose make use 
 of the Ifjcrp-J''/"', described at page 119, the implement 
 by which the Hazel Hen is beguiled. 
 
 During the summer months, again, the following plan, 
 said to be a successful one, is adopted in Scandinavia to 
 shoot the Otter. A trimmer, or night-line, baited with a 
 pike or a large roach, is set in a river or brook known to be 
 frequented by it. When the beast sees and has seized the 
 fish, it lands and devours it, leaving its remains, together 
 with the hook and line, on the bank. After this expedient 
 has been practised two or three times, the gunner, at 
 night-fall, conceals himself near to the spot where tin- 
 Otter is thus accustomed to make its repast, and it seldom 
 happens that he has to wait long before it makes its 
 appearance with the baited fish, and if he then holds the 
 gun straight, its fate is quickly decided. 
 
OTTER-TRAPS. 385 
 
 Sometimes, moreover, the Otter is captured on the 
 trimmer itself. Once, when M. Prytz was taking up a 
 Lung-He/, or night-line, to Avhich several hundred hooks 
 were as usual attached, he found a large Otter on one of 
 them -that made a desperate resistance, and which he 
 had the greatest possible difficulty in getting into the boat. 
 Though M. Prytz is a tall man, the beast, he assured 
 me, reached, when held up before him, from his face 
 to the ground. 
 
 The Otter, as said, is often speared, and now and then, 
 as it would seem, unpremeditatedly. Once, when crossing 
 the river near Gothenburg, the boatman mentioned his 
 having had a little adventure on the preceding afternoon.' 
 Whilst spearing eels near the high reed-beds fringing the 
 stream, he struck his weapon into what, from its violent 
 struggles, he imagined to be an immense pike, or other 
 fish ; but on bringing his prize to the surface he was startled 
 to find that instead of one of the finny tribe he had impaled 
 what he at first almost thought to be the old gentleman 
 himself, but what he presently made out to be an im- 
 mense Otter. Instead, however, of drawing the animal 
 to the side of the boat, and then knocking it on the head, 
 as he readily might have done, he, to get rid of what he 
 looked on as an "awkward customer," designedly jerked 
 the spear from out of its body, the weapon bringing away 
 with it the poor beast's tail and a portion of the skin of 
 its hind-quarters, which the man carried home to his 
 wife as a trophy. 
 
 Traps of various kinds are also had recourse to for the 
 capture of the Otter. That in most general use is in 
 principle the same as the common fox-trap. But to one 
 of the jaws there must be fastened a thin piece of iron 
 filed saw-fashion, the teeth of which ought to be at least 
 half an inch in length, for if this precaution be not adopted 
 the animal will quickly contrive to extricate itself from 
 
 2 c 
 
386 THE PANSAH-NAT. 
 
 the toils. The trap is placed on a flat stone by thn side of 
 a river or lake that the Otter, by its droppings, c., is 
 known to resort to. A fish serves as bait, but in default 
 thereof a frog, which in the winter time is always procurable 
 in the mud at the bottom of a /.///A/, or spring. To 
 guard against the trap rusting, and to remove the taint 
 of the hand, it must be "viltrtnl," or rubbed over with 
 a composition of unsalted butter, goose fat, or hog's lard, 
 to which, when melted, is added pounded valerian-root 
 or bruised castoreum, and when " gillrad," or set, it 
 slu mill be covered over with aquatic plants, such as are 
 to be found at the bottom of the stream. To prevent the 
 beast from carrying away the trap, it is necessary to 
 secure it with a line, or chain, to a stone, or to a tree 
 growing near the bank. 
 
 The so-called Tramp-Sax, or treading trap such as 
 is used in Lapland for the capture of the wolf and the 
 glutton is, however, considered preferable to that just 
 spoken of. It is, as said, provided with a " foot-hoard " ; 
 and though a bait can b" allixed to the latter, it is for the 
 most part set unbaited in the "run" of the animal, and 
 merely covered over with grass. At other times it is 
 placed at the bottom of a " kulla" to which the beast is 
 in the habit of resorting in search of frogs, which it digs 
 up with its lure-paws from out of the mud. It should, 
 however, be set before the lakes lie-in to freeze, for the 
 Otter never more than once in the ye;.r visits such as are 
 lying in its route. 
 
 The PiiiiH<n--.\iit, or armour-net, is a device by which 
 the Otter may be taken alive and uninjured. It differs 
 from the common fox-trap in that 'the jaws arc two or 
 three times larircr, and that to each jaw is attached a 
 bag or net of chain-work; a tisli is used for bait. and. 
 instead of the usual "//'////////,'' the trap is rubbed o\n- 
 with tin- cut rails of li>li. 
 
THE KEILLER OTTER-TRAP. 
 
 387 
 
 The Otter is also frequently taken in the Fall-Stock, 
 which is in principle the same as that used for the capture 
 of the Capercali ; but the upper and lower blocks should 
 be heavier, and both armed with long iron spikes placed 
 from one to two inches apart. It should be constructed 
 of old materials, especially of wood that has long lain 
 in the water, for such as is fresh cut is apt to batch the 
 eye of the beast. This device is set either on land, in 
 the run of the animal, or in the stream itself, where 
 the water is so shallow as not to obstruct the action of 
 the down-fall or drop. 
 
 |p|gg!jgg|^g|g^:^ 
 
 THE KEILLER OTTER-TRAP. 
 
 But perhaps the best and most ingenious device for 
 the capture of the Otter is that adopted by Mr. Keiller 
 on the river Save, near Gothenburg, the nature of which, 
 by the aid of the above diagram, will be very readily 
 understood : 
 
 A A represents the longitudinal section of the eel- 
 
 2 c 2 
 
388 THE KEILLER OTTEU-TRAV. 
 
 house ; B B, the water-line above ; C C, the water- 
 line below ; D, the mill-race or -spout ; E, the eel-box, 
 some two feet square, and grated at the bottom to retain 
 the eels, immediately beneath the spout D, and nearly 
 on a level with the upper water-line B B ; F, the lever ; 
 G, the drop or down-fall ; 11, the line to which is 
 appended the eel I, that serves as bait, and the tail of 
 \\hich, as will be observed, protrudes through the grating 
 of the eel-box ; K, the giller-pinne, or trigger ; L, the box 
 for the reception of the Otter, in which, rather than 
 drown, he always takes refuge on finding himself impri- 
 soned ; M, the funnel, so to say, leading from the water 
 to the box L, which is armed with spikes pointing 
 upwards; so that althougli the Otter finds ready accos 
 to the box, his return from thence is next to impossible. 
 When now the beast tugs at the bait I, the giller- 
 pinne K (owing to the lever F being disturbed) slips 
 on one side, and the drop descending, his retreat is 
 effectually cut off. 
 
CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 Seals. The Common Seal. Its Love of Music. Its Disposition. Its 
 Sagacity. Its Breeding Habits. Its Domestic Habits. The 
 Marbled or Ringed Seal. Love for its Offspring. Inhabits 
 Fresh-water Lakes. Tlie Grey Seal. Its Migratory Habits. - 
 Great Pedestrian Feat. 
 
 WHILST cruising amongst the islands off the coast, 
 we not tuifrequently met with Seals ; less fre- 
 quently, however, near Gothenburg, where boats and 
 vessels were constantly passing, than at a distance from 
 home, those animals being there less subject to disturb- 
 ance and molestation. 
 
 Swedish and Norwegian naturalists include six species 
 in their Fauna ; viz., the Common, or Spotted Seal ; the 
 Marbled, or Ringed Seal ; the Grey Seal ; the Harp, or 
 Greenland Seal ; the Great Bearded Seal ; and the Hooded 
 or Crested Seal. 
 
 The Common Seal (Spracklig Skill, Vikare- Skill, Sw. ; 
 Steen-Kobbe, Norw. ; Phoca vittilina, Linn.), which is so 
 generally distributed in the seas of the more northern 
 parts of Europe, was, with us, the most numerous of the 
 family. It is common, likewise, on all the western coasts 
 
39 3 THE COMMON SEAL. 
 
 of Scandinavia, from the Sound to far beyond the Polar 
 Circle ; as also in the Baltic, and in the gulfs of Bothnia 
 and Finland. Though confined to the sea, so far as the 
 Peninsula is concerned, it would seem to thrive MI- 11 in 
 fresh water, it not uufrequently being met with near 
 Kongelf, situate ten to twelve (English) miles above 
 Gothenburg, where many have been shot. It has been 
 seen, indeed, as high up the river Gotha as Lilla Edet, 
 distant some forty or fifty miles from the sea ; and farther 
 it cannot proceed, owing to the cataracts at that place. 
 
 Its usual length is from five to six feet, and weight 
 about two hundred pounds; butat times,so old seal-hunters 
 assure me, it attains to a very much larger size. M. Gust a I' 
 Holmers estimates its blubber alone at from one hundred 
 and twenty to one hundred and forty pounds; but this 
 in the winter, when it is usually excessively fat ; for during 
 the heats of summer, at which time it is said to eat but 
 sparingly and to become lean, it has but little. It never 
 congregates in any considerable numbers; more than a few, 
 indeed, are seldom seen together ; neither is it often met 
 with far from land, but confines itself mostly to the fjords 
 and inlets on the coast. Ileuee is derived its Swedish 
 name of Vikare, or Bay Seal; and owing to its frequent 
 habit of reposing on rocks, its Norwegian designation 
 of Steen-Kobbe, or Hock Seal. 
 
 The Common Seal and the following remarks as to its 
 habits apply nearly equally to other Seals is an admirable 
 swimmer, and, like the Shark, often seizes its prey 
 when on its back. It is also an excellent diver, and can 
 remain under water a very long time. "We read, for 
 instance, of one of the*e aninnls ' struggling in the folds 
 of a net for more than live-and-t\venty minutes, without 
 performing a single respiration, and yet being alive when 
 brought to the surface." 
 
 The way in which it ascends a rock, if at all precipitous, 
 
ITS LOVE OF MUSIC. 391 
 
 is somewhat curious. It follows the swell of the sea to the 
 rock, and on the wave breaking allows itself to be lifted 
 some height up the face, of it, to which, with its fore paws- 
 crossed, it then clings with great apparent tenacity. In 
 this situation it remains stationary until another and larger 
 wave carries it still farther up the rock, when it forms 
 a secoud lodgment; and thus it continues to advance 
 until sufficiently high up the rock to be enabled to 
 draw its heavy and clumsy hind quarters to its purposed 
 place of repose. 
 
 Its sense of hearing is very acute, and that even when 
 under water. Hence a whistle from the seal-hunter 
 often brings it to the surface. Music seems to have 
 peculiar charms for this animal. " During a residence of. 
 some years in one of the Hebrides," says Mr. Lizars, "Iliad 
 many opportunities of witnessing this peculiarity, and, in 
 fact, could call forth its manifestation at pleasure. In 
 walking along the shore in the calm of a summer after- 
 noon, a few notes of my flute would bring half a score of 
 them within thirty or' forty yards of me, and there they 
 would swim about, with their heads above water, like so 
 many black dogs, evidently delighted with the sounds. 
 For half an hour, or, indeed, for any length of time I chose, 
 I could fix them to the spot ; and when I moved along the 
 water's edge, they would follow me with eagerness, like 
 the dolphins who, it is said, attended Arion, as if anxious 
 to prolong the enjoyment. I have frequently witnessed 
 the same effect when out on a boat excursion. The sound 
 of the flute, or of a common fife, blown by one of the 
 boatmen, was no sooner heard, than half a dozen would 
 start up within a few yards, wheeling round us as long as 
 the music played, and disappearing, one after another, 
 when it ceased." 
 
 Its sense of smell is also exceedingly acute. Old seal- 
 hunters have assured me it can wind a man from an in- 
 
392 ITS DISPOSITION. 
 
 credible distance, and that its cunning in evading the 
 enemy is past belief. And if its taste is to be judged of 
 by the keenness with which it relishes its food, fe\\ 
 animals possess the sense in greater perfection. " The 
 mouth of the greatest gourmand," says M. R Cuvier, 
 " never waters more at the prospect of a rich repast than 
 that of the Seal when in expectation of its common 
 sustenance. A copious saliva fills and flows from its 
 mouth during deglutition, and not less so the moment 
 the Seal perceives its prey." 
 
 In disposition it is mild and confiding, and if left 
 unmolested, would seem rather to court the society of 
 man than to dread his presence. Professor Trail, when 
 speaking of an islet in the Orkneys, called the Holm ofP<t]>" 
 TJ^estrai/, for a long time the favourite resort of nume- 
 rous Seals, which had become unusually tame, owing to the 
 protection afforded them by the owner of the property, 
 says : " On visiting this spot in 1833, I found the Seals 
 exhibited their wonted confidence in those who approached 
 their protected haunts. Several of them swam abreast of 
 our party (six to eight in number) as we walked along the 
 beach, and did not in general keep farther off than thirty 
 to forty yards. When we turned, so did they ; and when 
 we re-entered our boat, they followed it in the narnm 
 channel that divides Holm from the Island of Papa." 
 
 Again, " Whilst I and my pupils," says Mr. Dunbar, 
 when speaking of the island in question, "were bathing, 
 as was our custom, in the bosom of a beautiful bay, 
 named 'Seal Bay,' from the circumstance of its being 
 a favourite resort of theirs, numbers of those creatures 
 invariably made their appearance, especially if the weather 
 was calm and sunny and the sea smooth, crowding around 
 us at the distance of a few yards, and looking as if they 
 had some kind of notion that we were of the same 
 species, or, at least, trenus, with themselves. The gambols 
 
ITS SAGACITY. 393 
 
 in the water of my playful companions, and their noise 
 and merriment, seemed to our imagination to excite the 
 Seals, and to make them course round us with greater 
 rapidity and animation. At the same time, the slightest 
 attempt on our part to act on the offensive, by throwing 
 at them a stone or shell, was the signal for their instanta- 
 neous disappearance; each, as it vanished, leaving the 
 surface of the water beautifully figured with a wavy 
 succession of concentric circles." 
 
 Its food consists for the most part of fish, mollusks, 
 and crustaceans ; as also of marine vegetables. Stones, at 
 times of considerable size, are often found in its stomach. 4 
 Their presence has caused some speculation amongst the 
 learned. The general impression seems to be that they are 
 intentionally swallowed by the Seal to allay the pangs of 
 hunger, caused by long fasting. But there are those who 
 imagine they have got accidentally down the animal's 
 gullet when seizing its prey at the bottom. 
 
 Even in the winter time, when the sea is frozen over, 
 the Seal caters equally as well for itself as in the open 
 water during summer. Air being, however, needful to its 
 existence, it must of necessity come at times to the 
 surface to breathe. For this purpose, and independently 
 of larger cavities, named brunnar, or wells, by which it 
 ascends on the ice, either for rest or to suckle its 
 young, it forms within its "beat," so to say, several 
 small apertures in the ice, called Blas-lial, meaning 
 breathing-holes, which enable it to respire at pleasure ; 
 and these it keeps open the whole winter. When the ice 
 is thick, and the aperture in question fully developed, it 
 resembles in form a beehive, and is as even and circular 
 as if turned in a lathe. The upper part of it is only 
 capacious enough to permit the animal to raise its muzzle, 
 or at most its head, above the ice; whilst beneath it is 
 sufficiently large to admit of its whole body. As the 
 
394 ITS BREEDING HABITS. 
 
 spring advances, however, the " Bliis-hal " becomes so 
 roomy as to admit of the animal's creeping up on the 
 ice; and of a warm day, when the sun is shining bright, 
 it may often be seen basking in its rays at the edge of 
 the aperture. It is the popular belief that tho "Bl;is-h;d " 
 is made by the breath of the Seal; as, also, that let the 
 thickness of the ice be what it may, it can form one at 
 pleasure. But this is surely fiction. The probability is 
 that the perforation is made by the Seal at the setting in of 
 the winter, when the ice is quite thin, and that from the 
 subsequent daily application of its teeth and claws, the 
 hole is not only kept open, but finally assumes the singular 
 shape mentioned. 
 
 The Common Seal, according to E. Hosted (a high 
 authority in the last century as regards the Phocida-V 
 " pairs in September, when connexion mostly takes place 
 on a rock, the animals in the while embracing each other 
 with their flippers. They then congregate in considerable 
 numbers. The males fight desperately amongst them- 
 selves, and one often sees them leap a fathom or more out 
 of the water, and then dive head foremost, which also 
 happens when they expect bad weal her.' 1 
 
 The female, M. AVilhelm von AV right tells us and 
 there is no better authority, he having long studied the 
 habits of Seals brings forth about midsummer, but has 
 
 o 
 
 nevermore than a single young one ((irrman and Knizlish 
 naturalists say occasionally two), which almost imme- 
 diately after birth takes to the water. The mother, with 
 her fore paws, assists it on to some low-lying rock, where 
 she gives it suck. Cneiff says this is only for about a 
 week, but Kkstnmi extends the period of lactation to the 
 middle of August.* 
 
 * " It ia a commonly ivrrivnl opinion," tin 1 odabratod l>r. Bamuel 
 Oilman n latr-., " tli:it I-MTV timr tin' t'rni.il.' tliii- i;i\< I u<>uri>lmii'nt to IK r 
 it inciVii.M's a ].ouml in wriylit. ' 
 
ITS DOMESTIC HABITS. 395 
 
 The cubs of most species of Seals when born are 
 covered with a sort of wool, which they retain for some 
 time, and then gradually assume their proper hairy dress. 
 Not so with the cub of the Common Seal ; for whilst still 
 in the mother's womb, it sheds its first woolly covering, 
 and when ushered into the world has acquired its second 
 or proper dress. This curious fact, of which, so far as I 
 am aware, English naturalists make no mention, was per- 
 fectly well known a century or more ago to old seal- 
 hunters. Eosted says, indeed, that if one closely examines 
 the cub immediately after birth, a portion of its first woolly 
 dress will always be seen lying loose on the hair of the 
 second, which statement has recently been fully corro- 
 borated by M. Wilhelm von Wright, who states that " on 
 opening females killed just prior to parturition, I have 
 invariably found the first dress of the young one lying 
 alongside of it in the foetus." 
 
 The Common Seal is readily domesticated, and shows 
 much acuteness and intelligence, as must be evident to 
 every one who has seen the animals in the Zoological 
 Gardens. It, in short, becomes as much attached to its 
 master as a dog, and, like that faithful creature, will 
 caress the hand that feeds and fondles it. We read of 
 a Seal, for instance, that was so tame as " to lie 
 alongside of the fire amongst the dogs ; bathed in the 
 sea, and returned to the house ; " and of another, a 
 young one, of about two and a half feet in length, that 
 " sucked one's fingers readily, and was fond of cow's milk, 
 which it greedily drank. When thrown into the sea, it 
 speedily returned to the shore. Its favourite position was 
 the kitchen hearth, the stone of which was elevated about 
 four inches above the floor, and it generally laid itself so 
 close to the embers of a peat fire burning on the hearth, 
 that its fur was often singed. If carried to any other part 
 of the kitchen, it speedily found its way back to the hearth- 
 
396 . TUB MARBLED SEAL. 
 
 stone, moving by means of its fore feet, and moaning 
 most piteously." 
 
 Again, "I have lately had occasion," says !M. F. 
 Cuvier, "to observe one of these animals which dis- 
 played much intellectual power. It did punctually what 
 it was ordered. If desired to raise itself on its hind legs, 
 and to take a staff in its hand, it. did so. At its keeper's 
 bidding it would likewise lie down on its right side or on 
 its left, and would, moreover, tumble head over heels. It 
 would give you either of its paws when desired, and would 
 extend its sweet lips to favour you with a kiss. It com- 
 plied immediately with the wishes of its owner, to whom it 
 seemed to be particularly attached." 
 
 The Marbled Seal (IHiif/hnf Mv'V, or ringed seal, S\v. ; 
 P. discolor (Auct.); CalorepJutlu* (Hxro/or, F. Cuvier ; P. 
 <t>niiil<iia, Nilss.). ' This species would not appear to be an 
 inhabitant of our Skiirmird, or of those in the vicinity. "NVe 
 are told, at least, by M. AVilhelm von Wright, that he 
 never met with it there. But it is represented as pretty 
 common in both the Sound and the Baltic. Though it has 
 Ion? been known to the northern seal-hunters as a distinct 
 
 CJ 
 
 species, under the name of MorungeV&Aet which desi-- 
 nation Dr. S. Odman gave a good description of it as far 
 back as 1784 yet M. Cuvier was the first, I believf, to 
 specifically distinguish it from the true /'. rilnlhui, to 
 which it bears some resemblance. Its most distinctive 
 eharaet eristics, as its Swedish name denotes, are the 
 ring-like marks on its body. It is the smallest of the 
 Phocacnc inhabiting the Scandinavian waters, its length 
 being usually from three to four feet, and never, I 
 believe, exceeding four and a half feet. 
 
 Its habits are, in many respects, similar to those of the 
 Common Seal. Many never congregate together, but they 
 are generally met vtith either singly or in pairs. It is 
 often seen reposing on rocks, and it keeps near to the 
 
LOVE FOR ITS OFFSPRING. 397 
 
 shore, nearer even than the Common Seal ; and although 
 living on social terms with the latter, in whose company 
 it is often met with, it would seem to shun the society 
 of the Grey Seal, of which presently. The breeding 
 habits of the Common and the Marbled Seal, however, 
 differ very widely. The Common Seal, as shown, calves 
 about midsummer, whereas the Marbled Seal brings 
 forth her young in the depth of winter, and when the sea 
 is sheeted with ice. Then, again, the cub of the Common 
 Seal, when born, has on its second, or hairy dress, and takes 
 to the water almost immediately afterwards ; whilst the cub 
 of the Marbled Seal, on the contrary, is, at its birth, clad 
 in its first or woolly coat ; and it is not until after acquir- 
 ing its second, or hairy one, that .the mother allows it to 
 leave the ice, and follow her into the water, where it soon 
 learns to cater for itself. It then much resembles its dam 
 in appearance, the white rings being clearly discernible ; 
 and it keeps company with her during the greater part of 
 the ensuing summer. 
 
 The affection displayed by this Seal to its offspring 
 is remarkable. " When the gunner approaches it," 
 says S. Odinan, "it is a pleasure to see how carefully 
 she takes it in her mouth and carries it to a safer piece of 
 ice, where she deposits it, and afterwards swims round 
 and about the spot. Other Seals, to escape their pursuers, 
 have always recourse to diving ; but the mother when 
 carrying her young never resorts to this expedient ; nor 
 does she ever lay the cub in the water." 
 
 The Marbled Seal is a great enemy to the fisherman, as 
 well from chasing the fish from their usual haunts, as from 
 destroying and plundering his nets. It is said, indeed, 
 that in the course of a single night one of these Seals will 
 rob a net of the whole of its contents. It is somewhat 
 migratory in its habits, and the least shy of all the 
 Scandinavian Seals. 
 
398 INHABITS FRESH-WATER LAKES. 
 
 Like the Common Seal, it is readily domesticated. Of 
 one that was for some time in the Jardin de Plantes, at 
 Paris, M. F. Cuvier makes the following observations : 
 "Except some monkeys, I have never known any wild 
 animal which was more easily tamed, or attached itself 
 more strongly. When it first came, it endeavoured to 
 escape when I wished to touch it ; hut in a very few days all 
 its apprehensions vanished. It had discovered my inten- 
 tions, and rather desired my caresses than feared them. It 
 was in the same enclosure with two small dogs, which 
 amused themselves hy frequently mounting on its hack, with 
 barking and even biting it ; and although their sports and 
 the vivacity of the attending movements were little in har- 
 mony with its own actions and habits, yet it appreciated 
 their motives, and seemed pleased with them. It never 
 offered any other retaliation than slight blows with its 
 paws, the object of which was to encourage rather than 
 repress the liberties taken. If the puppies escaped from 
 the enclosure, the Seal endeavoured to follow thorn, not- 
 withstanding the difficulty it experienced in creeping 
 along the ground, which was covered with stones and 
 rubbish. When the weather was cold, the three animals 
 huddled closely and kindly together, that they might 
 contribute to their mutual warmth." 
 
 The Marbled Seal, Nilsson tells us, inhabits the 
 Ladoga in Russia, and the Sairnen in Finland, to 
 which great lakes it finds its way from the Gulf of 
 Finland; and it is a varietv of this Seal, the Professor 
 believes, that is found in the Lake Baikal, in Siberia, a 
 specimen from whence is now in the Lund Museum. " It 
 is remarkable, however," he proceeds to say, that " in tin- 
 last-named lake it is of a grey-brown colour; in the Ladoga, 
 black; and in the Sairuen. blackish with whitenings. 
 
 From what has been stated in regard to the size and 
 habits of the Marbled Seal, may we not infer that it is 
 

 
THE GREY SEAL. 399 
 
 identical with the Rough or Bristled Seal of Pennant 
 (P. hispida, Sclireb. ; P. fcetida, Fabr.) ? "This species," 
 Fabricius tells us, " usually measures only four feet in 
 length, and very seldom exceeds four and a half, with a 
 perpendicular height of ten inches. It scarcely ever 
 frequents the high seas, but delights in retired bays, and 
 in the neighbourhood of the ice on the coast, from which, 
 especially when old, it very unwillingly departs. The 
 period of gestation is eight months, and the young are 
 brought forth in February, on the fixed ice, its proper 
 haunt. Here it has a hole, not so much for breathing as 
 for fishing, near which it remains solitary, rarely in pairs. 
 It is the most incautious of the Seals, both in the water 
 and on the ice. Whilst asleep on the wave, it is sometimes 
 pounced on by the eagle and borne to the shore." 
 
 And may not the Marbled Seal be identical with the 
 Bodack, or Old Man, of the Hebrides, which Mr. Wilson 
 thus describes : " It is much the least of the Seals with 
 which I am acquainted, and, indeed, so small that for a 
 long time I entertained the notion (contrary to the firm 
 opinion of the natives) that it was the young of the 
 Common Seal. This view, however, I consider erroneous, 
 for they are not even the size of a Seal three months old 
 of the common kind. Besides, they are frequently killed 
 of this size with grey beards and decayed teeth. I have 
 frequently noticed that when on shore, on the same rock 
 with other Seals, they do not lie near them, but a little 
 way apart. They are but few in number, and I cannot 
 recollect of seeing any two of them together. They are 
 not, however, at all so shy as the Common Seal, nor so 
 solitary as the Tapvaist, or Great Seal." 
 
 The Grey Seal (Gra Skill, S\v. ; Phoca Gri/pus, Fabr. ; 
 Jlalichoerus Grypus, Nilss.) was comparatively scarce in 
 our Skiirgiird, as also, as it would seem, on the western 
 coast of Scandinavia ; but in the Baltic it is by all 
 
100 DESCRIPTION. 
 
 accounts very common ; in parts of that sen, indeed. 
 almost the only species of the Phocacete. Though occa- 
 sionally mot with in hays and inlets, it keeps for the most 
 part to the outermost islands of the Skiirgurd, or to tin- 
 wide ocean heyond. It attains to a large si/e. M. AVil- 
 helm von Wright assured me that he himself on one 
 occasion shot a specimen nine feet in length, and 
 weighing close upon five hundred pounds ; and I have 
 heard of others still larger. When fat, its blubber alone 
 is estimated at from two hundred to two hundred and iifty 
 pounds. Its usual colour, as its name denotes, is ^-rey, 
 but at times its skin has somewhat of a yellowish tinge. 
 It is believed to attain a considerable age say twenty 
 years and upwards. According to Cm-ill', it sheds its hair 
 in the spring, and to facilitate the operation, rubs itself 
 against the edge of the ice, or against a stone, should the 
 ice have disappeared, ilven should it somewhat resemble 
 the Common Seal in size and colour, as is at times the 
 case, it may always be readily distinguished from the 
 latter by the greater length of its claws and the superior 
 breadth of its muzzle. 
 
 The Grey Seal pairs about midsummer, and usually 
 on an isolated roek far from the shore. Towards the end 
 of February the female brings forth her young always 
 a single one on the ice, and often during the most 
 intense cold. The cub when born is, like the Marbled 
 Seal, covered with a sort of wool, which for eight days 
 afterward! is quite \\hite; but subsequently, and by 
 degrees, it puts on its proper dress. The iirst change 
 observable is in the head and fore legs, which after a 
 I'ortnight become blackish-grey. The cub, until some 
 time subsequent to its birth, will not venture into the 
 water, but remains on the ice, \\ here, \\ hen hungry, it, 
 by iN cries, makes its wants known toils dam, who then 
 proceeds to the spot and suckles it ; and should daim< T 
 
MIGRATORY HABITS. 401 
 
 threaten her offspring, she, like the Marbled Seal, takes 
 it in her mouth, and carries it to a place of security. Unlike 
 the cub of the Common Seal, which, as said, is active and 
 lively, and repairs to the water almost immediately after 
 birth, that of the Grey Seal, in the early part of its exist- 
 ence, is stupid and heavy, and several weeks elapse before 
 it is capable of following its mother and providing food 
 for itself. But it is of quick growth, so that at the age 
 of six months it has attained upwards of three feet in 
 length, and its body will then yield a very considerable 
 quantity of oil. 
 
 The Grey Seal is gregarious, and, in the Baltic at 
 least, is often found in herds of many hundreds. But it 
 is not supposed to live on very amicable terms with 
 its congeners. We are told, indeed, that when these 
 are proceeding one way the Grey Seal steers its course in 
 an opposite direction ; though this may be, as surmised, 
 in consequence of their breeding at different seasons. 
 
 Its habits are somewhat migratory. At the approacli 
 of winter vast numbers leave their usual haunts in the 
 Baltic, and make for the more northern parts of the Gulf 
 of Bothnia, as some suppose because the ice is there thicker, 
 and the chance of its breaking up therefore less ; but 
 in the spring they again return to the southward. It 
 happens at times, however, that, owing to tempests, the ice 
 breaks up before the cubs (numbers of these animals breed 
 in the Gulf) are sufficiently strong to undertake the 
 journey. In this case, if there be many congregated on 
 the same spot, each individual is desirous, for its greater 
 security, to mount on to the largest of the " floes " in 
 sight ; but there being seldom room for the whole com- 
 pany, a terrible battle usually ensues ; during which they 
 with claws and teeth cruelly maltreat each other, and in 
 the while snarl and growl like so many dogs. The noise 
 and uproar on sucli occasions are very great indeed, and if 
 
 2 D 
 
402 MIGKATOKY IIAIUTS. 
 
 it be calm and the wind favourable, may be hoard, it is 
 said, at tlio distance of seven (English) miles. The fearful 
 bowlings of wolves that have been wandering in search 
 of prey, but who, owing to the disruption of the ice, now 
 find themselves on an isolated floe, driven hither and 
 thither by the winds and waves, not unfrequently add 
 to the horrid concert. 
 
 It is said that in the spring the Grey Seal doos not 
 delay its departure from the more northern parts of the 
 gulf, even if the ice be not altogether broken up, but 
 traverses its surface until it meets with open water, and 
 that, too, in a perfectly straight line, neither islands nor 
 headlands causing it to deviate in the slightest decree IVom 
 its track. When such a seal, called a (i'nii(/<trc, or Wan- 
 derer, is met with by the hunter, as not uufrcquently 
 happens, it usually pays the forfeit of its life. We read, 
 for instance, in a Swedish newspaper, under date of the 
 3rd May, 1858, that "two pilots, M'ho had agreed to cele- 
 brate the Easter holidays together, set oil' homewards on the 
 ice. Before starting, they had provided themselves with 
 a sufficiency of drinkables and eatables for the journey, 
 and amongst the rest with a k<i(f-buy t or shoulder of veal. 
 which one of them carried in his hand. Arrived at a 
 neck of land jutting out into the gulf, which it was ne- 
 cessary for them to cross, they observed a large Seal slowly 
 making its way on the ice. and directly against the wind- 
 as is customary with these animals which they quickly 
 despatched with the ' kalf-bog.' The poor creature \\ashoth 
 wearied and frozen, and it \\asbclic\ed had tb.U8 progressed 
 on the ice for very many miles, as no open water could he 
 observed by the men for a very long distance." 
 
 That Seals should thus make extended journeys on 
 the ic one can partly understand, because the comparative 
 ^moothness of its surface miM necessarily render the task 
 somewhat easy; but that they should \\ander far and wide 
 
GREAT PEDESTRIAN FEAT. 403 
 
 on terra fir ma, traversing in their course forests, and all 
 kinds of broken ground, as what follows will show is at 
 times the case, one has difficulty in comprehending. 
 "During the winter of 1829," so we read in the 
 Jagare Forlundets TidsJcrift of 1832 and the truth of 
 the story is certified by the signature of several most 
 respectable individuals " a young Grey Seal took to 
 the land from the Skargard, near the village of Grono, 
 and, striking into the forest in a southerly direction, 
 passed, in its way, the hamlets of Sund and Wahlnas, 
 the church and iron-forge of Letifsta, and the hamlets 
 of Elinge and Fahlandbo. Near the last-named place 
 it met with a small river, then hard frozen over. This 
 it followed for a while, but was unable to find an 
 opening in the ice. It then took to the forest in a 
 south-westerly direction to the Flo lakes, in the parish of 
 Tegelsmora, where it was also unsuccessful in obtaining 
 access to water. Hence it proceeded south-east, crossing 
 in its progress the Lake Wika, in the parish of Film, on 
 the opposite side of which it again entered the forest, and 
 finally reached the hamlet of Andersbo, situated about 
 three (English) miles from Dannemora (the celebrated 
 iron-mines), where it was overtaken by its pursuers and 
 killed. The peregrinations of this Seal are believed to 
 have occupied nearly a week, it being, as is imagined, 
 without nourishment of any kind ; and during which period 
 it must have gone over at least thirty (English) miles of 
 country. The ground, however, it should be remarked, 
 was then covered with a foot and a half, or more, of newly- 
 fallen snow, which, no doubt, very greatly facilitated the 
 animal's movements." 
 
 "2 D 2 
 
CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 The Harp or Greenland Seal. How lnmti-d.- -Tli.- rl;i]j>tT Hunt. 
 The Bearded or Great Seal. Ite Habitat. Tin- lUndr.! ..r (Y.-I.-.1 
 Seal. Its Habits. How Utili/.-.l 
 
 THE Harp or Greenland Seal ((iriiitlmnlti steal, S\v. ; 
 P. Gra>iilti,nlica, Miill.; P. <h tl -*t<i, 1'all.). This 
 species, though included in their Fauna, si-ems little 
 known to Scandinavian zoologists. There is, however, a 
 specimen of it in the Stockholm Museum that was 
 captured on the coast of Finmark ; and as Lecm, iii his 
 description of that province, speaks of it by more than 
 one Lappisli name applicable, probably, to its several 
 ages it may with safety be inferred that formerly, at 
 least, it was no stranger there. The learned s;iy. more- 
 over, that, as the young of the (ireenland Seal are 
 frequently known to make long excursions from tin- 
 Arctic regions, their proper hom<-, and are occasionally 
 met with as far south as (ireat Kritain, the presumption 
 then-fore i-, that they not (infrequently visit the Scandi- 
 navian coast- aU >; but.frum hearini,' no ver\ distinguishing 
 
TUB HARP Oil GREENLAND SEAL. 405 
 
 mark at that very early age, they, in consequence, escape 
 observation. 
 
 Crantz, the missionary, tells us that this Seal, when 
 full grown, is almost wholly of a light grey colour, with 
 a black marking on the back like two half-moons. He 
 states, further, that its appearance varies greatly, ac- 
 cording to age. Soon after birth it is quite white and 
 woolly ; in the first year cream-coloured ; in the second, 
 grey ; in the third, marked with stripes ; in the fourth, 
 spotted; and in the fifth it wears its half-moons as the 
 sign of its maturity ; as also that it attains a length of 
 nearly nine feet. The oil extracted from this Seal is said to 
 be in greater quantities than from any other pertaining 
 to the northern regions. 
 
 " In Greenland," says Fabricius, "this species of Seal 
 occurs in great numbers in the deep bays and mouths of 
 rivers. Twice a year the herds leave the coast ; first in 
 March, returning in May; and again in June, reappearing 
 in September. They bring forth their young in spring,, 
 having one, or rarely two, at a birth, which they suckle 
 on fragments of ice far from the shore. They never 
 ascend the fixed ice, but live and sleep near the floating 
 islands in vast herds. Among these they are sometimes 
 seen swimming in great numbers, having one for their 
 leader,* who seems to act as sentinel for the security of 
 the whole. They devour all the more common kind of 
 fish, having a preference for the Arctic salmon, and not 
 refusing shell-fish. When engaged in feeding, and when 
 one comes to the surface to breathe, he raises his head 
 
 * " During their migrations'," says S. Odman, when speaking of 
 Iceland and of the Wade Seal, " the herd swims in the form of a triangle, the 
 apex of which is led by an individual who therefore bears the name of 
 ' Seal King ;' and the hunter marks well the course that this their leader 
 takes when the troop is separated, because the rest of the Seals always 
 collect about him." 
 
400 HOW IIUNTEP. 
 
 only above water, and, without changing his place, quickly 
 dives down again. They seldom appear solitary upon tin- 
 ware, principally swimming and fishing underneath, occa- 
 sionally raising their heads when devouring larger pre\ 
 They swim in a variety of ways; sometimes on their 
 backs, often on their sides, occasionally whirling about MS 
 if to amuse themselves. They frequently sleep on the 
 surface of the water, and upon the whole are regarded :i^ 
 incautious, especially when on the ice." 
 
 Grants?, after telling us that the Seal in question " is 
 careless and stupid, and the only one which the (Jreen- 
 lander, when quite alone, will venture to attack," goes 
 on to say: "This he does in his Knjnk, which is shaped 
 like a weaver's shuttle. Thus equipped, away he goes 
 with as high a conceit of himself as any Mr. Captain in 
 his ship. "When he espies the Seal, he tries to surprise 
 it unawares, with the wind and sun at his hack, that he 
 may not be heard or seen. He makes hastily, but softly 
 towards it, till ho reaches within four or six fathoms. Me 
 then takes hold of the oar in his left hand, and the harpoon 
 with his right, and so away he throws it at the Seal. The 
 moment the instrument is fixed, the Greenlander must 
 throw the attached buoy into the water on the same side 
 that the Seal dives, for that he does instantly like a dart. 
 The Seal often draws the buoy along with it under water. 
 and it so wearies itself, that it must come up again in 
 about a quarter of an hour, to take breath. The (Jrecn- 
 lander now hastes to smite it with his long lance; thus he 
 keeps dart in- at it till it is quite spent, \\heii lie kills it 
 outright with his small lance ; lastly, he blows it up like 
 a bladder, that it may s\\ im the more easily after his 
 Kajak.' In this exercise he is exposed to the most and 
 greatest danger of his life ; for if the line should entangle 
 itself, as it easily may in its sudden and violent motion, 
 or if it should catch hold <!' the 'Kajak,' or of an oar. 
 
THE CLAPPER HUNT. -107 
 
 or the hand, or even the neck, as it sometimes does in 
 windy weather, or if the Seal should turn suddenly to the 
 other side of the hoat, it cannot be otherwise than the 
 ' Kajak ' must be overturned, and drawn down under 
 water. On such desperate occasions the poor Green- 
 lander stands in need of all his art to disentangle himself 
 from the string, and raise himself up from under water 
 several times successively. Nay, when he imagines him- 
 self to be out of all danger, and comes too near the dying 
 Seal, it may still attack him ; and a female Seal that has 
 young, instead of Hying the field, will sometimes fly at its 
 pursuer in the most vehement rage, and do him a mischief 
 or bite a hole in his 'Kajak,' that he must sink." 
 
 The Greenlanders, Crantz informs us further, also 
 capture this, as well as other species of Seal, by what is 
 called the Clapper Hunt, which is prosecuted by numbers 
 in concert. "As the natives are ever on the watch, so soon 
 as they discover a herd driven, usually by stormy weather, 
 into some creek or inlet, they endeavour to cut off their 
 retreat, and frighten them under water by shouting, 
 clapping, and throwing stones. As, however, they must 
 speedily come to the surface to respire, they persecute 
 them again till they are tired, and at last are obliged to 
 stay so long above water, that they are surrounded and 
 killed by long and short lances. During this hunt we 
 have a fine opportunity of seeing the agility of the Green- 
 landers, or, if I may call it so, their hussar manoeuvres. 
 When the Seal rises out of the water, they all fly upon 
 him as if they had wings, with a desperate noise ; the 
 poor creature is forced to dive again directly, and the 
 moment he does, they disperse again as fast as they came, 
 and every one gives heed to his post, to see where it will 
 start up again, which is an uncertain thing, and is com- 
 monly three-fourths of a mile from the former spot. If 
 the Seal has a good broad water, three or four leagues 
 
408 THE BKAKDED OR GREAT SEAL. 
 
 each way, it can keep the sportsmen in play a couple 
 of hours before it is so spent that they can surround and 
 kill it. If in its fright it retreats to laud, it is welcomed 
 with sticks and stones by the women and children, and 
 presently pursued by the men in the rear." 
 
 The Greenland Seal has many enemies besides man. 
 Among the rest, the Polar Bear, which, us seen in the 
 annexed drawing, often preys on such of them that it 
 finds reposing on an ice-field. 
 
 In the ocean itself, again, the more formidable species 
 of whales are perpetually making bloody and successful 
 war upon this Seal. "These whale-hunts," Rested tells 
 us, " are frequently taken advantage of by the Green- 
 landers, and when the Seals are hemmed in hy the whales, 
 they join in the pursuit, and come in for a large share of 
 the booty." Then, again, the Grampus frequently destroys 
 the Greenland Seal. It is, indeed, said, that if the monster 
 sees one of these animals basking on a small " floe," he 
 will either use his best endeavours to overturn the latter, 
 or, with his powerful fins, beat the creature from oil' its 
 resting-place into the water, where it becomes an easy 
 prey to the pursuer. 
 
 The Bearded or Great Seal (ILif-EH ,V/v>7, Sw. ; P. 
 barlata, Fabr.) has also found a place in the Scandinavian 
 Fauna ; partly, as it would seem, on the authority of 
 Hosted, who represents it as making its appearance at 
 times on the north-western coast of Norway, and partly 
 because the people of Helgeland say that in the M inter 
 a large Seal, resembling an old man, with a urey bushy 
 beard, is occasionally visible thereabouts. A specimen 
 (a young one) of what is believed to be this species is now 
 in the MiiM'iiin at Lund, and it is from this specimen, 
 as I have reason to believe, that the annexed drawing 
 taken by the late M . Konier. 
 
 This speeies is the largest of the northern Seals, 
 
ITS HABITAT. 409 
 
 attaining, Fabricius tells us, to ten feet in length, and the 
 young of the second year to six and a half feet. Rested 
 describes it as being as large as an ox, and says that when 
 the animal is full grown and fat its blubber alone weighs 
 from seven to nine "vog," that is, if I mistake not, from 
 270 to 350 pounds English. 
 
 According to Fabricius, the head of this Seal is long, 
 and its forehead peculiarly prominent ; the muzzle very 
 large, and the lips loose ; the hairs of its whiskers long, 
 numerous, horny, flexible, smooth, white, and curled at 
 the point ; the external opening of the ear larger than in 
 most other species, but without any auricle ; eyes large, 
 and the pupil round and black, iris brown. The fore paw 
 is more free than in the Common Seal ; the shape also is 
 peculiar, approximating somewhat to that of the human 
 hand, having the middle finger the longest, and the thumb 
 nearly as short as the little finger; the body long and 
 robust, and the back somewhat elevated : the skin is 
 thick. The hide of the young is supplied with soft hairs, 
 somewhat woolly underneath, which are deciduous, and 
 but thinly scattered over the adult. The colour varies 
 according to the age. The young have a dusky colour, 
 and are white underneath ; the old acquire a deep dark 
 colour Crantz says black, and Baron Cuvier " grey, 
 sometimes brown above, with a longitudinal streak of 
 black, forming a cross on the chaufrin." 
 
 The Bearded Seal, Fabricius further tells us, frequents 
 the high seas round Greenland, especially delighting in 
 the floating fragments of ice; that it resorts to land 
 principally in the spring, and is then found amongst 
 the retired islets. It is said to keep much to the deeper 
 parts of the ocean, and to be never met with in herds, but 
 to wander about in pairs or alone. When in the water, it 
 is easily recognized from its head and back protruding 
 high above the surface; and from its numerous strong 
 
410 THK II(K)I)Kl) OK CIIKSTKD SKA I,. 
 
 whiskers and glaring eyes, il has at Midi times a very wild 
 and savage look. It is said to breed in Fd>rnury or 
 March, and that the female has never more than a single 
 calf at a time. This, at its birth, as is the ease in mo-t 
 other species of Seals, has a wool-like covering, which is 
 described by Thienemann as of a yellowish colour, but by 
 Fabricius as blue-grey, and about the stomach as white 
 (liruli'N ri'iilrt 1 (tlbo). 
 
 Though the Bearded Seal is represented as a timid and 
 cautious animal, it is nevertheless very curious, and often 
 thereby gets itself into difficulties, as, for the purpose of 
 examining the boat of the hunter, it will approach so near 
 it as to be easily readied with the gun or even the 
 harpoon. It is highly esteemed by the Greenlandcr ; for 
 though it docs not yield much oil, vet its lard is looked on 
 
 
 
 by him as most delicious. It was from Hie skin of this 
 Seal and the "Walrus, we are told, that the ancient Scan- 
 dinavians formed their ropes and cables, called by them 
 svardr and svardrcip, which were so strong that the 
 united efforts of sixty men were unable to break them. 
 
 The llooded or Crested Seal (Mhis-Skiil, or bladder-seal; 
 J\/iijiji,,i>/fKtt, Sw. ; riioro cr/n/tiftt, (imel.; Ci/xfoji/mnt 
 i-i-ixliilii, Krxl.) is likewise an occasional visitor to the more 
 northern of the Scandinavian coasts, where it commonly 
 goes by the name of Kik-Ncbb, or I\<ibbutx-l\ubb<; meaning 
 t he capped seal ; but by the Lapps is called .//;/">, or l-'<tlt<>- 
 Nuorjo, that is the stomach-seal, because those people 
 liken its head and mu//le to the stomach of a rein-deer. 
 On the coast of Nordlanden (Norway) its singular look has 
 given rise, amongst the fishermen and others, to many 
 superstitious and fabulous storie>. Klakkt-kulli //, the name 
 by which he is there known, appears, according to th 
 men, in the form of a large and hairy black man, with 
 \\\\_ grown together as to resemble tins, and having 
 
 a cap on his head. lie is rarely seen, th--\ Bay, but allirm 
 
V 
 
ITS HABITS. 411 
 
 that during tempests he is sometimes driven on the rocks 
 and perishes. The account given by the fishermen to 
 Bishop Gunnerus, when on a visitation to those parts in 
 1770, is somewhat similar. They described " Klakke- 
 kallen " to be as large as an ox, with long brown hair on 
 the body, two hands with the fingers united, very short 
 arms, and wearing a cap. He was occasionally seen, they 
 said, standing bolt upright in the sea, and with his face 
 towards the wind. 
 
 Once in a time this Seal would seem to have made its 
 appearance on the more southern coasts of the Peninsula, 
 for we read in " Holberg's History of Denmark " that 
 "in December, 1549, there was captured in the Sound, 
 near the town of Malmo, a fish of unheard-of size and 
 most remarkable shape. It had a head like xmto that 
 of a man, and on the top of it a crown resembling a 
 monk's cowl. The King, Christian III., caused this 
 fish to be preserved, and sent a drawing of it to the 
 Emperor Charles in Spain." 
 
 The Hooded Seal, according to Sir Charles Giesecke 
 and his statement is corroborated by Scoresby attains 
 a length of from ten to twelve feet, but Fabricius says 
 only nine. The Arctic regions are its proper home, more 
 especially the coasts of Greenland and Spitzbergen. It 
 also visits Iceland. Fabricius tells us " it is only found 
 on the southern parts of Greenland, and delights in the 
 high seas, visiting the land chiefly in April, May, and 
 June." According to Crantz, " they are found mostly on 
 great ice-islands, where they sleep in an unguarded 
 manner. They arc found in great numbers in Davis 
 Straits, where they regularly make two voyages a year, 
 and remain from the month of September to the month of 
 March. They then depart to bring forth their young 
 and return with them in the month of June, when they 
 
4-12 HOW UTILIZED. 
 
 are very lean and exhausted. They set off a second time 
 in July, and proceed to the north, where they probably 
 find plenty of nourishment, as they return in excellent 
 condition in September. They also frequent the northern 
 shores of America." 
 
 According to Fabricius, the Hooded Seal barks and 
 whines like a dog, is polygamous, and during the pair- 
 ing season the males fight desperately amongst them- 
 selves, inflicting deep wounds with both claws and teeth. 
 The female brings forth on the ice, and, as it is believed, 
 in the end of April or beginning of May. 
 
 This is one of the Seals, I believe, which, when tisli 
 fail the whalers, is most sought after by them, and herds of 
 many hundreds, and it may be thousands, are often seen 
 congregated on the ice, when the sailors slaughter vast 
 numbers with heavy bludgeons, shod with iron. Usually 
 they make little or no resistance, being bewildered by 
 the sudden onset ; " but at times, on being wounded, 
 the animal grows fierce and turns on its assailant, and 
 being defended by its hood from the stunning effects of a 
 blow on the snout, will inflict severe wounds on the 
 person by whom it is attacked." 
 
 The Hooded Seal is greatly prized by the natives. The 
 skins of the young are converted into dresses for the 
 women; their great boats and their houses are covered 
 with those of the aged. The teeth are used to head their 
 hunting-spears, and the stomachs are converted into 
 fishing buoys. 
 
CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 Seal-hunting. The Skal-Sten. A Drowsy Phoca. The Stand-Nat. 
 The Ligg-Nat. The Skal-Kista. The Seal-Hook The Skrackta. 
 The Skal-Jem. Persson's Adventures. Sealing-Expeditions by 
 Water. Sailing oh the Ice. The Seal-Camp. Attacking it. 
 Cruel Expedient. Sealing-Expeditions by Land. -Perils attending 
 Seal-hunting. Utility of the Seal. Its Medical Properties. 
 
 "IT7HEN Christianity was first preached to the Esqui- 
 maux by the missionaries, who depicted to them in 
 glowing terms the pleasures and delights of the regions 
 above, men, women, and children, we are told, started to 
 their feet, exclaiming, " Tell us, are Seals plentiful in 
 Heaven ? " That the thoughts of this simple-minded 
 people should be wholly engrossed on Seals is, however, 
 little to be wondered at, as on these animals their very 
 existence almost entirely depends. In making this quota- 
 tion, however, I do not mean to imply that the Scan- 
 dinavians set so high a value on the Phoca as the Green- 
 lander; but for commercial and other purposes it is 
 still held in considerable estimation, and various expe- 
 dients are resorted to by them, to effect its capture. 
 
 Many fall to the gun during both winter and summer ; 
 and for the most part to rifles of large calibre, say 
 
Ill 
 
 Tin: SK\I,-SII:N. 
 
 carrying two-ounce balls, and weighing from twenty to 
 twenty-five pounds ; with one at least of which, a- 
 also a second rifle of ten to twelve pounds \\ei-lit, the 
 hunter is usually provided. Not a few Seals, however, 
 arc killed to the common shot-gun charged \\H\\ slugs, 
 which, if the animal be young and the distance short, is 
 thought to be equally efficacious. Occasionally they are 
 killed in the open water, when following in the wake of 
 a boat;* but as little more than the head of the animal 
 is usually visible, and then only for a very short time, 
 the chances of hitting, especially if the sea he rough, are 
 somewhat small. 
 
 Tin: >k\i 
 
 For the most part, hmveu-r, Seals are shot whilst 
 reposing on (lie so-called " .S'/.W-N/f//,'' or seal-stone, as 
 depicted al;o\e ; that is, a small isolated rock, rising Imt 
 
 It I- -:iiil i-Ui-uln-li- lllilt it ulii' wlli-tlf wlli-ll Si-ill- ilM- ill tin- in :il 
 
 \ii-iiiil\ "t'llii- In.ii 1 . tln-y may l- imliu-i-il tn ii|i|ir.i<-|i it. Tin- liki- rlirrl, 
 
 S.ilillli-l < >.|||I.-|II tl'IK M-, 1- I'l-.'ilno il -l.olllil till- rl'ilt't IM- jiiiillti-il ll'il. 
 
CUNNING OF SEALS. 415 
 
 little above the surface of tlie water, to which these 
 animals are in the habit of resorting, more especially after 
 storms, and when wearied of buffeting with the waves. On 
 this stone the Seal usually passes the night, creeping on 
 to it about sunset, and remaining there until some time 
 after daylight, when it again betakes itself to the sea in 
 search of food. 
 
 Owing, in part, probably, to the persecution to which 
 the Seal is subjected on the Scandinavian coast, it is 
 usually exceedingly shy and circumspect. In mounting 
 the " Skal-Sten,"* therefore, it is accustomed, with its face 
 turned towards the land, and with its body pai'tially out 
 of the water, to reconnoitre the vicinity ; and when it 
 docs ascend the stone, it is usually on the shore side, so 
 that, without turning round, which, from the conformation 
 of the animal's body, would be a somewhat tedious 
 operation, it may be in readiness to plunge into the open 
 sea at a moment's notice. 
 
 The most favourable hours for shooting the Seal on the 
 " Skal-Sten " are before sunrise, about noon, and towards 
 evening. The grey of the morning is perhaps the best, 
 for the animal then seems sluggish and loth to leave its 
 quarters. Should danger threaten, it presents a very 
 singular appearance, for witli head erect it peers about 
 in all directions, and, in the gloom, looks for all the world 
 like a huge nondescript bird. But it is not always easy 
 to get within shot ; and great management is requisite on 
 the part of the gunner in making his approaches, almost 
 as great, in short, as when one is stalking Red Deer or 
 Rein-deer. Embarked in his little skiff, the man must take 
 advantage of neighbouring rocks, islets, or other cover, and 
 
 ' The-ie " Skiil Stcnar," which are well known to the fishermen and 
 others on the coast, were formerly protected by law, "to give encourage- 
 ment to a commerce beneficial to the inhabitants of the Skarpml." 
 
116 SEA I -siiOMi l\ii. 
 
 sliould the sun be sinning the beams of which <l:iz/,l<- the 
 eyes of the Seal he must, if possible, have his back to it.* 
 But of all things lie should be minded to keep under HIP 
 lee of the animal, for if it once get scent of him 
 and its sense of smelling is by all accounts wonderful it 
 will be off at once; and as it always lies nigh to the i-d-v 
 of the " Skal-Stcn," a single movement of its Hipper* 
 carries it into the water. 
 
 Should the hunter succeed in getting within gunshot 
 of the Seal, and that from its position the choice rests \\ith 
 himself, he aims either at the head, the neck, or the 
 breast, which are said to he its most vulnerable parts. 
 But unless the animal bo killed outright, as not often 
 happens, it for the most part flounders into the sea, and is 
 generally lost to the man ; for unless very fat, which 
 in the summer time is rarely the ease, it for the most 
 part sinks at once to the bottom, and if the water there- 
 abouts be deep, serves only as food for fishes. To 'iiard, 
 as far as may be, against this contingency, the hunter 
 forthwith anchors the small buoy with which lie is always 
 provided, near the spot (usually indicated by its blood)t 
 
 * The hunter, to conceal his movement*, not iiiifrc<[ui-iitly civets 
 of "screen" out of an old sail, or what not, nn :i rock, m- Met, near the 
 "Skill St. -11," and when the Heal hits crept on t<> the latter, he, taking 
 advantage of the "screen," is enal.led, without much ilitli-ulty, t. 
 within range of the animal. 
 
 t BlonKjvist, an old and successful seal hunter on the west DM 
 Sweden, tellsnietli.il BTOB after it ha- disappear.- 1 (provided tin- depth is not 
 
 it.-r than three or four fathoms} ;i small ipiic.-ccnt circle, e.-ni.-cd liy the 
 oily inatlt-r which has exuded from the animal's l.dy. isalwav- ..!,-, rvahle 
 immediately aKove the spot where the carcase lie-; and that should this 
 little circle be curried away l>v tin- wind and WMTM, similar one will 
 
 . ntlv supply its place. I'.! |\ i>t tcils nn- further, that if a Seal ha-, 
 
 the in-taut after inhaling, received its death wound, when its lung's in 
 
 sequence are full of air, it will not sink for some little time afterwards ; 
 
 l.ut if, on (he contrary, just suK-e juent to exhalin'.'. it x<'* down ah 
 
THE SKAL-KIKAIIE. 417 
 
 where the animal went down. This point gained, he has 
 recourse to his Skal-kikare,* or seal telescope, and nar- 
 rowly scans the bottom, which, unless the water be thick, 
 is clearly discernible at a depth of from six to eight 
 fathoms; and when he has descried the object of his 
 search a matter of the less difficulty, as the belly of the 
 seal, which is of a light colour, usually lies uppermost 
 when the animal is dead he, by means of a grappling 
 iron with which he is likewise equipped, forthwith hauls 
 it into his boat. 
 
 Sometimes, M. Ilolmers tell us, the seal is shot when 
 reposing on the rocks during the night-time, for it is then 
 less afraid, and will allow a person to approach very 
 close. To enable the hunter to take a better aim, however, 
 he runs a line with a piece of chalk (a thin slip of wood, 
 nine inches in length, having been previously affixed to 
 the fore part of the barrel) from "breech" to "sight." 
 At times, moreover, as we learn from the same writer, the 
 Seal is lured within gun-shot by means of " Lackning," 
 or imitating its call-note. This plan succeeds best during 
 the pairing season. The hunter proceeds to the part of 
 the Skargard where these animals are known to con- 
 
 at once. Hence it is an object to fire at the animal the moment its head 
 appears above the surface. 
 
 * Of these implements there are two kinds. One is trumpet-shaped, 
 and somewhat resembles those for reconnoitring oyster-beds. It is from 
 two to six feet in length, according to fancy ; the smaller end, or that which 
 one looks through, is an inch or so in diameter, and open ; but the lower 
 which is glazed, and to which a sufficient weight is attached for sinking the 
 implement in the water up to the middle, is some seven or eight inches 
 wide. The other kind of " Sk;il-Kikare " consists of a wooden frame 
 square or circular, is immaterial of a foot or so in depth, and of a capacity 
 sufficient to admit the head wholly or in part. The upper portion is of 
 course open ; but the lower, or that inserted in the water, is provided with 
 a piece of glass. A common water bucket, glazed at the bottom, will in 
 not answer the purpose perfectly well. 
 
 2 E 
 
418 A DROWSY 1MIOC\. 
 
 grcgate, and where their disagreeable cries, resembling 
 somewhat the grunt of a pig, may be heard in every direc- 
 tion. Having ascertained their \\hereabouts, he rows to 
 the spot and conceals himself behind a stone or otherwise. 
 Here for a time he remains silent, but after the lapse of 
 an hour or so, commences to " call," when the animals, 
 which, alarmed at his first appearance, had retreated, 
 begin to return and to collect about him. The work of 
 destruction now commences, and as the seals swim to and 
 fro near his ambush, with their heads well out of the 
 water, an expert shot may often kill several before the 
 rest finally disperse. The weather ought to be pretty 
 calm, otherwise the seals will not hear his "Luck ; " and 
 the wind should be from the land, for, if in the opposite 
 direction, they would be instantly aware of his presence, 
 and make a precipitate retreat. 
 
 Once in a time, when the sea is quite calm, the Seal 
 is met with fast asleep on the surface in a bolt-upright 
 position, and with the half of its body out of the water. 
 These drowsy gentlemen have occasionally given rise to 
 scenes of a rather ludicrous character. " A tenant of 
 mine," says M. Holmers, when speaking of the Gulf of 
 Bothnia, "started early one fine December morning, in a 
 small skiff, in search of seals. A huge fellow was soon 
 observed by him lying motionless on the water. lie 
 advanced silently and cautiously towards it, hugging him- 
 self in the belief that, under the favourable circumstance. 
 he would soon be enabled to claim it as his own. "When, 
 however, he had approached near the animal, which 
 exhibited no signs whatever of life, he surmised naturally 
 enough that it must have been wounded shortly before by 
 a brother sportsman, and was then quite dead. Congratu- 
 lating himself on his good fortune in thus, without trouble 
 or expenditure of ammunition, obtaining possession of 
 so rich a pri/.e, he, without further ceremony, rowed riirht 
 
" 'WARE SEAL ! " 419 
 
 up to the beast and seized it by the fore paw, with the inten- 
 tion of first turning it on its back and then hauling it into 
 the boat. In this matter, however, he calculated with- 
 out 'mine host,' for the Phoca, whose immobility had 
 simply arisen from a deep slumber, but from which this 
 unceremonious treatment had aroused it, made so des- 
 perate a plunge downwards, as not only to free itself from 
 the imagined captor, but to deluge him and all his per- 
 tainings with water. The man was not a little crest- 
 fallen, whilst his vexation was the greater, because he at 
 the time had two loaded guns in the boat, and, had he 
 taken common precautions, he might not only have 
 avoided the mortification of being outwitted, but would 
 to a certainty have bagged the animal." 
 
 The seal bites exceedingly hard, and unless you are 
 quite certain that life is extinct, great caution is needful 
 in handling it. Even when apparently defunct it will 
 at times revive and cause the hunter no little trouble. It 
 has not unfrequently happened that after having been 
 hauled into the boat it has offered so desperate a resist- 
 ance that its detention has become a very questionable 
 matter. A well-known seal-hunter on the western coast 
 of Sweden, named Jacob Johanson, a fine, determined 
 looking fellow, assured me, indeed, that on one occasion 
 he himself had a very severe hand-to-hand encounter 
 with a huge grey seal, and that it was only by having 
 recourse to his own teeth (his knife not being at hand at 
 the moment) that he was enabled to overcome and 
 retain the beast. 
 
 Samuel Odman tells a somewhat similar story. " A 
 peasant in my neighbourhood had some years ago," he 
 says, "hauled a large wounded seal into his boat, but 
 after a time the animal came to itself, and commenced 
 attacking him. The man defended himself with the oars, 
 with which he dealt it many severe blows, though with so 
 
 2 E 2 
 
420 
 
 THE STAND-NAT. 
 
 little effect, that the seal not only made itself master of 
 them, but compelled him to flee for shelter to the fore 
 part of the craft ; and even this would have proved an 
 insufficient shelter had not assistance been at hand. 
 
 Seals, even if umvoundcd, would appear at times to bo 
 dangerous. " There are many rocks in the Skargurd," 
 writes Carl Knutberg, under date of 1755, " on which 
 these animals may be seen daily, occasionally as 
 many as fifteen together, whore they fight desperately 
 amongst themselves. It is not advisable presumptuously 
 to attack such a troop, amongst which may be some 
 of the size of a large horse. It is said that some years 
 ngo two men rowed to a Skal-Berg, or seal rock, situated 
 near to Ilernosand (Gulf of Bothnia), for the purpose of 
 shooting seals, but they were so set upon, whilst in the 
 boat, by these animals that even with the aid of a spear 
 and an axe they had difficulty in escaping with life." 
 
 THE STAN11 S -.1 
 
 Seals, more especially the Common and the Marbled 
 Seal, are also frequently taken in nets. That in most 
 
ITS CONSTRUCTION. 421 
 
 general use is called the Stand-Nat, or fixed net, a kind 
 of flue, the nature of which will be readily understood 
 by the above drawing, taken from M. Hosted. A A 
 represents the net when set ; DD two young seals making 
 their approaches towards it, and who, the worthy parson 
 naively remarks, " if they do not turn back, will presently 
 be made prisoners ; " C a, seal already in the toils ; and 
 E another seal who, seeing his comrade "in a difficulty," 
 is about to beat a hurried retreat. This net, made of stout 
 twine, is from ten to fifteen fathoms in length, two to 
 three fathoms in depth, according to the locality and 
 depth of the water, with meshes five to six inches 
 square, just sufficient, in short, to admit the head of the 
 seal. It has an upper Telning, or cork line, to which, 
 however, in lieu of corks, is attached a number of Flctkor, 
 or oval-shaped pieces of charred wood, each about twelve 
 inches in length, and two in thickness.* But it has 110 
 lower "Telning," or head-line, partly because, if there 
 were, the net, during the struggles of the seal, would be 
 apt to fasten to the bottom, and partly because it would 
 be a hindrance to the proper entanglement of the animal 
 in the meshes. 
 
 The "Stand-Nat" (or it may be nets, several being 
 occasionally fastened together) is most commonly set 
 near a " Skal-Sten," though at others across a narrow 
 strait, leading to a bay or inlet of the sea that is resorted 
 to by seals. The way of setting it varies. Generally, 
 however, its innermost end is secured by means of a stout 
 rope to a heavy stone, or to sea-weed, on the " Skal-Sten " 
 itself, whilst its outermost end has no other fastening than 
 
 * In lieu of these, people at times substitute straight wooden pins 
 about a foot in length, which are secured to the " Telning" by the middle 
 only ; and as soon, therefore, as the not is disturbed by the seal, these pins 
 fasten in the meshes, and the animal, in consequence, becomes so wrapped 
 up, that extraction becomes a matter of greatly increased difficulty. 
 
422 HOW TO USE IT. 
 
 a small stone of just sufficient weight to keep it in its place, 
 that is, sunk in the deep water beyond. At other times 
 the reverse is the case. The inner end of the net is 
 attached to the " Skal-Sten " by a mere thread, whilst its 
 outer extremity is secured to the bottom by a heavy stone. 
 In either case the inner or outer end of the net is left in a 
 measure free, so that when the seal strikes it, the meshes 
 on all sides may more readily collapse about the animal, 
 and the more violently it struggles the more inext ricably 
 will it be fixed in the toils. 
 
 The " St;lnd-Nitt " is usually set in the evening, and 
 taken up again at a pretty early hour on the following 
 day. If placed near a " Skal-Sten " it should be to lee- 
 ward, because the seal usually mounts the stone on the 
 weather-side at night, and in the morning takes to 
 the water in the opposite direction. The chances, 
 therefore, are that in making its plunge into the si'a 
 more especially if its movements be quickened by a 
 blank shot, which is often iired for the purpose, it will 
 be made captive. 
 
 It occasionally happens that the seal is taken in tin- 
 net of an evening when about to mount the " Skiil-Sten," 
 as prior to so doing it is in the frequent habit of making 
 several circuits round the stone for the purpose of ascer- 
 taining if all be safe, and should it not observe the net, 
 it runs its head into one or other of the meshes. 
 
 The " Stiind-Niit," it should be observed, 'ought not to 
 be set unless the weather be fine, for if the wind and 
 waves beat on the rock, seals will not take up their night 
 quarters there. To lure these animals into the net, various 
 expedients are resorted to. Bright lights, as is known, 
 greatly excite their curiosity. A lire is therefore made 
 on the shore, or on a rock, in rear of the "Skal-Sten," 
 \\liich has the ell'ect of attracting them to the spot ; and 
 as a further inducement, their olfactory nerves arc tickled 
 
ITS DESTRUCTIVE PROPERTIES. 423 
 
 by the fumes of bones and other strong-scented sub- 
 stances, which are cast into the flames. At other times 
 Ktitar, or seal-cubs, are tied to a line within the net, the 
 cries of which often attract old ones. 
 
 Though the " Stand-Nat " is most commonly used 
 during the summer months, recourse is had to it also 
 when the sea is frozen over. The manner in which it is 
 then set is similar to that described by me in "Northern 
 Sports," when speaking of the manner in which fish are 
 captured in Wermeland during the winter ; viz., small 
 circular holes at stated intervals are first cut in the ice, 
 and afterwards the hauling lines attached to the net are 
 passed, by means of long and forked poles, from the one 
 aperture to the other. 
 
 The " Stand-Kilt " would appear to be a very destruc- 
 tive engine. We read of as many as fourteen seals having 
 been taken at a single " haul." It is chiefly the young- 
 ones, however, that are made prisoners. The old ones, 
 let the night be dark as pitch, would seem by scent or 
 otherwise to discern the toils ; and, even should they get 
 entangled in the meshes, their strength is such, especially 
 in the case of the Grey Seal, that it must be a very strong 
 net to retain them within its folds. Odtnan tells us, indeed, 
 that they at times carry away the net altogether. " A man 
 of my acquaintance," he goes on to say, " related to me 
 that he once captured an old seal with portions of ten 
 different nets attached to its body, which was, however, 
 finally secured in the eleventh. On flaying the animal, a 
 part of one of the nets was found to have grown into the 
 skin, and a considerable portion of the others were in a 
 state of decomposition." When within the folds of the net, 
 the struggles of the seal are most violent, and as it con- 
 stantly endeavours to " go ahead," never to retrace its 
 course, it soon becomes so entangled that the captor has 
 difficulty in disengaging it. What with the animal's great 
 
124 
 
 THE LIGG-NAT. 
 
 exertions, however, in its endeavours to escape, and the 
 want of air, it soon becomes exhausted, and when taken 
 out of the water is often found quite dead. 
 
 . 
 
 TIIK I.H.I. BAT. 
 
 Another kind of net for the capture of seals is called 
 the Jjigfi-yai, which is thus described by Linnaeus: "It 
 is attached to two wooden frames, one at each end, 
 which are secured to the bottom of a ' Skiil-Sten.' 
 To the upper bar of the innermost of the frames is 
 fastened a long line reaching to the shore. When one 
 pulls at this line, the net is brought to the surface, 
 but when the line is slackened, it sinks to the bottom. 
 The net, whilst there, is alt outlier unseen, and the 
 seal, unsuspicious of danger, creeps up, therefore, on to 
 
THE SKAL-KISTA. 425 
 
 the " Skal-Sten." When the peasant sees that it is asleep, 
 he pulls gently at the line, which brings the net to the 
 surface, and surrounds the stone in the manner of a quad- 
 rangular fence. The animal, on awakening from its 
 slumbers, casts itself headlong into the water, but cannot 
 extricate itself from the toils before the man, with his 
 harpoon or other implement of destruction, reaches the 
 spot and puts an end to its existence." 
 
 THE SKAL-KISTA. 
 
 The Skdl-Kista, or seal-box, is another device to 
 capture these animals. In principle it is the same as the 
 so-called Watten-Giller,i\ie expedient commonly adopted 
 to catch rats and mice, viz., a " balance board," placed 
 across a tub of water. It is constructed of logs, and 
 square in form, as seen in the above diagram, and is sunk 
 in the water up to the letter Y. Large stones are after- 
 wards heaped up around and about it, especially at both 
 ends, so as to make it resemble a " Skal-Sten " as much as 
 possible. The trap-door T consists of an oblong flat stone, 
 or of plank ends, and swings on an iron bar, the extremi- 
 ties of which rest on the side-walls of the " Skal-Kista " 
 itself. To prevent the trap-door T from falling too low 
 there is a spring or stop, so that on the pressure ceasing 
 it at once resumes its horizontal position. This device, as 
 
420 
 
 THE SEAL-HOOK. 
 
 will be readily understood, is covered with sea-weed, and 
 when, therefore, the seal, tired of contending \\ith the 
 waves, seeks in all innocence to rest its wearied limbs on 
 what it takes to be a rock, the trap-door T. swings on its 
 axle, and the yawning gulf beneath presently receives the 
 poor animal; and as the aperture through which it falls is 
 at once closed again, the trap is in readiness to receive 
 others of its comrades who may allow themselves to he 
 similarly beguiled. 
 
 TIII: -i M. MI'K. 
 
 In certain parts of the Norwegian coast, and probably 
 elsewhere in Scandinavia, seals arc raptured by means of 
 barbed hooks, in the manner depicted nho\r. .Fig- I 
 shows the hook used for the purpose. These, Hosted tells 
 us, should be made of tough iron or steel of at least the 
 thickness of one's linger, with shanks some ci-hteen 
 inches in length. They must neerssirily he large 
 to penetrate the //W>. as, if only lodged in the skin or 
 
THE SKRACKTA. 427 
 
 blubber, they would be apt, during the struggles of the 
 animals, to lose their hold. Fig. 2, the " Skal-Sten," with 
 the hooks duly arranged about it. The horse-hair or 
 hempen line, to which they are fastened by a half-hitch, or 
 otherwise, ought to be pretty stout, and of sufficient length 
 to encompass the stone, to which both of its ends are 
 secured. 'Fig. 3, a " Skal-Sten " with several seals upon 
 it, some reposing in imagined security, whilst others 
 again are evidently in considerable tribulation. 
 
 The hooks should be placed on the " Skal-Sten," we 
 are told, at low water, though only in moderate weather ; 
 for if it be stormy, seals do not willingly repair to 
 the stone. The latter ought to be reconnoitred with a 
 telescope at half ebb on the following tide. If any of 
 those animals are then observed to be lying on it, a blank 
 shot (when the boat has approached sufficiently near) 
 should be discharged, which will at once arouse them from 
 their slumbers, and cause them to plunge headlong into 
 the sea, in their progress to which one or more of the com- 
 pany are commonly " brought up by the run ; " for though, 
 when ascending the " Skal-Sten," they are not in the 
 slightest degree impeded by the hooks, which point 
 upwards, and are, moreover, slightly covered with sea- 
 weed, yet in their passage to the water they can hardly 
 pass them unscathed. 
 
 THE SKRACKTA. 
 
 Among other expedients adopted in Scandinavia for 
 the destruction of seals is the so-called Skriickta, which fig. 1 
 
428 TUB SK.YL-JEKN. 
 
 represents when "gillrad," or set. A B C D is a round 
 tube, made of thick sheet-iron, two feet in length and 
 two and a half inches in diameter, with two fixed heads 
 (bottnar), one at the lower end, and the other, EE, near 
 the upper. F G II, the harpoon with its square iron 
 shaft, the upper portion of which is one-third thicker 
 than the lower. I, a circular plate of iron (Irlcku) 
 screwed to the middle of the latter, and so lilted as to 
 work freely up and down the tube itself. L, a strong spiral 
 spring that propels the harpoon ; and M N, the .witiffure, 
 or trigger, which is confined in its place by an indentation 
 at the head of the weapon. Fig. 2 shows the " Skriickta" 
 after the trigger M N has been touched, and the spiral 
 spring set at liberty. 
 
 Several of these destructive engines are inserted, by 
 the aid of an auger, in a " Skiil-Stcn," known to be 
 the resort of seals; and after being "gillrad," which is 
 effected by means of a stick shod with iron, they are lightly 
 covered with sea-wccd. When now the seal creeps up on 
 the stone, and comes in contact with the " smiillare," the 
 harpoon is released from confinement, and lodged in the 
 body of the unfortunate animal. 
 
 .' ~ ---' 
 
 THE SKAl.JKKV 
 
 Many seals are also killed in Scandinavia \\ith the 
 Sl,-<il-jt'i-ii, or harpoon, the form of which varies somewhat. 
 Its head i~- of iron or steel, ;md usually from eight to ten 
 
ANOTHEU KIND. 
 
 429 
 
 inches in length ; near its base there is a small hole or a 
 ringjAvhcreto is fastened a line of the thickness of one's little 
 finger, and from ten to twelve fathoms long. The shaft, 
 rcmovcable at pleasure, is of wood, and about eight feet in 
 length, but is only inserted in the socket when the 
 weapon is about to be brought into play ; at other times it 
 serves as a staff to assist the hunter during his pi'ogress 
 over weak ice, or to dispatch such seals as may chance 
 to fall in his way. 
 
 UNN.EUS SICAL-JEHN. 
 
 A second form of " Skal-jern," as shown above, is spoken 
 of by Liimseus, who describes the shaft as three feet in 
 length and somewhat less in thickness than a man's wrist. 
 But from the shape of this weapon it is pretty clear that it 
 can only be used when you are immediately near the 
 seal, and then in like manner as an axe. 
 
 It is in winter time chiefly that the harpoon is 
 made use of. Armed with it, and with a white shirt drawn 
 over his usual dress, that he may the less attract the eye 
 of the seal, the hunter steals upon it whilst sleeping at the 
 edge of the ice, or he keeps watch near the " BLls-hal," 
 spoken of at pnge 393, and when the animal comes to the 
 aperture to respire, lie transfixes it with his deadly weapon. 
 
430 THE TABLES TURNED. 
 
 On receiving the wound, it plunges downwards, carrying 
 with it, however, only the barbed iron, the shaft remaining 
 in the man's hand. But the seal is presently " brought 
 up " again by the line spoken of (whereto is attached a 
 swivel), the inner end of which is tied to the hunter's 
 left wrist. The battle is often severe and protracted, in 
 which the man "plays" the beast in the same way as the 
 fisherman a salmon. It usually ends, however, in the 
 seal's discomfiture, for when at length it is compelled to 
 come to the surface to breathe, it is presently destroyed, 
 either by the hunter himself, or by his comrade, whom he 
 may have called to his aid.* 
 
 But in thus securing the harpoon line to his own arm, 
 the hunter runs no inconsiderable risk, as has been proved 
 on many occasions. A rather remarkable instance is 
 mentioned by Samuel Odnian, who, when speaking of a 
 certain rock in the Baltic, called Skill-Berg, well known 
 as the resort of numerous seals, and access to which is not 
 at all times easy, owing to the surf, &c., says : "A peasant 
 from the hamlet of Gillinge, plunged his spear into the 
 body of a very large seal ; as usual, the line fastened to the 
 weapon was tied to the man's arm, and as the animal had 
 the advantage of falling ground, it drew its assailant down 
 the rock into the sea. Happily the seal was unable to dive 
 
 * According to Crantx, tin 1 ( Ireenlander destroys the seal :it tin 1 
 KlAs-hAl in much the same manner as in Scandinavia. "II' Mftti himself 
 mi ii stool war llic aperture, irstin^ his feet meanwhile on a hoard to 
 keep (hem from being chilled. When the animal makes its appearance, he 
 plunges his harpoon into its body, and afterwards kills it at his leisure. 
 The Samoyedes, 1'allus tells us, ha\e a \ ery iii^'enioii- way of eiivimn ent ini; 
 the 1'hoca on its resorting to the ' I'.l i- h.il.' They plaee several IN..I- 
 nailed together, and to whieh u ropo is a!li\ed, near the aperture, and 
 afterwards enneeal themselves behind a iieiu'hbonritii: 'hiimmoek:' when 
 the seals have left the water, and lie down to bask on the ice, they draw 
 the board* in (|m stion over tin- hole to prevent their return, and then 
 de.,p.iteh their \ ietims." 
 
PERSSON "s ADVENTURE. 431 
 
 to any great depth, and when it was compelled to come 
 to the surface to respire, the poor fellow found some 
 relief. Thus the game continued for a while, sometimes 
 the head of the man, and at others that of the seal, 
 appearing above water, until at length the boat with 
 his companions arrived, when an end was presently put 
 to the unequal contest." 
 
 Even if the harpoon line be fastened to the boat, instead 
 of the hunter's arm, which is frequently the case, his life is 
 at times thereby jeopardized ; so at least it would seem by 
 the following story, which several years ago ran the round 
 of the Swedish newspapers : " In one of the small islands 
 of theDalaro SkJirgard (lat. 59)," says the narrator, "there 
 resided, in the year 1832, a very celebrated seal-hunter 
 named Anders Persson, who every spring earned a certain 
 sum of money by the capture of seals amongst the 
 ice-fields of the Baltic. Though frequently exposed to 
 imminent danger, he nevertheless considered death was 
 never so near at hand as when on a sealing-expedition in the 
 vicinity of his own Skargard. At the outermost part of 
 these islands is a rock, where seals are accustomed to resort, 
 and to which he and his neighbours often proceeded for 
 the purpose of shooting those animals. The voyage is 
 usually made in a little boat that will carry at the most two 
 persons. The men on these occasions are provided with a 
 rifle of large calibre, and a ' Skal-jern,' the long line 
 attached to which is secured to the stem of the craft. 
 Thus equipped, Persson started off alone in his little skiff 
 for the rock in question, and when arrived within a short 
 distance, he descried, by the aid of his telescope, a huge 
 seal lying on the upper part of it. Under cover of a pro- 
 jecting crag, he so directed his course as to be concealed 
 from the view of the animal. On reaching the rock, the 
 old man moored his boat to a large detached stone, 
 repeating to himself the old adage ' Secure thy horse 
 
432 HIS FATE NEARLY SEALED. 
 
 well, but thy boat still bettor.' Afterwards ho crept, 
 riflo in hand, within range of the Phoca, which sur- 
 passed in size any he had before seen, and lodged a bullet 
 in its body. The wounded animal, apparently in the 
 agonies of death, rolled down the face of the rock to the 
 shelf below. The old man, with the agility of youth, 
 hastened back to his boat, unmoored her, and leaving his 
 gun on the rock, proceeded to the spot where the seal was 
 lying. On his arrival there he found to his great surprise 
 that the animal had partially recovered, and was in the 
 very act of plunging into the water ; but sufficient time 
 was still left him to drive his spear deep into its body. 
 The next instant, and quickened, as it appeared, by the 
 anguish of its fresh wound, the seal, with the rapidity of 
 an arrow, dived down, and directed its course seaward. 
 Before Persson could properly collect his senses, 1 he line, 
 fastened, as said, to the stem of the boat, was ran out, 
 and the craft in full career for the open sea, and as it was 
 very small, it was consequently in momentary dan -or of 
 being drawn under water. Persson had therefore no other 
 alternative than to throw himself into the ' stern sheets,' 
 whereby she was kept on something like an even keel. 
 The voyage might be likened to that of a ' dragon ship ' 
 (as the galleys of the famous Vikingar, or sea-kings, were 
 called), 'quick and straight out to sea.' The water on 
 both sides of the skiff was white with foam, and the 
 waves threatened every instant to swallow her up. 
 Already she was a (Swedish) mile in the open sea, 
 and Persson, in his fright, imagined she was ap- 
 proach ing Roval, on the opposite coast. Most gladly 
 would he have severed the line, and thus lost both 
 seal and harpoon, had he not feared that, tin- instant 
 he left his place in the aft part of the boat, she would 
 have "one to the bottom. At length, however, the seal 
 
 S 
 
 s,>mc\vhat slackened its speed, and now that the danger of 
 
SEALING EXPEDITIONS BY WATER. 433 
 
 being swamped was over, the old man began to look about 
 him, when he found to his great joy that the beast was 
 making for the identical rock from whence it had shortly 
 before taken its departure, and on reaching which it crept 
 slowly to the very spot where it had received its wound. 
 Persson now unfastened the harpoon line, and rowed his 
 boat to the place where his gun lay, with which, having 
 reloaded it, he soon put an end to the miseries of the 
 monster. Every time the old man related this adventure 
 he took off his cap in thankfulness to Providence for 
 his miraculous escape ; and after remaining silent for 
 some time, he said : ' That seal produced me a whole 
 barrel of oil.' " 
 
 In the Baltic, more especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, 
 the hunters, during winter, often club together and make 
 long sealing expeditions, lasting frequently many weeks, 
 or, it may be, two or three months. Several boats usually 
 keep company, so that, in the event of one being jeopard- 
 ized, the others may be ready to render assistance ; and in 
 most instances the several crews agree among themselves 
 to share alike in the spoil. 
 
 The boat used for the purpose is eight fathoms in 
 length from stem to stern, and, though constructed of 
 light materials, is strongly put together. The keel is shod 
 with iron, that it may be the more readily drawn on the 
 ice, as must of necessity often happen. It is provided with 
 mast, sail, cable, &c., as also with one or more snipor, or 
 punts, which are sharp at both ends, so that they can be 
 rowed either way, and are so small and light that two 
 men can not only draw one where they please, but carry 
 it on their shoulders. The boat itself has usually a crew 
 of eight men, the most experienced of whom takes the 
 command. It is provisioned for several weeks, the food 
 being of the simplest kind; consisting of bread baked 
 to the consistency of biscuit, butter, cheese, dried or 
 
 2 F 
 
434 THE DEPARTURE. 
 
 salted fish, and meat. Brandy, as may be supposed, is 
 not forgotten, but the chief beverage of the men is the 
 brackish water of the gulf; disagreeable enough to the 
 taste, it is true, though somewhat improved by tlio intro- 
 duction of a little meal. Their supply of firewood is very 
 scanty; partly that more room may be left for sto\\.-i 
 and partly that the craft may not be overloaded. The 
 fuel, in short, is not more than sufficient to cook their 
 provisions; and, as the men have nothing but the sails to 
 protect them from the weather, they in consequence sutler 
 greatly at times from the cold. They are dad chiefly in 
 coats or cloaks made of calf-skin, with the hairy side 
 out ; these, as well as their other habiliments, are 
 of a white colour, so that they may the less attract tin- 
 notice of the seals. Each man has a change of clothes, so 
 that, in the event of immersion in the water, he may have 
 other things to put on. Such as arc wet they dry by 
 sleeping on them. A goodly supply of fire-arms, ammuni- 
 tion, harpoons, &c., and a telescope form part of the outfit ; 
 as also in most instances one or i\\o well-trained dugs, in 
 preference white in colour; for these can wind the seals 
 from a very long distance a Swedish mile, that is, nearly 
 seven English miles, it is said and are, therefore, often 
 enabled to render the men invaluable service. 
 
 The time of departure having arrived, which is gene- 
 rally in February, the boat is drawn to the edge of the 
 fixed ice, when it is forthwith launched into the open 
 \\ater. If, however, the sea thereabouts be sheeted with 
 such thick \iri;-iii ice as to render it ditlieult and laborious 
 for the men to force her through it, they draw the craft, 
 or, it may be, sail her until such times as they come to 
 the open water --a mode of proceed in;; often adopted by 
 them on the great ice-lields that they happen to meet 
 with duriiiir the voyage. 
 
 To draw the boat on the ire is a soineuhat laborious 
 
SAILING ON THE ICE. 435 
 
 and tedious operation. To render the task easier, they 
 are, therefore, accustomed from time to time to deposit 
 the heavier portion of the stores on the ice ; and, after 
 proceeding a short distance farther, to return and fetch 
 them in Jtalkar, or hand-sledges. But the several stages, 
 so to say, are very short, seldom exceeding an English 
 mile, the men being fearful that a sudden disruption of 
 the ice, as frequently happens, might separate them from 
 their baggage. 
 
 oo O . 
 
 Their mode of proceeding when " under sail " on the 
 ice is somewhat curious. Two men, with their hands on 
 the lee gun-wale, run alongside of the boat to prevent 
 her capsizing ; whilst the skipper, holding by the outer 
 end of the as as a long pole fixed across the craft is 
 called, and which answers the purpose of a rudder steers 
 and steadies her. If, however, the boat be simply drawn 
 on the ice, then the services of the skipper only are 
 required, the rest of the crew having, meantime, ample 
 employment at the hauling-lines. 
 
 When at length the boat is fairly afloat, the men 
 navigate her as best they can amongst the numerous 
 ice-fields that are drifting in every direction about the 
 gulf. Some of these are miles and miles in extent ; and 
 when, from storms, several have packed one above the 
 other, regular icebergs often many fathoms in height 
 are formed. During the winter these "floes" and ice- 
 fields are pretty sound and secure ; but, as the spring 
 advances, they become full of holes and fissures. In these 
 the seals, more especially the P. Grypus, often congregate 
 in large numbers at times, it is said, in droves of several 
 hundreds. Such an assemblage is called a Skal-Lager, 
 or seal-encampment. Here one sees the old males, and the 
 females with their cubs, lying huddled together indis- 
 criminately. Immediately near to a "Liiger" is always 
 open water, in the shape of so-called Bntnnar, or wells 
 
 2 F 2 
 
136 THE SEAI.-r\M!'. 
 
 or of an aperture formed by the disruption of the ice, 
 to which these animals constantly resort, cither for tin- 
 purpose of bathing or of procuring food. At a small 
 "Lager" each adult has, it is said, its own particular 
 "Brunn," hut at a large "Lager" five or six indh iduals 
 make use of the same. 
 
 "When now the adventurers come to an ice-field, on 
 which there is reason to suppose there may be a " Lager," 
 they secure the boat as best they may, and, if it Im- 
 practicable, to leeward of it, as well for their own greater 
 security, in the event of a storm arising, as to prevent the 
 seals from getting wind of them. Should the ice-field, or 
 floe, be comparatively small, the whole crew, \\ ith the 
 exception of a single individual left to guard the boat, 
 proceed in a body to search it ; but if, on the contrary, it 
 be of great extent, two men are sent out to reconnoitre. 
 These are provisioned for a day or two, and provided, 
 moreover, with a " Snipa," as well to enable them to cross 
 any chasm in the ice they may meet with, as to visit the 
 ice-bergs that are drifting past. But even it unprovided 
 with a skitr.they are not altogether helpless; for, on coming 
 to a fissure in the ice, they with their axes, or otherwise, 
 will detach a portion of the ice on which they tlicniM-lvcs 
 are standing; and on this fragile raft, by the aid of their 
 harpoon-shafts, cross over the opening. And when it is 
 needful to their safety, as at times happens, that they 
 should ascertain the set of the current, they drop a small 
 piece of bread in a hole ilie\ thcm^-lvcs cut in the ice 
 for the purpose, the motion of which at once shows its 
 proper direction. 
 
 \Vlien the " Lager " is found and for its discovery 
 they are mostly indebted cither to the ti-lcscopc, which 
 enables them to scan distant objects, or to the dogs, who 
 can often wind the seals from afar the whole party 
 proceed in the boat as near the scene of action :e- 
 
ATTACKING IT. 437 
 
 Should there be neither "Brunnar" nor other open 
 water near the " Lager," as is at times the case, the 
 adventurers take few or no precautions ; but, rushing into 
 the midst of the drove, they with their harpoon-shafts, or 
 with clubs, slaughter the poor creatures without mercy. 
 The blow, it is said, should not be dealt on the snout, as 
 is the usual practice, for, though it may occasion insensi- 
 bility for a time, the animal often revives, and, if there 
 be no one to intercept its retreat, may get off altogether; 
 but on the neck, which causes almost immediate death. 
 The old males are very savage, and not unfrequently turn 
 on their assailants, whom they threaten with both claws 
 and teeth. In this case caution is needful ; for, unless a 
 man gets out of the way of the infuriated creature, he 
 runs the risk of receiving an ugly wound. When the seal 
 thus charges, the man, at times, throws down his leathern 
 gauntlet, which occupies its attention, and in the while he 
 knocks it on the head. 
 
 If, however, there should be " Brunnar," or other 
 open water, near the "Lager," which would, of course, 
 render the retreat of the seals comparatively easy, the 
 hunters, rather than hazard an open attack, resort to the 
 like ruse as the Greenlanders, viz., they, whilst crawling on 
 their bellies towards the " Lager," imitate the cries of the 
 animals, somewhat resembling, as said, those of a pig, and 
 keep constantly lifting up their feet and knocking them 
 together, so as to make it appear they belonged to the 
 fraternity. Thus they are generally enabled to get, 
 unsuspected, within gun shot of the "Lager," when they 
 discharge their heavy rifles into the midst of the herd, 
 and commonly with deadly effect. Should the weather be 
 calm, the seals for the most part, on hearing the report of 
 the guns, make at once for the water ; but if they are 
 fighting amongst themselves, whence arises a great noise 
 and uproar, and that the wind be high, they seem hardly to 
 
438 CRUEL EXPEDIENTS. 
 
 notice the shots, and it not unfrequcntly happens that u 
 large portion of them at least remain on the spot, in 
 which case the volley is repeated a second, or even a third 
 time. The tiring having ceased, the hunters rush forward 
 to the "Lager," and with their clubs put not only the 
 wounded out of their misery, hut mercilessly slaughter 
 the cubs ; for these, rather than take to the water before 
 the time appointed by nature (which, as regards the P. Gr;/- 
 pus, the chief object of pursuit, is, as said, not until some 
 weeks after their birth), will lie perfectly quiet, and un- 
 resistingly allow themselves to be knocked on the head. 
 
 Though many seals are thus usually killed at the 
 " Lager," still the larger portion of the drove, of the old 
 ones at least, generally contrive to reach the open water 
 in safety. Such of the females, however, as have left cubs 
 behind them, as also seals that were absent from the spot 
 when the onslaught took place, often, subsequently, show 
 themselves at the " Brunnar," in which case they are 
 either shot or transfixed with the harpoon. To induce 
 the mothers to return to the open water, the hunters 
 resort to a most barbarous contrivance, viz., they allix a 
 living cub to the lowermost branch of a triangular hook, 
 attached to the end of a long line, and then lower it into 
 the " Brunn." The piteous cries and convulsive move- 
 ments of the poor tortured creature soon attract its dam 
 . to the spot, and in her affectionate solicitude to release her 
 progeny, she embraces it, and, as a consequence, is herself 
 impaled on the barbed iron, when both are brought up to 
 the surface together! 
 
 This cruel expedient, by which the cub is innocently 
 made to contribute to the destruction of its parent, is 
 adopted chiefly with the Grey Seal. Not, ho\\.-\-i-. 
 from any feeling of compunction as regards other 
 species, but simply because the cub of the Marbled Seal 
 is not al\va\s procurable, and that of the Common Seal, 
 
HARDSHIPS AND DANGERS. 439 
 
 owing to its taking to the water soon aft or birtli, is 
 seldom captured alive. With the Common Seal, theie- 
 fore, the order of things is reversed : for, when the mother 
 is shot, and the cuh for the time has escaped under the 
 ice, her hind quarters are suspended over the aperture, 
 which tempting bait soon attracts her offspring to the 
 surface again, when its death is quickly compassed. 
 
 The hunters, when on their sealing expeditions, not 
 unfrequently fall in with the so-called " Gdngare," or 
 wandering seals, spoken of some pages back. Such I mean 
 as, when the ice in the Gulf lias not broken up at the 
 usual time, nevertheless do not delay their departure 
 for the south, but traverse its surface until they meet 
 with open water. If the seals be far from the latter, when 
 met with by these men, great destruction is committed 
 amongst them. The poor creatures, at such times, from 
 seeing no means of escape, scramble about in all directions, 
 during which time their assailants manage to kill so many 
 as to be enabled to load their " kalkar " occasionally, 
 indeed, for the second or even the third time before the 
 retreat of the remainder is secured. 
 
 On ordinary occasions the flesh of the slaughtered 
 seals is saved by the hunters ; but when they are very 
 successful, only the blubber and skins. If all goes well, 
 the expedition usually lasts from five to six weeks ; but 
 under adverse circumstances whether from dearth of 
 seals, or storm two or three months may elapse 
 before the boats return home, when a general division of 
 the spoil takes place. 
 
 As shown, the men engaged in these sealing expeditions 
 are necessarily exposed to many and great hardships. To 
 say nothing of scanty fare, they must, of course, suffer much 
 from the inclemency of the weather. They likewise run 
 great personal risks, as well those consequent on navigat- 
 ing the ocean in an open boat in the winter time, as from 
 
440 SEALING EXPEDITIONS BY LAND. 
 
 icebergs, which during gales of wind threaten every 
 instant to overwhelm their fragile harks. Not unfre- 
 quently, ir.oreover, when exploring extensive ice-fields, in 
 search of seals, and when distant from their boats, they 
 are overtaken by thick weather, or snow-storms, which 
 render their situation perilous in the extreme. It is on 
 record, indeed, that during one particular season the 
 crews of no fewer than fifteen boats from the parish of 
 Wora alone thus perished miserably, or we're engulfed 
 in the waves ! 
 
 In the winter time the seal-hunter also makes extended 
 excursions on the fixed ice, that firmly attached to the 
 land; or on some enormous "floe," that after having 
 been driven hither and thither by the waves has at length 
 made a lodgment on the shore. Several individuals, pro- 
 visioned for a few days, and well provided with guns and 
 harpoons, usually join company on these occasions. The 
 seals are commonly found lying at the very edge of the 
 fixed ice, or on the drifted " floe," as the case may be, 
 and often in herds of a hundred or more; but if the iee 
 does not extend very far from land, the animals, the 
 old ones at least, are exceedingly wary and difficult of 
 approach, and on the slightest appearance of danger, such 
 as the sight of a man, or of a boat, or even the cries of 
 birds which denote peril, at once plunge headlong into 
 the sea. They are said, indeed, to be so al'raid of the 
 land, that if when resting on an ice-field il drifts to 
 within even a gun-shot of the shore, they will at once 
 desert it, and move off else\\heiv. The success of the 
 hunters, nevertheless, is often very considerable. It is 
 recorded, in a Swedish iie\\s|>:iper of the 30th March, 
 18(50, that during the preceding \\<vk a party of men from 
 the hamlet of Norrboda had "clubbed to death upwards 
 of two hundred seals." 
 
 The-e seating-expeditions by land, >o to say, as well as 
 
PERILOUS SITUATION. 441 
 
 those by sea, are no child's play. When, for instance, 
 there is a shift of wind, and, as a consequence, a sudden 
 separation of the ice on which they are embarked from 
 the shore, the peril is great in the extreme. Even should 
 the men have previously succeeded in making large cap- 
 tures, they are instantly obliged to relinquish the fruits 
 of their labours, and to flee for their lives ; and if it does 
 so chance that the "floe" on which the poor fellows are 
 located is driven into the wide open ocean, as too frequently 
 happens, few situations can be conceived more terrible ; 
 for thinly clad, and ill provisioned, they have little other 
 to anticipate than death by cold or starvation, or a 
 watery grave ! At the present moment there are 
 two pictures in the church of Faro, the island where our 
 fleet " coaled," when in the Baltic during the late Russian 
 war, portraying the perilous situation in which the poor 
 seal-hunters are at times placed. One of these pictures, 
 Linnseus tells us, " is descriptive of the adventures of 
 fifteen men belonging to the island of Waro, who, in the 
 spring of 1603, went on an expedition on the ice to cap- 
 ture seals. Whilst thus engaged the ice separated near 
 the shore, and the whole of them were carried out to sea 
 on the detached ' floe.' When passing Sando, three of 
 the number leaped on to another ' floe,' and fortunately 
 succeeded in reaching that place. The other men were 
 compelled to follow the ice and the wind into the wild 
 sea ; but through the protection of the Almighty the 
 whole of them, after a voyage of fourteen days on the 
 ' floe,' came to the Stockholm ' Skargard,' although during 
 the time they had no other provisions than raw seal 
 flesh. The other picture represents two Islanders on a 
 ' floe,' who were also driven out to sea, but on the 
 third day were rescued from their terrible position." 
 
 Although the sealing expeditions, whether by land or 
 sea, described in these pages, are attended by almost 
 
442 VALUE OF THE SEAL. 
 
 unheard-of hardships and perils, yet by the Finns and 
 others they are looked on as highly interesting and excit- 
 ing. " It is a playing with the dangers of the sea," says 
 a gifted Swedish writer, " and an endurance of lahour 
 and fatigue that reminds one of the hardihood and 
 martial exploits of the old soa-kings." 
 
 The seal is of considerable value to its captor. The 
 skins of the adults of the larger species, we are told, are 
 tanned and used as a substitute for leather, whilst those 
 of the smaller are converted into various articles of 
 clothing, as also into boots; and if the skin lias not been 
 previously prepared, a little pulverised bark is placed 
 within them, which, when acted on by the warmth and 
 moisture of the foot, tans them to a certain extent. 
 Trunks and cushions are also covered with the skins of 
 these animals. The Finns, moreover, not unfn-qucntly 
 attach a slip of the skin to the under part of their 
 Skidor, or snow-skates, which, though being no impedi- 
 ment when ascending a hill, yet effectually prevents a 
 retrograde movement. 
 
 The blubber, which even on a .Marbled Seal, the 
 smallest of the Phocie, is some two fingers in thickness, 
 is for the most part salted, and used by the common 
 people in lieu of butter ; or else it is boiled down into 
 oil, in which state it serves various purposes, such as to 
 supply them \\ith light, and to grease their fishing-boots, 
 as also the cattle, during the great heats of summer, 
 when they are pestered by insects. 
 
 The flesh, which is darker in colour than that of 
 most other animals, is eaten both salted and fresh, and 
 by some with great uusto ; that of the young of the 
 Common or Marbled seal is, by certain individuals, con- 
 . sideml equal to lamb. And though the seal feeds chiefly 
 mi the tinny tribe, neither its llesh or blubber has the 
 least lishv taste. The "Dippers." \\lien pickled, are 
 
ITS MEDICINAL PROPERTIES. 443 
 
 reckoned a delicacy ; and the blood is made into plat, a 
 kind of black pudding. Even the entrails are at times 
 saved, and after being chopped small and boiled are 
 eaten by the Finns and Lapps ; otherwise they are dried, 
 and given to the pigs in winter time. 
 
 THE BAUl'Il'E. 
 
 The stomach of the seal is used for various purposes. 
 Linnaaus tells us, indeed, that in. certain parts of Sweden 
 it is converted into a bag-pipe, as represented above ; from 
 the idea, possibly, that as the seal, when living, is so 
 charmed with music, dulcet sounds might be extracted 
 from its body after death. Be this as it may, I feel assured 
 my Scottish friends will be delighted to learn that their 
 own " heaven-born " instrument may be constructed out 
 of such very simple materials. 
 
 The medicinal properties of the seal, Rested tells 
 us, are very great, more especially preparations from 
 its blood and lungs, which are, he says, something like 
 panaceas for almost all kinds of disorders. 
 
CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 The Walrus. Resemblance to both Man and Horse Is 
 
 A Sleeping Herd. Food of the NVulnis. Its Coongfc 
 
 Affection. Chase by Land. Chase by Water. 11 w H:ir]>><>nil. 
 Daring of the Harpooner. Tli.' Curtain's K.\i><>rience Value 
 of the Walms. 
 
 T^HE Walrus, Sea Horse, or Morse (Ilrolroxs, S\v.; 
 Rosmar, Norw.; Jforsk, Lapp.; Trir/ifr/ntx IluHnmnis, 
 Linn.), has found a place in the Scandium inn Fauna. 
 Although at the present day this animal is very rarely 
 seen on the coasts of the Peninsula, yet in olden times it 
 \\ould almost seem to have been a resident, or at least a 
 pretty constant visitant, there being good reason to belie\ e 
 it was regularly hunted by the ancient Northmen for its 
 skin and tusks, the value of which were perfectly well 
 understood even in their day. 
 
 The proper home of the \\alrus is the Polar regions, 
 \\here it is found almost everywhere; not, it is true, in 
 the same abundance as formerly, " war to the knife " 
 having for centuries been carried on against it, but still 
 in considerable numbers. In southern latitudes it is 
 seldom observed, and the instances are few and far 
 between of its visiting the British Isles. 
 
THE WALRUS. 445 
 
 Scientifically to describe so well-known an animal as 
 the walrus would be waste of time, the rather as it is 
 so well depicted in the annexed drawing ; but it may be 
 proper to state that its usual length is from twelve to 
 fifteen feet. At times, according to Baron Cuvier and 
 others, it attains not far from twenty ; and the girth of its 
 huge body is nearly as much. Some specimens seen by 
 Captain M'Clure were estimated by him to weigh 35 cwt. 
 Its colour varies greatly. According to Fabricius, the 
 young are black ; they then become brown, and gradually 
 paler, till in old age they are quite white. What with 
 the relatively small head of the creature, its thick muzzle, 
 and its formidable tusks pointing downwards, it has 
 altogether a most strange appearance. 
 
 " When walruses were near the boat," says Professor 
 B. M. Keilhau, of Christiania, who visited Cherry Island 
 and Spitzbergen in 1827 and 1828, and whom I have 
 the greater pleasure in quoting, from his writings being 
 but little known to the British public, " they turned their 
 heads half round towards us, and showed their large 
 brown eyes, which seemed inflamed, owing to the number 
 of large veins intersecting them. In their looks, combined 
 with the way in which their heads and necks were carried, 
 there was a direct likeness to the horse, fully justifying 
 their being named after that animal." 
 
 Others, again, say that prior to the development of 
 the animal's tusks, which is not, I believe until its 
 second year, it, when rearing its head above the surface, 
 and gazing about, bears no slight resemblance to that of a 
 man, and may not improbably have given rise to the 
 fabulous stories of mermen and mermaids. Scoresby, 
 indeed, says, " I have myself seen a sea-horse in such a 
 position, and under such circumstances, that it required 
 very little stretch of imagination to mistake it for a 
 human being so like, indeed, was it, that the surgeon 
 
446 IS GREGARIOUS. 
 
 of the ship actually reported to me his having seen 
 a man with his head just appealing above the surface 
 of the water." 
 
 The motions of tho walrus on shore, for which its 
 limbs would seem little adapted, are slow and cluing. 
 " Their gait," Martens tells us, " is a kind of jerking ; 
 they can make considerable springs, and can advance 
 pretty rapidly, with the help of their teeth. When they 
 continue on land they nevertheless appear to be and 
 to a great extent certainly are sluggish brutes." If, 
 however, the animal be in the water, its proper element, 
 and for which its organs are beautifully fitted, all 
 its members have free scope, and work to the admiration 
 of those who behold them. Whether descending into 
 the depths of the sea, or Rwimtning along its surface, 
 its members are perfectly suited for their exigencies. 
 Hence Zorgdrager states, " It is just as difficult to follow 
 the walrus with boats in rowing as it is to follow 
 the whale itself." 
 
 The walrus is gregarious, and would seem to be in a 
 remarkable degree social. We hear little of these animals 
 in solitude or single pairs, but united together in num- 
 bers ; often, indeed, in immense droves. Lord Shuldham, 
 in his interesting account of this animal, and when 
 speaking of the Magdalen Islands, in the Gulf of St. 
 Lawrence, says that in former times they used to collect 
 there in herds of from 7,000 to 8,000. Captain Cook also 
 relates having met with herds of many hundreds together, 
 "whose roaring and braying was so loud that in the 
 night, or in fogiry weather, they gave us notice of the 
 vicinity of the ice before we could see it." 
 
 This crowding together on land of so many awkward 
 and noisy creatures i're([ucntly gives rise to singular 
 spectacles. "The moment the first is ashore, so as to 
 lie dry, it will not stir till another comes and fore 
 
A SLEEPING HEKD. 447 
 
 it forward, by striking it with its great teeth ; this one is 
 served in the same manner by the next, and so on in suc- 
 cession till the whole are landed, tumbling over one 
 another, and forcing the foremost for the sake of quiet to 
 remove farther up." 
 
 When the walruses are thus congregated, and for the 
 most part asleep, some are always on the watch, who, 
 on the approach of danger, arouse those next to them, 
 and the alarm being thus gradually communicated, the 
 whole herd is presently awakened. An indescribable 
 tumult then ensues. Each individual Avill be the first in 
 the water ; but as they all lie huddled together, extrication 
 from the mass is a matter of difficulty. They become angry, 
 bite, and fight with their tusks, so that a terrible noise 
 arises ; they at the same time shriek and roar fearfully. 
 When, however, they have succeeded in getting free, they 
 scramble or roll forward to the edge of the ice, whence 
 they throw themselves headlong into the sea. 
 
 A herd of walruses reposing on the shore must be a 
 strange sight. " I followed the margin of the plateau," 
 says M. Keilhau, " and soon came to an indentation in 
 the rock, at the bottom of which, and at about one hundred 
 feet below me, was a little inlet of the sea, and a narrow 
 strip of land, stretching from the water's edge to the 
 foot of the nearly perpendicular cliff. On this strip 
 I noticed a large heap of grey and reddish-brown sack- 
 shaped masses, that bore some resemblance to so many 
 sleeping pigs of an astounding size. I had not quite 
 determined within myself their identity before I became 
 aware of a large grey body moving about in the inlet 
 in question, immediately beneath the surface of the 
 water. Presently, however, it reared its head, and 
 I then saw it was a walrus, with its two-feet-long 
 tusks. In the heap just spoken of were a half-score of 
 these animals. One or other of them now lifted up its 
 
14* FOOD OF Till-: WALRUS. 
 
 head also, and made diverse movements that it might 
 change its position. There was something disgusting in 
 the look of the group; when the naked, round masses of 
 fat, on which scarcely an outward limb was to be distin- 
 guished, interlaced themselves, so to say, with each other, 
 one could readily fancy them to be a cluster of gigantic; 
 worms. The almost inanimate appearance of these s. a 
 monsters, which for several days together can lie motion- 
 less in the same place, together with their clumsy and so 
 to speak chaotic form, would seem to give certain hold 
 inquirers some ground for looking upon them as merely 
 animals in embryo. And I do not doubt that philoso- 
 phers who venture to speculate on the origin of the 
 human species, and who believe that mankind, once 
 inhabitants of the ocean, have by an insect -like meta- 
 morphosis been developed out of forms similar in type to 
 the cetaceous mammals which are akin to fishes, would, if 
 they had beheld what I did shuddering, feel satisfied that 
 their theory was still further strengthened." 
 
 Naturalists seem not to have altogether agreed 
 as to what constitutes the food of the walrus; some 
 authorities, Schrebcr amongst the rest, a dinning that it is 
 not at all carnivorous. Hut the evidence is strong to tin- 
 contrary ; Scores! >y having found in its stomach shrimps, 
 a kind ofcray-fish, and the remains of young seals. That 
 it feeds largely Oil certain sea-weeds, such as the FtfCUS 
 diyiltttiot, has, by dissection, been ascertained beyond 
 doubt. This the animal severs with its tusks from the 
 spot where they grow ; and whilst so occupied, according 
 to Professor Loven, who visited Spitzhcrgen some ye 
 
 , "stands perpendicular in the water, with its head 
 directed downwards." 
 
 The \\alrus, like the seal, seems capable of endur- 
 ing long abstinence. Lord Shuldham states that "it is 
 in the habit of crawling up the shore, in a convenient 
 
ITS FEARLESSNESS. 449 
 
 landing-place, and, if the weather be fine, of remaining 
 sometimes fourteen days without food of any kind, but 
 that on the first appearance of rain it retreats to the 
 water with precipitation ; " and, as with the seals, it has 
 been observed to discharge from its stomach considerable 
 quantities of stones, at times of a large size. 
 
 The walrus is said to be monogamous, and its pairing 
 season the months of May and June, at which time these 
 animals collect in large herds, and take long wander- 
 ings to the more southern parts of their zone. The female 
 produces in early spring, either on the shore or the ice, 
 and commonly a single cub, never more than two. She is 
 most tender of her offspring, and guards them with the 
 greatest possible care. " Mothers with cubs," says M. 
 Keilhau, when describing a walrus-hunt, " often swam 
 past us. With the fore part of the body the parent 
 was accustomed to press the cub under her, and at the 
 same time to give it, as a sort of warning, one or more 
 gentle thrusts with her tusks." And the regard the 
 parent evinces towards her progeny is, by all accounts, 
 fully reciprocated on its part. 
 
 The walrus is very fearless, and pays no attention 
 to a boat, except as an object of curiosity ; and even after 
 having been ineffectually struck with the harpoon whilst 
 in the water, will often afford the man an opportunity of 
 repeating the attempt. If left unmolested, it is a peaceful 
 and harmless creature, living in amity with its fellows, 
 and interfering but little with its congeners ; neverthe- 
 less, it is no coward, and when attacked can behave with 
 cool courage and bravery. " If a blow be struck with a 
 spear," says Zorgdrager, " it must instantly be withdrawn 
 to prevent the animal from securing it, and with it wound- 
 ing the assailant, as sometimes happens. When severely 
 wounded itself, it becomes very furious, striking from 
 one side to another with its teeth, and breaking the 
 
 2 G 
 
!"><' ITS COURAGE. 
 
 weapons with which it is attacked ; and at last, burning 
 with rage, it places its head between its paws, and allows 
 itself to tumble into the sea." 
 
 It not only can effect much in self-defence, but is also 
 at times willing to lend efficient help to its associates, and 
 thus combining, they become formidable and dangerous 
 foes. "When I wounded one," writes Martens, "others 
 speedily surrounded the boat, and whilst some endeavoured 
 to pierce it with their tusks, others raised themselves out 
 of the water, and did everything they could to board it." 
 Sir Edward Parry, who encountered these animals in the 
 Fox's Channel, tells us again " We saw about two hun- 
 dred piled, as usual, over each other, on the loose drift 
 ice. A boat's crew from the fur;/ and llecla proceeded 
 to the attack, but these gallant amphibia, some with 
 their cubs mounted on their backs, made a most desperate 
 resistance, and one of them tore the planks of a boat in 
 two or three pieces. Three only were killed." Captain 
 Phipps, afterwards Lord Mulgrave, who met with th<->e 
 creatures dining his attempted voyage to the North 
 Pole, in 1773, testifies to the same effect : " When near 
 the north of Spitsbergen," he says, " two officer* engaged 
 in an encounter with a walrus, from which they came oil' 
 with little honour. The animal being alone, was wounded 
 in the first instance, but on plunging into the deep, he 
 obtained a reinforcement of his fellows, who made a 
 united attack upon the boat, wresting an oar from one 
 of the men, and had nearly upset her, when another 
 boat came to their assistance." 
 
 At times the walrus becomes the assailant, which 
 is probably owing to its having been previously subject 
 to molestations. Captain IJcechy describes an attack 
 made on his boat in .Magdalen Bay by a drove of these 
 animals. "They sniT'iunded the craft, and attempted 
 to tear the planks asunder with their formidable tusk^; 
 
MATERNAL AFFECTION. '151 
 
 and the wounds inflicted on them served only to increase 
 their ferocity."* 
 
 Mothers, when their offspring are in peril, are espe- 
 cially courageous. "The female," says Captain Cook, 
 " will defend her young to the very last, and at the 
 expense of her own life, . whether in the water or on 
 the ice. Nor will the calf quit the dam, though she 
 be dead ; so that if you kill one, you are sure of the other." 
 And during the third voyage of the great navigator, 
 when the Resolution and Discovery were returning from 
 Behring's Straits, it is mentioned : " In the afternoon 
 we hoisted out the boats, and sent them in pursuit of the 
 sea-horses that surrounded us. Our people were more 
 successful than they had been before, returning with 
 three large ones and one young. The gentlemen who 
 went in this party were witnesses of several instances of 
 parental affection in these animals. On the approach of 
 our boat towards the ice, they all took their cubs under 
 their fins, and endeavoured to escape with them into the 
 sea. Several whose young were killed and wounded, and 
 were left floating on the surface, rose again and carried 
 them down, sometimes just as our people were going to 
 take them into the boat ; and they might be traced bearing 
 them to a great distance in the water, which was coloured 
 with their blood. We afterwards observed them bringing 
 them up at times above the surface, as if for air, and again 
 diving under it with a dreadful bellowing. The female, 
 in particular, whose young had been destroyed and taken 
 into the boat, became so enraged that she attacked the 
 cutter, and struck her tusks through the bottom of it." 
 The walrus is readily domesticated. A young one 
 
 * When people are thus furiously assailed by walruses, the best defence 
 is said to be sea sand, which, being thrown into their eyes, occasions partial 
 blindness, and obliges them to disperse. 
 
 2 G 2 
 
l.V_> A WALRUS-HUNT 
 
 was, some few years ago, exhibited in London, and even- 
 tually, I believe, found its way to the Zoological Gardens. 
 Bser mentions having seen one in St. Petersburg that 
 was fed on oat-grit porridge, in which were inserted slices 
 of yellow turnips and other vegetables; and Edward 
 Worst, that "he saw one in England \\hirh was throe 
 months old, that had been brought from >"ova Xeinbla. 
 Every day it was put into water for a short time, hut it 
 always seemed happy to return to dry ground. It was 
 about the size of a calf, and could open and shut its 
 nostrils at pleasure. It grunted like a wild boar, and 
 sometimes cried with a strong, deep voioe. It was fed 
 with wild oats or millet, which it rather sucked in than 
 masticated. It was not without dillieulty that it ap- 
 proached its master, but it attempted to follow him, 
 especially when it had the prospect of receiving nourish- 
 ment at his hands." 
 
 The chase of the walrus, which is of great antiquity, 
 is conducted both by sea and land, the weapons usod con- 
 sisting, for the most part, of the harpoon and the laneo. 
 Guns, unless loaded with small shot to blind the animal, are 
 not found very destructive, as, owing to the thickness and 
 toughness of the hide, and the mass of blubber, o\en a 
 rifle-ball takes but little effect. 
 
 On land the destruction of the walrus must, at times. 
 be great. " After the herd has made some little advance 
 from the sea," says Lord Shuldham, \\ lion speaking of 
 the Magdalen Islands, "tin 1 hunters, armed with a sharp 
 spear, under cover of the night, and \\ith the assistance 
 of good dogs trained for the purpose, endeavour to disperse 
 them. This attack in the Gulf of St. Lawrence is called 
 a 'out,' and is in general looked upon as a most dan- 
 LTcrons adventure, it boini; impossible to drive them as 
 von will, and dillicult to avoid them; but as, during the 
 darkness, they do not know their way to the tea, man\ 
 
IN THE AKCTIC REGIONS. 453 
 
 fall victims. The aim is usually made at the throat and 
 breast, and in this manner 1,500 to 1,600 have been 
 killed in a 'cut.' " 
 
 The greatest number of walruses slaughtered is pro- 
 bably on ice-fields, or in the open sea, where they are 
 harpooned by the natives in much the same manner as 
 whales ; but the Greenlanders are said to entertain so 
 wholesome a dread of this animal as seldom to venture 
 on attacking it unless they are several in company. Their 
 usual manner of proceeding is first to harpoon the creature, 
 and then to allow it to swim about with an inflated 
 bladder attached by a line to the weapon until it be 
 wearied, and then to dispatch it with their lances. But 
 even under these circumstances the victory is not always 
 easily gained ; for when the walrus is roused, he often 
 fights a hard battle. " In striking the animal," Zorg- 
 drager remarks, " it is needful to make a selection. 
 Accordingly the hunters aim at the eye, which obliges 
 the walrus to turn its head, and then the fatal blow is 
 directed to the throat." 
 
 Professor Keilhau's experiences in the Arctic regions 
 with these animals were somewhat to the like effect. 
 " The day," he says, " was appropriated to hunting 
 walruses, which either lay in heaps on detached pieces 
 of ice, or swam in large droves amongst them. With 
 the usual weapons, harpoons and spears, thirteen in all 
 were killed, partly on the ice and partly in the open 
 water. The first walrus slain was lying asleep 011 a 
 piece of ice some ells in extent. The boat was rowed 
 silently and cautiously up to the floe, which the har- 
 pooner stepped on to, and plunged his weapon into the 
 body of the animal, and then, with the detached shaft in 
 his hand, he sprang back to the boat. On receiving the 
 wound the walrus rose up and floundered into the sea. 
 The man holding the harpoon line instantly 'payed off' 
 
I,', I HOW HARPOONED. 
 
 the latter ; but when the speed of the animal slackened 
 he hauled it in again all in accordance \\ itli the creature's 
 movements under M'ater, and its greater or less resistance. 
 After some minutes it came to the surface in front of the 
 boat, when the harpooner instantly plunged his spear 
 into its breast. A reeking stream of blood spouted from 
 the wound, and with a convulsive movement the walrus 
 again dived downwards. Once more it came up, snorted 
 wildly, and frantically assailed with its tusks the edge of 
 a piece of floating ice; whereupon one of the rowers, 
 armed with a spear, leaped on to the floe, when the battle 
 was soon finished. 
 
 "The last hunt was the most striking of all. Two 
 gigantic walruses were observed reposing on a piece of 
 ice. "When the boat was laid alongside the ' floe,' the 
 animals raised themselves up on their short, half-reflected 
 forefeet ; and whilst the harpooner was making towards 
 them they presented, from the elevation of their curved 
 necks, and the full exposure of their free and arched 
 chests, a venerable and very imposing appearance. Not- 
 withstanding the recumbent position of the hinder parts 
 of their bodies, their heads were at least as high as that 
 of the man, who boldly advanced and drove a spear into 
 each of them. With the iron in their bosoms, they 
 remained for a second or two immoveable, and looked 
 down upon their fearless assailant, who rapidly retreated. 
 The people now rushed forward and stabbed them with 
 their lances, on which both threw themselves into the 
 water. One of them received a thrust in the gullet, its 
 month beinir open at the time, but at the same instant 
 the weapon of one of the men damaged the harpoon-line, 
 which broke, and the animal escaped us. The sight was 
 now fearful, for when at some little distance, the wounded 
 walrus that we still had fast again came to the surface, 
 a stream of blood gushed forth into the air from its 
 
DANGEROUS SPORT. 455 
 
 uplifted and gaping jaws. Swimming straight away 
 from us, it was soon lost to view, and we could only 
 see its bloody tracks. At length, however, the boat 
 overtook the poor creature, when an end was presently 
 put to its misery. 
 
 "Ordinarily on these occasions," the Professor con- 
 tinues, "the harpooner alone is armed; the rowers having 
 enough to do to retard, as far as may be, the progress of 
 the boat, which the walrus drags after him by means of 
 the line. It is always needful to guard against the 
 animal, after it has dived, from coining up to the 
 surface, either under or alongside of the boat, as it has 
 sufficient strength to capsize even a ship's boat. I myself, 
 indeed, have seen a boat the bottom of which a walrus 
 had severed right across with its fearful tusks ; and only 
 last summer the mate of a Mensburg vessel was, in this 
 very .locality, dragged out of a boat by a wounded walrus, 
 and perished miserably. A skilful harpooner, neverthe- 
 less, is not afraid of engaging in combat with more than 
 one of these animals at the same time. Once we rowed 
 right in amongst a drove of fifteen walruses that were 
 swimming in the open water. Two of the number were 
 speared in rapid succession, and with this team (forspand) 
 the boat flew away with the rapidity of an arrow. About 
 ten minutes elapsed before the contest was ended. The 
 remainder of the drove kept in the vicinity, and grouped 
 themselves immediately alongside of their beleaguered 
 
 / 
 
 comrades, on whom they stared with a look expressive of 
 curiosity and wonder ; but they did not attempt to assist 
 them, as is said to be frequently the case under similar 
 circumstances." 
 
 The captain in whose ship M. Keilhau made the 
 voyage to the Arctic regions had previously passed two 
 winters (1825-6 and 1826-7) on Cherry Island, chiefly 
 for the purpose of walrus-hunting, and from him the 
 
450 A WINTER IN CHERRY ISLAND. 
 
 Professor learned the following particulars : In the 
 month of September, 1825, this man and seven others 
 were conveyed there from llammerfest ; and on the 
 very day of their arrival killed eighteen walruses. Those 
 animals were then very numerous, and up to the end of 
 the year, the party were very successful. One day during 
 Christmas week they slaughtered upwards of seventy. 
 This was by moonlight, or rather by the light aiforded 
 by the Aurora borealis, for in the depth of winter day 
 had entirely ceased. Indeed, it was only at noon, and 
 in clear weather, that a little twilight was perceptible. 
 
 But after the commencement of the new year the 
 walruses became much scarcer; partly owing to the 
 numbers destroyed, and partly because the remainder 
 began to shun the place. This was in measure attributable 
 to the numerous skinned carcases of those animals that 
 had been thrown into the sea, and subsecpaently cast up 
 on the shore. As the season advanced, indeed, the 
 captures daily diminished, and in March ceased alto- 
 gether. On the 23rd July, when a vessel came from 
 Hammerfest to carry home the party, the spoil consisted 
 of 677 walruses, the skins of three polar bears, and 
 about thirty blue foxes, as also sonic eider-down. During 
 the whole time that these eight men remained on Cherry 
 Island, not one of them was ill ; and the winter appears 
 to have been one of the mildest. 
 
 The following winter, or that of 1826-7, was a very 
 severe one, accompanied by great snow-falls. From 
 October to March the weather was so cold as often to 
 compel the men to remain for eight days together within 
 their hut, which it was hardly possible to keep sullieiently 
 warm. This, however, \\as less attributable to a high 
 degree of cold than to the sulloeating keenness the air 
 had acquired in its progress across the sea, and which 
 rendered it impossible lor them, at times, to remain out 
 
VALUE OF THE WALRUS. 457 
 
 of doors. Even in November the sea was already frozen 
 over, and when shortly afterwards a tempest broke up the 
 fixed ice, there came an immense quantity of drift ice 
 from the north, which in the course of a couple of days 
 froze together with the broken fragments of ice previously 
 existing. The polar bears clambered on to the roof of 
 their hut, and seven were shot close to the door. In 
 other respects the booty was moderate, for during 
 northerly winds, which were the prevailing ones, the 
 walruses were lying under Spitsbergen, where they 
 found better shelter. 
 
 The walrus has many enemies besides man. On land, 
 the polar bear, with which at times it is said to have 
 dreadful conflicts, as depicted in the accompanying 
 drawing by Mr. Wolf; and at sea, the swordfish, and the 
 more formidable species of whales, make bloody and often 
 successful war against it. 
 
 It is valuable to its captor. By the. natives of the 
 Arctic regions its flesh and blubber is much esteemed; 
 and even our own mariners, as AVC learn from Captain 
 Cook and other celebrated navigators, do not altogether 
 despise it. Its hide, which is from one to two inches in 
 thickness, is used for a variety of purposes. Its oil, 
 estimated by Zordragcr at half a ton, is considered more 
 valuable than that of the whale ; and its ivory, owing 
 to greater whiteness and density, is looked on as superior 
 to that of the elephant. The Greenlanders, and others, 
 convert it into their most important hunting weapons, 
 as also into tools and implements for domestic uses ; and 
 in almost all civilized nations it is extensively applied for 
 the invaluable object of giving teeth to the toothless. 
 
CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 THE SCANDINAVIAN SALT-WATER FISHES. The lassos. Tin- 
 The Surmullets. The (Jurnank The Cotti. The 
 The Great S, .. A.l.ler. The Maigre. The Sea-Breams. The 
 Mackerel The Tumiies. The Scad. The Optih. The Vaagnmer. 
 The Mullete.* The 151, nt.i.-s. The Sea- Wolf. - The Gobies An.l 
 other Acanthoptcrygious Fishes allied t<> them. 
 
 DURING our boating excursions in the Skiirgiird we 
 occasionally enjoyed a little sea fishing. Whiting, 
 haddock, codling, &c., were tolerably abundant, and, in the 
 season, mackerel and gar-fish also. Having always a line 
 in the boat, we, in calm weather, usually came to an 
 anchor, and in the course of two or three hours could 
 generally kill fish enough not only to supply a good 
 meal which, there being a pan on hoard, was prepared at 
 once but to salt down for future occasions. 
 
 The Rev. Johan Oilman, the author of an interesting 
 history of Bonus- JJin, who flourished about a century ago, 
 tells us in his quaint way : " The sea and waters more 
 greatly abound with the animal kingdom than the other 
 elements. Then- are fish great and small, whales of 
 
THE COMMON BASSE. 459 
 
 an enormous size, sharks, porpoises, polypi, and thou- 
 sands of others hesides ; also four-footed animals, such 
 as seals, sea-cows, walruses, turtles, &c.,to say nothing of 
 several kinds of Hafs-Troll,* some of which, syrens for 
 instance, resemble human beings. Tn addition to all 
 these there are in the ocean innumerable other creatures, 
 such as oysters, mussels, periwinkles, crabs and lobsters, 
 so that the sea would appear to be richer than the earth, 
 and amongst the greatest of God's miracles known to us." 
 
 As, however, the worthy divine does not specify the 
 several species of fish found on the western coast of 
 Sweden, of which Bohus-Lan forms a considerable portion, 
 I subjoin, for the information of the ichthyologist, a 
 concise account of them, as well as all others pertaining to 
 the Marine Fauna of the Peninsula, the fresh-water fishes 
 having been already treated of in my last work, " Scan- 
 dinavian Adventures." 
 
 The Common Basse (Hafs-Abborre, or sea-perch, Sw. ; 
 Almindellg [_i. e, common] Bars, Dan.f ; Perca Labrax, 
 Linn.), whose proper home is the Mediterranean, is rare in 
 the Scandinavian seas, and seemingly almost confined to 
 the southern coast of Norway, where it is now and then 
 captured. It has recently been found by M. Malm off 
 the coast of Bohus. A single specimen has been met 
 with as far south as the Sound. It does not appear 
 to be known in the Baltic. Though none of those taken 
 
 'o* 
 
 * Evil spirits that, according to the belief of the ancient Northerners, 
 inhabit the vasty deeps, and an account of which, as also of other Scandinavian 
 superstitions, I may some day submit to the public. 
 
 t Where known to me, I have given the Norwegian names to the 
 several fishes (and the like may be said of the birds), though this has not 
 always been practicable, owing to there being, so far as I am aware, no 
 Natural History of Norway published to which reference might be made. 
 In lieu of the Norwegian names, I have in many instances given them in 
 Danish, by which, although the written language of Norway, they may not, 
 however, be popularly known in that country. 
 
UJO 
 
 THE BEKYX BOKEALIS. 
 
 in the Scandinavian waters much exceed fourteen inches 
 in length, they attain at times in other seas a length 
 of three feet, and a weight of twenty pounds. 
 
 The Polyprion cerniiim, Cuv. & Val., which belongs 
 to the Mediterranean and tin- Atlantic, has only in one 
 instance been captured off the coast of Norway, near Bergen 
 (lat. C0i), and at a depth of one hundred fathoms. Far- 
 ther to the north it has not been identified. Though tin- 
 individual in question only measured t\\ent\-<me inches, 
 this fish is said to reach five or six feet in length, and a 
 \\ ight of one hundred pounds. By all accounts it is very 
 voracious. Its flesh is described as white and palatable. 
 
 IIKKY.N IIUUK.U.IS. 
 
 The Hft'u.c boi't-nliif, von Diihcn X Korea (in"Kougliga 
 Vetenskaps-Akademiens llnn<ilm-ar," i. c. Transactions 
 of the Royal [ >>\vedi>h] Academy of Sciences, 18 1 1, p. 33, 
 tab. ii., li-s. 1, 2, from whence the accompanying illus- 
 tration is taken.) A specimen of this fish, reported to he 
 the only one known, uas captured in 1M1S) on the 
 
THE GREAT WKEVER. 461 
 
 Norwegian coast near Bergen, in the museum of which 
 town it is now preserved. The colour of both body and 
 fins, when first taken out of the water, was bright red, 
 and the sides and belly were very beautifully tinged like 
 silver. The head was armed with six spines. Length 
 twelve inches, and depth four inches and a half. 
 
 Dr. Gunther, our celebrated ichthyologist, who has 
 kindly examined my drawing, is of opinion, I should 
 remark, that this fish is a stray specimen of Beryx deca- 
 dactylus, of Madeira. 
 
 The Great Weever, or Sting-bull (Fjdrsing, Sw. ; 
 Fjcesing, Dan. ; Trachinus Draco, Linn.). The accom- 
 panying illustration by M. Wilhelm von Wright was 
 taken, as he assured me, from the fish whilst alive in a 
 tub of water. It is pretty common in the Bohus Skargard, 
 and on the whole of the western coast of Sweden, as 
 also on that of southern Norway ; but its limits to the 
 northward would not seem to be very accurately ascer- 
 tained. Occasionally it is taken in the lower parts of 
 the Baltic. So far as known, it is the only one of the 
 genus Trachintis inhabiting the Scandinavian seas, for 
 though the Lesser Weever (T. vipera, Cuv. & Val.) has 
 found a place in the Northern fauna, it does not 
 appear to have been fully identified on the shores of 
 either Sweden or Norway. The usual length of the 
 great weever is from nine to twelve inches, but it attains 
 to fifteen inches. It spawns in the beginning of sum- 
 mer, when it approaches nearer the shore, and is then 
 more abundant than ordinarily. Its flesh is said to 
 be good, but, probably from prejudice, is not eaten by 
 the fishermen. 
 
 The great weever, like the herring, is a very capricious 
 fish. At one period it abounds on a particular line of 
 coast, and then all at once deserts it wholly or in great 
 part, though perhaps to return again in increased num- 
 
4(52 THE GREAT WEEVER. 
 
 hers after the lapse of suvcial years. The inhabitants 
 of Leso (one of the Danish islands) entertain tin- singular 
 notion that there is enmity betweei. the great \\ee\er am' 
 the gar-fish (Belonc vulyaris, Cuv.), and that when the 
 former appear in large shoals on their favourite feeding- 
 grounds, the others are driven away ; and as the gar- 
 fish are a marketable commodity, and '" _,reat \veever all 
 hut valueless, the advent of the latter 1 by these men 
 looked upon with great disfa\our. The usual habitat 
 of the great weever is moderately deep water, where the 
 bottom consists of sand, in which it is said this fish at 
 times so buries itself that only the eyes and mouth 
 appear, and in this position it preys on such small fish 
 and crustaceans as chance to appioach its lurking-place. 
 
 The sharp spines of the first dorsal fin of the great 
 weever are considered hy the Scandinavian fishermen to 
 be equally poisonous as the fangs of the viper. These 
 men say, moreover, that when this fish is hauled into 
 the boat, it savagely snaps at their naked legs, &c. llence 
 they greatly fear it, and always use their best endeavours 
 to get rid of it as quickly as possible; and their fears 
 are not altogether groundless, for the wounds it inflicts 
 are occasionally most serious,* -ind instances are not 
 wanting of their proving fatal. The plan of treatment, 
 
 * Doctor Rat/ky nf Halnistad, in iin official report to the Swinish 
 College of Health, relaU-s the following incident: "A tall and -tout I milt 
 Mierman from the parish of Kftra, filly fur ycai-s <.f a.u'e. was l.ruiitfht 
 into the hospital nil tin- 1'tith August, IS.'!-, liavinj; lieen stun;,' l'_v a i,'iv;it 
 weever in tin- middle fin^rr, which immnliately caiix'il r\.-.^,i\c pain. 
 \Vitliiu an hour al'lrrwanl- his arm, head, and rhc.-t liccamr swolh-n, and 
 the man continued to sutler excruciating torture. Oilliculty of l>rcathin>;, 
 palpitation of the heart, headache, and a constant inclination to Vomit 
 siipcr\encd. Sew-ntl small ].u>lules appeared on hi> arm ; anxiety and 
 
 distress of mind added to his liodily pain ; the wound 1 anie very ollensive, 
 
 and gali^reii" ' Thr patient was unalile to leave the hospital 
 
 until tin- I'Uih Septeml,. 
 
- 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 J 
 
 s 
 
 a 
 
 
 w 
 
 o 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 B 
 
 e 
 
THE SURMULLETS. 463 
 
 as recommended by the faculty, is to lay the wound open 
 with a knife, and then to pour on it a continuous stream 
 of cold water from a height until the heat and inflamma- 
 tion have subsided. But the Bohus fishermen, Ekstrom 
 tells us, have a sovereign remedy of their own, and one 
 universally had recourse to, viz., "to rip up the belly of 
 the offending fish, which the unfortunate patient is forth- 
 with made to swallow." 
 
 The Striped Surmullet (Gulstrimmig Mullus, Sw. ; 
 Gulstribcd Millie, Dan.; Mullus Surmuletus, Linn.), a 
 fish common to the Mediterranean, is scarce, not only 
 in our Skiirgard, but in the Scandinavian seas generally, 
 to the more southern of which it would seem to be con- 
 fined. One does not, at least, hear of its being taken 
 higher up than the Christiania Fjord. According to 
 Kroyer the most painstaking, observant, and accurate 
 of all the ichthyologists whose works have come under 
 my notice it is occasionally met with in the lower parts 
 of the Baltic. Its usual length with us is ten to twelve 
 inches, but elsewhere it reaches a much larger size. Tn 
 Sweden, as in other countries, this fish is highly valued 
 for the table. 
 
 The lied Surmullet (M. barbatus, Linn.) is altogether 
 unknown on the Scandinavian coasts ; neither is it recog- 
 nised by Danish naturalists. 
 
 Tbe Grey Gurnard (Vanlig Gnoding, Knorrhune, S\v.; 
 Gnorr, Norvv. ; Graa Knur, Dan. ; Trigla Gurnardus, 
 Linn.) is common in the Bohus Skargard, and on the whole 
 coast of western Scandinavia, from the Sound to beyond 
 the Polar Circle. It is also an inhabitant of the Baltic, 
 as high up at least as the province of Blekinge. Its 
 usual length on the Swedish and Norwegian shores is 
 from twelve to fourteen inches, seldom sixteen, but in 
 other countries it seems to attain to a much larger size. 
 It is believed to spawn about Midsummer. Its flesh 
 
464 THE GURNARDS. 
 
 is good, and said to resemble that of the mackerel. 
 The Swedish designation of Knorrliane or J\iin-//tji/>, 
 that is, murmuring or purring cock, is derived from the 
 circumstance that when taken out of the water, it emits 
 a sort of loud purr. This arises from the gill-covers bein<; 
 closely pressed together whilst the air that filled tin- 
 cavity of the gills forces its way through them. The same 
 sound, though less loud, is also observed in some other 
 fishes, and from the like cause; but owing to the want of 
 lungs and larynx, no sound answering to that of the 
 higher order of vertebrata can possibly proceed from fish. 
 In some parts of Sweden, particularly in Bohns-l/m, 
 the name of this fish is Knot, and it is remarkable that 
 the Irish name, according to Yanvll, is A'i/oin/, or 
 The Danish local designations, Knoil'my and ( 
 seemingly from the same root, are no doubt diminutive 
 forms, as Codling of Cod, &c. 
 
 Bloch's Gurnard (G/iodh/y un'if /iV///y/o/>-//V/r/-, that is, 
 gurnard with spotted dorsal fin, S\v. ; Tr'njla Blocliii, 
 Yarr.), smaller than the foregoing in size, is also pretty 
 common in the Scandinavian seas, and specimens from 
 both the Bohus Skiirgfird and the Sound are now in the 
 Lund Museum. Little or nothing seems to be known of 
 its breeding or other habits. It is not very many years 
 since this fish found a plaee in the Northern fauna, and 
 even at the present day ichthyologists would seem to 
 entertain doubts as to the propriety of classing it as a 
 species. Formerly it was, I believe, looked on as the 
 young of the Trnjln (liti-iini-ilns. 
 
 The Sappherine (inrnard (Slor-fcixnl (intxliiig, or, 
 great-finned gurnard, Sw. ; /AW A, //>/-, Dan.; T. Ilir/i/ii/o, 
 Linn.) is the least numerous of the genus, a^ regards the 
 Peninsula. In our Skiirgurd it was quite rare, but is, 
 nevertheless, occasionally met with on the \\estern coast, 
 from the Sound to the Lofoden Islands, about hit. <>8, 
 
- 
 
 
 -- 
 
 
THE SEA-SCORPION. 4(55 
 
 or possibly still farther north. It is larger than the 
 grey gurnard, attaining now and then a length of one and 
 a half, or it may be two feet. It is said to spawn in July. 
 " The young of this species, so far as I am aware," 
 Nilsson remarks, " have never been found. They are 
 probably dissimilar in appearance to the adults, and a 
 description of them has perhaps been given under some 
 other designation." 
 
 M. Malm describes, in the Transactions of " Scandi- 
 navian Naturalists," 1865, a new species of Trigla, under 
 the name of T. nigripes, Malm most nearly allied, he 
 says, to T. pocciloptera, Cuv. & Val., and T. lineata, Linn., 
 Yarrell of which only one specimen has been found in 
 the Bohus Skargard. 
 
 The Coitus poecilopus, Heck. (Sten-Simpa ined Jldckiga 
 Bukfcnor, or, stone-simpa with spotted ventrals, Sw.), 
 which is so like the C. Gobio, or River Bull-head, as to 
 be hard to distinguish, was unknown on the w r estern 
 coast ; but specimens have occasionally been taken in the 
 eastern Skargard, near Stockholm, where the water is 
 brackish. Professor Sundevall, who was the first, I 
 believe, to identify this fish in the Baltic, imagines it to 
 be not uncommon in that sea. 
 
 The Sea-Scorpion, or Eather-Lasher, of Jenyns [not 
 Yarrell] (Ulk, Rdt-Sintya, Sw.; Almindellg (i.e. common) 
 Ulk, Dan. ; Cottus Scorpius, Linn.), is about the most 
 common of the genus in the waters of the Peninsula. On 
 the eastern coast it is found as high up as the Gulf of 
 Bothnia, and on the western as far as North Cape. It is 
 confined solely to salt water, and would seem to be some- 
 what migratory in its habits. For years together these 
 fish abound in certain localities, when all at once their 
 numbers very greatly decrease, and it may not be until 
 after the lapse of a long period that they revisit their old 
 haunts. In the Baltic and Cattegat the usual length of 
 
 2 ii 
 
466 THE SBA-SCOUPIOK. 
 
 the Sea-Scorpion is from eight to ten inches ; hut on the 
 coast of Norway it reaches a some\\ hat larger size. Bloch, 
 indeed, tells us it has there been known to attain a 
 length of four feet, though this is evidently a mistake, 
 arising prohahly from his having confounded the LojMut 
 piscatorius with this fish. The male is much smaller and 
 more slenderly shaped than the female; and there is, 
 also, great difference in colour, so that the fishermen 
 sometimes imagine them to be different species. It is 
 very difficult for any one who has not seen this fish 
 during the spawning season, when its hues are the 
 brightest, to conceive to himself the admixture of brilliant 
 colours witli which it, in other respects so ill-favoured, is 
 at that time adorned. The reader, however, may form 
 some idea of its beauty by reference to the annexed 
 drawing by M. TVilhelm von Wright, faithfully taken 
 from the living fish. 
 
 Its food during the summer consists chiefly of the 
 smaller kinds of fish ; but in the winter, when these fall 
 short, it lives on crust a< cans and molluscs. Few fishes 
 can compete witli it in voracity. It is on record that three 
 roach, each nearly four inches in length, were found in 
 the stomach of an individual only nine inches long. 
 And its stupidity, or rather, perhaps, boldness, is on a 
 par with its rapacity, for we arc told that if it be poked with 
 a stick when in the water, it will only make a slight 
 movement forward, and then presently come to a standstill. 
 It is further said, that if captured by the line (as frequently 
 happens when fishing for codlings, A:c.), and a por- 
 tion of its fins be cut away to mark it, and afterwards 
 thrown back into the water, it will frequently take the 
 very same hook a few minutes subsequently and once 
 more be ready to undergo the like operation. The 
 spawning season with the Sea-Scorpion is in December; 
 but even towards the end of October it approaches 
 
THE FOUR-SPINEB FATIIER-LASHEK. 467 
 
 the shore, especially if sandy and studded with knots 
 of sea-weed, grass, &c. Males and females are then 
 together, but the latter preponderate in something like 
 the proportion of ten to one ; and they moreover go 
 nearer to the shore than the males, who, indeed, are 
 seldom seen on the spawning-ground. Hence it would 
 appear as if the ova were impregnated prior to their 
 deposit, and that connection between the sexes takes 
 place in the deeps. The saw-like points on the inner side 
 of the pectoral and ventral fins of the male would seem 
 to be intended for grasping the female during the act of 
 coition. How soon the roe is matured is difficult, if not 
 impossible, to say, as it is deposited only shortly before ice 
 is formed near the shore. It is not believed to breed 
 until it reaches the length of six inches. Such at least 
 is to be inferred from fish of a smaller size not being found 
 on the spawning-ground. The young are thought to be 
 of quick growth. The flesh of the Sea-Scorpion always 
 retains a disagreeable taste. The male is looked on by 
 the fishermen as poisonous, and is never eaten by them, 
 but when captured is at once thrown back into the sea. 
 The females are, however, usually eaten by the poorer 
 classes, who find the truth of the old saw, " When no 
 other fish are to be had, the Sea-Scorpion is the best." 
 The liver is considered a delicacy. Throughout Denmark, 
 Kroyer tells us, this fish is detested by the fishermen, 
 " who evince their hatred by enlarging with a knife the 
 already wide mouth with which Nature has provided it." 
 The Four-spined Path er- Lasher (Dwery-Simpa, or 
 dwarf-simpa, Sw. ; Lanytorncd Ulk, Dan.; C. bubalte, 
 Euphras.) is pretty common both on the coast of Bohus 
 and that of Norway. Eornierly it was not supposed to 
 inhabit the Baltic, but of late years specimens have not 
 unfrcqucntly been met with on the eastern shores of 
 Sweden. It confines itself solely to salt water and, with 
 
 2 ii 2 
 
468 THE Font-H<>KNKI> COTTUS. 
 
 the exception of the River Bull-head (C. Gobio), is the 
 smallest of the genus Cottus, its usual length being from 
 four to five inches. The sexes differ somewhat in form 
 and colour. As with the Sea-Scorpion, the male is rather 
 less than the female ; and in appearance, manner of 
 feeding, &c., it assimilates closely to that fish. It li\es 
 chiefly on small crustaceans. Kroycr found its stomach 
 full of a species of Idotea. According to Ekstnmi and 
 B. Fries, this fish spawns at the end of November and in 
 Decetnher, but Kroyer supposes somewhat earlier. "At 
 this time," we are told, " nature has lavished on it colours 
 so surpassingly beautiful, that it is impossible sufficiently 
 to admire or for the pencil to delineate them." Excepting 
 as bait, the fishermen set little store on this iisli, and cither 
 throw it away or give it to the pigs. 
 
 The Cottus trirnxpix, Ileinh. (Taggrenig 8impa t Sw. ; 
 implying that the preopcrrxltun is armed with branched 
 spines). This rare fish was not known in our Skargard, 
 but has been taken on the northern and north-western 
 coasts of Norway. It is described as from eight to nine 
 inches in length, and is said much to resemble in form 
 the Sea-Scorpion, though the body is more tapering and 
 the head shorter in proportion. 
 
 The Four-horned Cottus (/lorii-Siai/in, Sw. ; C. ijiunlri- 
 cornis, Linn.). This lish was unknown to us on the 
 western coast, but it is found in the Baltic, as far south 
 at least as the island of Gotland, and as high up as the 
 Gulf of Bothnia. It is distinguished as a species by the 
 rough tubercles on its head, and hcuce its name. Pallas 
 was of opinion that these warty excrescences were 
 confined to adults, and wanting in those of less than nine 
 inches in length ; but. Swedish ichthyologists, though 
 admitting that t lie \\.-n-ts ;uv not apparent in very yonn^ 
 fish, conceive that they shoot forth at a much earlier 
 period, and instance having seen specimens only three 
 
THE ARMED BULL-HEAD. 469 
 
 inches long in which the warts were tolerably well 
 developed. The usual length of this fish is about ten 
 inches, though now and then met with still larger. For- 
 merly it was looked on as pertaining solely to salt water, 
 but this, or a variety of it, is now found to inhabit the 
 Wettern, and probably also others of the Scandinavian 
 lakes. Its colours are much duller than in the C. Scorpiiis 
 and C. bubalis, and tend to render it still more unpre- 
 possessing in appearance. As with both these species, the 
 sexes are readily distinguished by a different conformation 
 of the body, &c. The food of the C. quadricornis consists 
 chiefly of crustaceans, especially the large Idotea Entomon, 
 with which its stomach is oftentimes found filled ; as also 
 of molluscs and insects, but seldom small fish. It spawns 
 in November and December. For the table it is con- 
 sidered the best of all the fishes of this genus, and though 
 the flesh has a peculiar odour, not agreeable to every one, 
 it may be converted, we are told, into a most palatable 
 dish. The liver is more particularly prized. In Stock- 
 holm this fish is looked upon as a great dainty, and when 
 exposed for sale in the market is " always skinned and 
 decapitated." 
 
 The Icelus fur ciger, Malm, of which a single specimen, 
 as it is supposed, has been captured in the Boh us Skargard, 
 is by M. Malm stated to be a new species of Icelus, which 
 several authors have made a sub-genus of Coitus. 
 
 The Armed Bull-head (Skayg-Simpa, or, bearded simpa, 
 Sw. ; Aspidophorus cataphractus, Linn.) was found in our 
 Skargard, and elsewhere on the western coast of both 
 Sweden and Norway. It inhabits besides the more 
 southern portions of the Baltic. Its usual length is from 
 six to seven inches, and it haunts sandy and grassy 
 bottoms. In appearance and manner of living it much 
 resembles the Cotti. This fish spawns in April and May, 
 which, Nilsson remarks, " is somewhat singular, as the 
 
470 THE BERGYLT. 
 
 greater pnrt of the Cotti do not brood until autumn or 
 winter." It would appear to be very prolific, Kroyer 
 having found no less than 3,0<M> eg^s in one tint was two 
 inches and a half in length, and these \\eie of the size of 
 small shot. Its flesh is white and well-tasted. 
 
 Two small Greenland species of the genus A*]ii<lo- 
 phonis, the A. decayoints, Bloch, and the A. mo*opteryffiu, 
 Bloch, Swedish naturalists believe may not improbably be 
 found on the northern coast of Scandinavia, though up 
 to this time not identified. 
 
 The Bergylt or Norway Haddock (Kitngs-Fivk, or, 
 king-*ish ; Hod-Fink, or, red-fish, Sw. ; Ucr, Oitt/cr, Norw. ; 
 Sebastes Norvegicus, Cuv.), which frequents high latitudes, 
 is somewhat scarce in the Bonus Skiirgnrcl and on the 
 western coast of Sweden, but on that of Norway it is 
 by all accounts tolerably common. It is s;iid to attain 
 a length of three feet, and is seldom met with excepting 
 at a depth of from eighty to one hundred fathoms, where 
 the bottom is rocky. It is believed to go in large shoals. 
 But little is known of its breeding and other habits. Its 
 flesh is white and firm, and is held in high estimation by 
 the inhabitants. 
 
 Though the Bergylt lives habitually in very deep 
 water, it would appear to be greatly affected by sudden 
 convulsions of nature, as after tempests these fish are 
 often met with in large numbers lying dead or dying on 
 the shore, or floating on the surface of the water, and for 
 the most part with their eyes started from the sockets and 
 their stomachs protruding through the mouth. A similar 
 efl'eet N produced in them when drawn up rapidly by the 
 line from a great depth. This phenomenon, which has 
 pu/./.led ninny, is thus accounted for by the learned : 
 "This lish," they say, "which usinlly lives at the depth 
 of 100 fathoms or more, is there constantly exposed to an 
 enormous pressure, for which its whole organi/ation is 
 
THE LITEN KTJNGS-FISK. 471 
 
 adapted, whereby all the gases in its body are greatly 
 compressed. When now it chances to meet with one of 
 those strong oceanic under-currents that periodically, after 
 the ebb and flow of the sea, cause the water at the 
 bottom to rush upwards, thereby forming great eddies, 
 it is rapidly borne to the surface, and the pressure being 
 taken off, the air in the swimming-bladder and other parts 
 of the body consequently forces the eyes from their sockets 
 and the stomach through its mouth." 
 
 The 8. viciparus, Kroyer (Liten Kungs-Fisk, i. e. little 
 king-fish, Sw.), is more common than the foregoing in the 
 Bohus Skargiird, but only occasionally visits the Sound. 
 Its limits to the northward seem not at present ascer- 
 tained. Its usual length in the Cattegat is said to be from 
 eight to ten inches. Little is at present known of its 
 manner of living ; but that it is a voracious fish is to be 
 inferred from the eagerness with which it seizes bait. 
 As with some other fishes, there is reason to believe 
 that intimate connection takes place between the sexes. 
 Although Kroyer assumes the S. mmparus to be a 
 distinct species, and is supported in this view by Ekstrom, 
 Kilsson, I should remark, does not agree with them, 
 stating that after careful examination and comparison he 
 has come to the conclusion that it is no other than the 
 young of the S. Norvegiciis, or a smaller form of it, 
 which, from inhabiting bays and less deep water, has, 
 like the herring, become stunted in its growth. This 
 matter, however, the learned must settle amongst 
 themselves. 
 
 The S. dactylopterus, Delaroche ; S. imperialis, Cuv. 
 (Sld-mtmt Kungs-Fisk, or, blue-mouthed king-fish, Sw. ; 
 Skjdr-Uert Norw. [Bergen]). This species, which is com- 
 mon in the Mediterranean, has not hitherto been identified, 
 so far as known, in the Bohus Skiirgard or elsewhere on 
 the Swedish coast ; but on that of Norway, as high up as 
 
472 THE MAIQUE. 
 
 Ilelgeland (lat. (55 to 00), it is not uncommon, and is 
 said to remain there all the year round. Kroyer surmises 
 it to he intermediate in size between theS. JVo/rr^Vv/.s- mid 
 the S. vitiparm. It is found at a depth of 100 to 120 
 fathoms where the bottom is rocky. 
 
 The Fifteen-spined Sti kleback, or Great Sea- Adder 
 (Tang-Spiffff, Sw. ; T<nig-Xnrrt>, Dan. ; Si>iiiticli/n nili/nris, 
 Cuv.), though less common than the ten-spined (which. 
 with others of the Gastcrostei, is fully spoken of in my 
 last work, "Scandinavian Adventures"), is found every- 
 where on the coasts of Scandinavia, as well in the North 
 Sea as in the Baltic, and confines itself altogether to salt 
 water. It runs from five to six inches, but at times 
 exceeds seven. Its chief resorts are grassy bottoms 
 amongst seaweed, and hence its Swedish and Danish 
 names. Except during the spawning season, which 
 Kroyer supposes to be in the month of June, it seldom 
 seeks the shallows. It is never eaten, but either boiled 
 down into oil or converted into manure. At the village 
 of Molle, in Scania, it is called the Tf7idcr-Jisk, or, weather- 
 fish, and is made use of to foretell the coining wind. For 
 this purpose the dry body of the fish is suspended 
 horizontally by a thread attached from its back to a 
 rafter of the fisherman's hut, and from the quarter 
 to which its head points it is firmly believed the wind 
 will come. 
 
 The Mai-re (Ilnjs-Gos, Sw. ; Scicoin .lf/itifa, Cuv. \ 
 Val.), whose proper home is the more southern parts of 
 the Mediterranean, has only in one instance been iden- 
 tified in the Scandinavian seas. This was in is:.! 1 , 
 when a specimen, live feet in length, and weighing 
 seventy-two pounds, having become entangled amongst 
 the weeds on the coast of Scania, was caught with boat- 
 hooks and slaughtered by the fishermen, and is now 
 preserved in the Lund Museum. 
 
THE SEA-BREAMS. 473 
 
 The Common Sea-Bream (Pagell med flack, or, with 
 spots, S\v. ; Pagellus centrodontus, Cuv.). This species, 
 which more abounds in the Mediterranean than elsewhere, 
 and which may at once he distinguished in the adult by 
 the large black spot on the shoulder, has been occasionally 
 taken off the western coasts of both Sweden and Norway, 
 and mostly in the summer time. According to Kroyer, 
 two specimens have also been met with on the Danish 
 shores (one of them nineteen inches in length), both of 
 which are now in the Copenhagen Museum. Little seems 
 to be known in the North of the breeding or other 
 habits of this fish. 
 
 The Black Sea-Bream (Gra Hafs-Ruda, or, grey sea- 
 crucian, Sw. ; Cantharus griseus, Cuv. & Val.), which 
 is chiefly met with in the more southern parts of the 
 Atlantic, is also now and then captured in the Scandi- 
 navian seas, as well in the Christiauia Fjord as on the 
 southern coast of Sweden, a specimen from whence, six- 
 teen inches in length, is now in the Lund Museum. 
 
 Ray's Sea-Bream (Silfoer-gra Hafs-Braxen, or, silver- 
 grey sea-bream, Sw. ; Brama Hai/i, Cuv. & Val.). The 
 proper home of this fish is the Mediterranean, in parts 
 of which sea it is very numerous. It is somewhat rare 
 on the coasts of Sweden and Norway ; some few have, 
 however, been captured there, one amongst the number 
 in the Bohus Skargard, another on the coast of Scania, 
 but for the most part they have been cast on shore during 
 severe storms, in one instance as far north as Bergen. 
 Kroyer speaks also of three that within the space of 
 thirty years had been thus stranded on the shores of 
 Zealand, two of which were about twenty inches in 
 length, and on the authority of Eaber, of another that 
 was taken off the coast of Pomerania in the autumn 
 of the year 1826. 
 
 The Plerycomlus Brama, B. Fries. The only known 
 
474 THE COMMON MACKEREL. 
 
 specimen of this remarkable fish, which greatly resembles 
 the Hi-mini R'nji. \\a- raptured in the vicinity of llammer- 
 fest (situated not far from the North Cape), in 1832, ai.d 
 brought down from thence by ;i sea captain. It is now 
 preserved in the Stockholm Museum. 
 
 The Common Mackerel (M<tkrill, S\v. ; Mkr,>l, Nor\v. 
 and Dan. ; Scomber Scombrus, Linn.) is very plentiful 
 during summer in the Boh us Skiirg.ird, as also on the 
 western coasts of both Sweden and Norway. K rover tells 
 us that lat. G4 may be considered its northern limits, but 
 M. Love'n seems to have met with stray specimens much 
 farther north. It is also found, though it would appear 
 only occasionally, in the Baltic, but never so high, I believe, 
 as the Gulf of Bothnia. Its usual length is from twelve to 
 fifteen inches, but it has been known to reach even two 
 feet. It is somewhat migratory in its habits. Some 
 surmise its proper home to be the Atlantic, and others 
 the Arctic seas, but the learned in Denmark and Sweden 
 are inclined-to believe that its wanderings do not extend 
 farther than from the deeps of the North Sea, where it 
 winters, to the neighbouring coast, where it spawns. 
 13e this as it may, their first appearance in the spring 
 (usually the early part of May; is otF the coast of Nor- 
 way, and a few days afterwards they reach the Kattegat. 
 The smaller shoals are said to be the first to enter the 
 Skargird, and the larger follow at an after-period. 
 "During these their migrations," says Ekstrom, "they 
 always swim near the surface, and in preference shape 
 their course where the current is strongest, and always 
 against the wind, especially if blowing hard. The ap- 
 proach of the shoal is observable from a considerable 
 distance, onini; to the water being in a state of turmoil. 
 The fisherman furthermore say, that in the night-time, 
 especially if very dark, the bodies of these fish give forth 
 a sort of phosphorescent light, which may be seen from 
 
THE COMMON MACKEREL. 4?5 
 
 nfar. Their stay on the coast is of some duration, and it 
 is not until September or October that they take their 
 departure for the deeps." 
 
 Harmless as the Mackerel is in appearance, it is said 
 to be dangerous for the swimmer to get amongst a shoal. 
 In two several instances, after having swum unattended 
 far out to sea, I have been told by the lookers-on that I 
 had exposed myself to considerable risk. How far there 
 may really be danger on such occasions I know not; 
 but cases are said to be on record of individuals having 
 been beset by these voracious fish, and reduced to some- 
 thing like mincemeat. 
 
 If we are to believe the fishermen, the Mackerel passes 
 the winter months half buried in the mud at the bottom 
 of the sea, where, indeed, they assert having speared it, 
 and that it is then quite blind ; moreover, that on its first 
 appearance on the coist in early spring, the thick film, 
 which then covers its eyes, prevents it from distinctly seeing 
 the bait. Ekstrom and others, however, treat this reputed 
 blindness of the Mackerel as a fable, and say that the reason 
 the fish does not bite equally freely in the spring as after- 
 wards, is less attributable to the film in question than to 
 want of appetite owing to excessive fatness. To the same 
 cause they partly ascribe the film itself, for this as soon as 
 the fish becomes lean which happens soon after its arrival 
 on the coast disappears altogether or becomes thinner ; 
 but when again the spawning season is over, and the 
 Mackerel regains flesh, the film once more thickens, and 
 by the time the fish retires to its winter quarters, is just 
 as thick as in early spring. 
 
 The Mackerel spawns towards the end of June, but 
 little seems to be known regarding its " Lek." It is a 
 most prolific fish, as may be inferred from the immensity 
 of the shoals and the abundance of the ova, zoologists 
 having counted between 500,000 and (500,000 in a 
 
f 
 476 THE TUNNIES. 
 
 single female. Tht youn- are of quick growth, hut are 
 believed to be incapable of breeding until they ha\e 
 attained a length of ten inches; for in fish of less si/.o 
 the milt and roe are not found to be matured. In S\\rden, 
 as in England, the "Mackerel is highly esteemed for culinary 
 purposes, and is eaten either fresh, boiled in salt water, 
 salted, or smoked. The taste is very delicious, and comes 
 nearer to that of the Salmon than any other fish. 
 
 The Spanish Mackerel (S. Colias, Gmel.) lias as yet 
 not been identified in these seas, although it is thought 
 probable it may have been overlooked. 
 
 The Common Tunny I M,il,-r'tll-Sh"i,'j< ,* Thon-fr'isk, Sw. ; 
 M<ikr<'l-St<">rj<>, S/>rh/</c/\ Norw. ; Sroiii/x',- '/'/,//////>/*, I/inn. ; 
 Tliim Hi's rufffin-i", Cuv.), which claims the Mediterranean 
 as its proper habitat, is somewhat rare in the Holms 
 Skiirgiird, and elsewhere on the western coast of Sweden; 
 but on that of Norway it would seem to be more common. 
 Strom, indeed, relates that in the district of Sondmor 
 (about lat. 62), into the fjords of which the Tunny drives 
 the herrings in the summer, a single man is in the habit 
 of killins from ten to fifteen in the course of the season. 
 
 
 
 The highest northern ran-e of this species would seem to 
 he lat. (ii, or perhaps somewhat higher. It is also occa- 
 sionally met within the more southern parts of th - Haltic. 
 The Tunnies captured in the Scandinavian seas have 
 mostly been pretty large, varying in length from eight to 
 ten feet; hut in more genial climes it measures, we are 
 told, fifteen feet, and weighs as much as 1>(M) pounds. 
 
 A new species of'Tumiy as stated in the Proceedings 
 of the lto\al Academy of Science-. Stockholm, 1SC3 
 
 * The word Stfirje, or .S'Wrr* (implying lrf .ppliiil in tlii- ;m<\ 
 
 * > other Norwegian fbhec, "^piir.! i Siimli-viill. nuly 
 
 t,, l,i< u-.-'l as MM iiililitinii li> niintlii-r name, uinl (<> it spcrii-^ imt nltm nn-t 
 
 \\llll, tn ]i|-i-Vi-lil tin- tWii tVnlll ^iiilli; liy nlli' illld till' ^llnr a|i|M>l1llt i'll. 
 
THE SCAD. 477 
 
 recently been added to the Scandinavian fauna ; viz., the 
 T. Thunn'ma, Cuv. & Val., of which a single specimen, 
 two feet nine inches long, and weighing twenty-two 
 pounds (the only one, it is said, ever before identified 
 north of the Mediterranean), was caught near Malmo, in 
 Scania, in 1857. 
 
 The work just quoted also records the addition of 
 another fish, nearly allied to the Tunnies, to the same 
 fauna ; viz., the Plain Bonito (Auxis vulgaris, Cuv. & 
 Val.), an individual, seventeen inches in length, having 
 been captured off the coast of Scania, in 1863; it. is now 
 in the Lund Museum. 
 
 The Sword-fish (Sciird-Fisk, Sw. ; Sccerd-Fisk, Norw. 
 and Dan. ; Xiphias Gladius, Linn.), which almost competes 
 with the Tunny in size, and whose home is also in the 
 Mediterranean, is rare in the Bohus Skargard and on 
 the western coast of Norway. But on the more southern 
 shores of Sweden, as also in the Danish seas, it is not so 
 very uncommon. Occasionally, also, it finds its way to 
 the lower parts of the Baltic, to the coasts of Mecklenburg, 
 Pomerania, and Prussia. According to Mlsson, " it 
 avoids rocky shores, confining itself chiefly to such as are 
 low and sandy." The largest of the specimens that have 
 been captured, or stranded, on the Scandinavian coasts 
 measured a little more than ten feet from the tail to the 
 extremity of the sword. 
 
 The Scad, or Horse Mackerel (Tagg-Makrill, i. e. 
 spined mackerel, Sw. ; Stokker, i. e. pricker, Dan. ; 
 Carunx Trachurus, Cuv.), a fish properly belonging to 
 more southern waters, is not rare in the Bohus Skargard 
 and elsewhere on the western coast, from the Sound to 
 the southern portion of Norway. Kroyer considers its 
 range to the northward to be about the 60. It is not 
 thought to inhabit the Baltic. Its usual length would 
 seem to be about one foot, but individuals have been found 
 
478 THE op.vn. 
 
 that have attained seventeen inches in length. Swedish 
 ichthyologists tell us the S(ad is seldom met with other- 
 wise than alone, or nearly so ; but Kroyer says that, 
 some years ago, a Danish fisherman, to his own know- 
 ledge, captured so many one autumn, that they were 
 sold hy the score. "A sufficient proof," the Professor 
 adds, " that they do not, as asserted, always appear singly 
 in the Cattegat," 
 
 Of the breeding habits of this fish, little or nothing is 
 known in Sweden ; but Kroyer tells us he has every reason 
 to believe it spawns at the end of May or beginning of 
 June, that is, about the same time as the Common 
 Mackerel. He states, further, that from the young of 
 the Scad being not unfrequently captured in Swedish 
 and Danish waters during the autumn, at which time they 
 are from four to five inches in length, taken in connection 
 with the period of the year when the parent fish carry 
 on their " Lek," no other conclusion can be come to 
 than that it deposits its roe in the Cattegat. The flesh 
 of the Scad, which somewhat resembles that of the 
 Mackerel, but is drier and more bony, is in no great 
 repute in Scandinavia as an article of food. 
 
 The Opah, or King-fish (Glans-F'mk, i. e. shininir lisli, 
 Sw. ; Laxe-Sturjc, Norw. ; Lmiijirix (jut/ulna, Ret/,.), whose 
 proper habitat is believed to be the European portion of 
 the Atlantic, especially its more northern parts, is very 
 rare in the Scandinavian seas ; it has, nevertheless, hem 
 taken, though very sparingly, along the whole line of coast 
 from the Sound to near the North Cape, which \\ould seem 
 to be about its limits to the northward and eastward. It 
 has been long known in Norway, IVder Claussen, who 
 flourished more than two centuries ago, having mentioned 
 it as frequenting all the northern and western coasts of 
 that country. None of the specimens of this fish that 
 have hitherto been captured in the Scandinavian waters 
 
THE VAAGMAER. 479 
 
 have, so far as is recorded, much exceeded three feet in 
 length, but it attains a much greater size. Mention, indeed, 
 is made of one captured on the Scottish coast measuring 
 five feet, and weighing 151 pounds. Nothing seems to be 
 known regarding the breeding or other habits of this 
 beautiful and rare fish. But this is not surprising, as it is 
 believed to confine itself almost solely to the deeps ; and 
 we, in consequence, seldom make its acquaintance, unless 
 it be cast on shore hy storms ; nor has any one as yet, I 
 believe, seen the young of the Opah. 
 
 The Vaagmaer, or Deal Pish (Solc-Qveite, i.e. silvery 
 holibut, Norw. ; Trachypterm Bogmarus, Cuv. & Val.). 
 This singular fish, whose proper home would seem to 
 be the northern seas, is occasionally met with on the 
 coasts of Finmark, but never elsewhere as regards Scan- 
 dinavia. It is, however, considered rare, and is only seen, I 
 believe, during the autumn, when it is either captured in 
 the herring-nets or washed ashore during storms. At 
 other times it is supposed to live in the deeps. In one 
 instance, Kroyer tells us, it has been met with on the 
 coast of Jutland, between the town of Frederikshavn 
 and the Scaw. It swims in the same manner as the 
 Flounder, and when at the bottom, always lies on its left 
 side like that fish. The Vaagmaer attains a great size, 
 six to ten feet in length, it is said. According to the 
 fishermen, it is, when alive, excessively obese and rounded 
 on the sides, but the fat is of such a liquid and oily nature 
 that it runs out of the fish as soon as dead, making him 
 appear flat and attenuated. The Vaagmaer is sometimes 
 seen by the fishermen when lying at the bottom of the sea 
 in several fathoms water, when it looks like so much 
 burnished silver. On these occasions the men sink a 
 so-called dmgg (such as is used to recover the bodies of 
 dead seals), and affix it to the fish which is the more 
 readily accomplished owing to its swimming badly, and 
 
180 THK OYMNETIUIS O1ULUI. 
 
 being far from quick in its movements when they haul 
 it into the boat. 
 
 Nilsson, I should remark, does not consider the fish 
 in question identical with the Iceland specimen described 
 and figured by Yarrell. The two sides arc, the Professor 
 says, dill'erent. The pupil of the eye is vertically oval ; 
 the pectorals are differently placed ; and the rays in the 
 long dorsal fin are 160 ; and he has therefore described it 
 as specifically distinct, under the name of Tnn-h>ji>lci-ns 
 arcticus, Nilss. 
 
 The Gymncti'its Gr/llil, Lindroth (Sild-Konge, or, 
 herring-king, Norw.), has as yet only been met with 
 on the northern and western coasts of Norway, and that 
 even less seldom than the Vaagmaer, to which it would 
 seem to be nearly allied, though smaller in proportion to 
 its length. Five undoubted specimens of this curious tish 
 were taken towards the end of the last century in the 
 Norwegian seas, and all were of a large size; one of them 
 measuring no less than forty-two feet in length ! This 
 had imprisoned itself between tw r o piles forming part of 
 an old pier in the Bergen Fjord, in 1791. Only a single 
 specimen, and that much mutilated, seems to have been 
 preserved. The fish wns e;ist a-hore on the island of 
 Jlitteren, off Drontheim (driven then*, it was supjipsed, by 
 a shark or other monster of the deep), about fifty-live 
 years ago, and \\as afterwards sent to the Stockholm 
 Museum by Dr. Lindroth. According to his description, 
 taken from the fresh fish, it was shaped as a sword-blade, 
 thin, and tapering to\\ards the tail. Its length was 
 eighteen feet, depth fourteen inches, and thickness tat the 
 most) three inches ami a half. It weighed 1M> pounds. 
 The colour \\as silvery i;rey ; body covered with small 
 
 excrescences; head < iprcssed and small; each ventral 
 
 consisted of a single ray of live feet in length, rounded at 
 the root. The dorsal tin extended along the whole back, 
 
THE GREY AND THE THICK-LIPPED MULLET. 481 
 
 being at the greatest height, which was near the head, six 
 inches ; in the middle four, and less towards the tail, with 
 406 rays. The tail fin was broken off. Of the breeding 
 and other habits of this fish nothing whatever seems to 
 be known. 
 
 The Grey or Common Mullet (Gra iMulte, or, grey 
 mullet, Sw. ; Almindelig [_i. e. common] Hulte, Dan. ; 
 Mugil Capita, Cuv.) is scarce in the Bohus Skargard 
 (Ekstrom having met with only four specimens during his 
 long residence there), as also elsewhere on the western 
 coast of Sweden. On that of Norway it would seem to 
 be more common, especially in the vicinity of Bergen, 
 where we are told it is a stand-fisk, or, stationary fish ; 
 that is, one met with all the year round. 
 
 The Thick-lipped Grey Mullet (Tjock-ldppad Multe, 
 Sw. ; Tyk-lcebed Multe, Dan. ; M. Chelo, Cuv.) is also, 
 according to Ekstrom, an inhabitant of our Skargard, 
 though now, he says, less frequent than formerly. Occa- 
 sionally one or both of the species named (for the matter 
 seems not quite clear) find their way into the Sound and 
 the Danish waters. Valenciennes, indeed, informs us on 
 the authority of Fischer and Georgi that these fish are 
 met with in the Baltic, on the coast of Livonia. But 
 Kroyer conceives there must be some error in this state- 
 ment, and that some large species of carp, such as the 
 Cyprinm Idus or the C. Jeses, has been mistaken for it. 
 On the south-west coast of Norway, however, the Thick- 
 lipped Mullet would appear to be pretty common, and to 
 remain at all seasons of the year. It is said to spawn 
 about Midsummer. This fish, Dr. Gunther says, is not 
 identical with the Mediterranean M. Chelo, Cuv., but a 
 separate species, for which he has proposed the name of 
 M. scptentrionalis. Kroyer inclines also to think that 
 they are specifically distinct. 
 
 The Shanny (Pholis Icevis, Plem. ; jBlennius Pholif, 
 
 2 i 
 
482 THE CRESTED BLENNY AND LUMPENUS MACUIATUS. 
 
 Linn.) has hitherto only been found near Bergen, whence 
 specimens have been sent to the Stockholm and Lund 
 Museums. But as this iisli 1ms been ruptured off tin- 
 island of Heligoland, both Nilsson and Kroyer seem to 
 think it has probably been overlooked in the intermediate 
 seas. It is said never to exceed six inches in length, and 
 to spawn in June. It is so tenacious of life as to have 
 been known to live for thirty hours in a box without water. 
 It is even asserted that if put in a damp place, or amongst 
 wet grass, it will exist for days together. 
 
 The Crested or Yarrell's Blenny (T<ii>(j-S>irt<i, Sw. ; 
 Blenniops Galerita, Nilss. ; Elennius l'";w///Y, Valenc.) 
 has been found in the Bohus Skiirgurd by M. Malm. On 
 the western coast of Norway, in the vicinity of Bergen at 
 least, it would not seem to be very rare. As yet this JMi 
 has not obtained a place in the Danish fauna. Nothing 
 seems to be known of its habits. 
 
 The Luiiti>(>)n<tt niiK-iiliilHs, B. Fries (Trubb-stjertad 
 Lang-barn, or, blunt-tailed ling's-child, S\v.). This little 
 fish, useless to the fisherman, but of value to the ichthy- 
 ologist, was first discovered, in 1835, by Professor B. Fries 
 in the Bohus Skiirgard, where it appears not to be very 
 scarce, as every subsequent year it lias been found there 
 in the months of October, November, and December. 
 Though not at present identified in other localities, there 
 can be little doubt that this iish (which is an inhabi- 
 tant of the Greenland seas) exists elsewhere on the \\estern 
 cuast ol' Scandinavia. From its small si/e, seldom exceed- 
 ing six to sc\en indies in length, and from the shape of 
 its body, somewhat resembling ibat of the Lin-; (/,////'/, 
 Su.), il ha. obtained amount the fishermen, the above 
 designation of /^ft^-dorn. It is vunewhat solitary in its 
 habit-. nc\er lieinu oler\ e<l in shoals, and seldom more 
 than an odd one heinu taken in the nets. With (lie excep- 
 tion of the spawning season, when it approaches the shore. 
 
TOE LT7MPENUS NEBTJLOSUS AND SPOTTED GUNNEL. 483 
 
 it would appear to live chiefly in deep water. Its food is 
 said to consist of crustaceans and other small animals 
 living at the bottom ; nevertheless the stomachs of these 
 fish are generally empty at the time of capture. It is 
 said to spawn late in the autumn, and Swedish natu- 
 ralists seem to think that they regularly pair. It is 
 very hard-lived ; and if the water be changed daily, 
 will exist for a long time in a small tub or other vessel. 
 When thus imprisoned, it keeps for the most part at the 
 bottom, its body always straight, and its pectoral fins 
 extended, so that it rests as it were on their extreme 
 points, which to a certain extent have a digital appearance, 
 and act as feet during its slow creeping-like progression. 
 
 The Lumpcnus nebulosus, B. Fries (Spets-stjertad 
 Lang-barn, or, sharp-tailed ling's-child, Sw.), has only in 
 one instance, I believe, been captured in the Bohus 
 Skiirgard, but on several occasions in the neighbouring 
 Christiania Fjord. On the western and northern coasts of 
 Norway, however, it is much more common, but nowhere 
 plentiful. In appearance this fish, also an inhabitant of 
 the Arctic seas, differs but little from the L. maculatus, 
 excepting in the shape of its tail, and in superior size ; for 
 though usually of from nine to ten inches in length, it 
 measures at times nearly a foot. It is said to spawn 
 about Christmas. 
 
 The Spotted Gunnel, or Butterfish (Tejste-Fisk, Sw. ; 
 Gunnellus vulgaris, Flem.), is common on the western 
 coast of both Sweden and Norway, from Finrnark to the 
 Sound ; and is also found in the more southern parts of 
 the Baltic. This fish supplies the chief sustenance for the 
 Black Guillemot, or Tejste, and hence its Swedish name. 
 From its peculiar shape it is also called the Svdrd-Fisk, or 
 sword-fish. In the Scandinavian waters its usual length 
 is from six to nine inches. One seldom sees it stretched 
 out at full length, but commonly more or less coiled up. 
 
 2 i 2 
 
184 THK \I\II'AROUS 11LENNY. 
 
 This explains why it is so often found in empty mussel- 
 shells brought up from the bottom. It spawns at tin- 
 end of October, or it may be somewhat later. It is most 
 tenacious of life, and will survive long when out of its 
 native element. 
 
 o 
 
 The Viviparous Blenny, or Eel-Pout (Kimm, Alkitusa, 
 Sw. ; Zoarces cir ijiorns, Cuv.), is likewise common, both 
 on the eastern and western shores of Scandinavia, as high 
 up as the vicinity of the North Cape. Its usual length is 
 from ten to twelve inches, but at times it attains sixteen 
 or more. The female is generally larger than the male. 
 From olden times this fish has been known to produce 
 living young ones, which circumstance, and its resem- 
 blance to the eel, gave rise to the notion that it was its 
 parent. To this very day the German and Danish popular 
 names, Aulmtdter and Jnlcmodcr, signify the mother of 
 
 O 
 
 the eel, and the Swedish appellation, AlkttMa, has a similar 
 meaning. From its favourite resorts being stony bottoms 
 covered with Ttuiy, a kind of seaweed, taken in connection 
 with its somewhat resembling the Luke, or Burbot, it also 
 goes by the name of the Tuny- Luke. It is found every- 
 where, but sparsely, and seldom many together. Its food 
 consists chiefly of molluscs, crustaceans, etc., as also of 
 small lishes. Its flesh is firm and white, and in taste not 
 unlike that of the eel; but in many places is not eaten, 
 owing to the green colour of the bones. 
 
 The Viviparous Blenny breeds at no particular time. 
 At almost all MMCffll !' the year, at least, one meets with 
 females ready to produce, and at the same time others 
 whose ova are still diminutive. It is in December and 
 January, however, that one most commonly finds part u- 
 rient females. This faculty of bringing forth living 
 young ones leads to the supposition that actual coitus 
 takes place between the Bezes, and that the e^-s are 
 impregnated whilst still in the body of the parent. The 
 
THE SEA WOLF. 485 
 
 fecundity of this fish is great. Ekstrom dissected a female 
 twelve inches and a half in length, which contained 196 
 young, each one inch and a half long ; of these 75 were 
 loose in the ventral cavity, and the rest enclosed in the 
 foatal sac. In another female, thirteen inches in length, 
 the young numbered 262. The Viviparous Elenny would 
 seem to be capable of propagating its species at an early 
 period, as ova have been found in some six inches in 
 length. The males are less common than the females. 
 
 The Sea Wolf (Jlaf-ltatt, i.e. sea-cat, Sw. ; Anarrhiclias 
 Lupus, Linn.), which would seem to belong to high 
 northern latitudes, is found everywhere on the western 
 coast of Scandinavia, from near the North Cape to the 
 Sound ; occasionally also, according to Kroyer, in the 
 more southern parts of the Baltic. In Iceland, where it 
 is represented as abounding, it is described by Fabricius 
 and others, as of migratory habits ; but this character can 
 hardly apply to it as regards Scandinavia, where it is 
 caught all the year round, though sparingly. According 
 to Swedish and Danish zoologists, it attains four feet and 
 upwards in length, but our English authorities, probably 
 with some exaggeration, say six to eight feet. Its spawn- 
 ing season would appear to be May and June, when more 
 are captured than at other periods. 
 
 Many wonderful stories of the Sea Wolf have been 
 handed down to us from ancient times, when, in conse- 
 quence of its ferocious cat-like-looking head and formidable 
 teeth, it was greatly feared. " Terrible as the shark," 
 says Hollberg, " he is a fearful destroyer of the finny 
 tribe, amongst which he commits equally great ravages 
 as the wolf, whose name he bears, amongst the poor 
 defenceless herds." 
 
 The generic name AnarrJiichas, signifying climber, it 
 should be observed, was first applied by Gesncr, in con- 
 sequence of the prevalent belief that this fish was in the 
 
486 TUB SEA WOLF. 
 
 habit of clambering up cliffs, etc. ; and the specific desig- 
 nation of Lupus was retained by Linnaeus in remembrance 
 of its old name /./'//"* mtu-hius, or Sea Wolf, under \vhich 
 it was generally known and dreaded. The real fact is 
 that the Sea Wolf, instead of being a regular " Thalabar," 
 is one of the most innocuous of fishes, living chiefly on 
 crustaceans, mussels, cockles, sea-urchins, and sea-stars. 
 A large portion of these are affixed to the sides of 
 rocks, and to detach, and afterwards to crush them, its 
 long, pointed, and crooked front teeth are admirably 
 adapted. To be convinced of this being the case, you 
 have only to examine the remarkable formation of its 
 teeth, masticatory muscles, and short and closely united 
 jaws, which do not admit of the extension that is charac- 
 teristic of predatory fishes proper. The organization of 
 its mouth shows it, on the contrary, to be an animal 
 that lives on hard substances, which must be crush' -d 
 prior to being swallowed. It is difficult to conceive 
 a crushing-machine more suitable than the jaws of this 
 fish, where reducing hard substances into small particles 
 is not required. The wonderful power with which the 
 jaws act becomes apparent on opening the stomach, where 
 pieces of hard-shelled mussels are found in abundance. 
 Though the Sea Wolf is in the main harmless, yet it 
 must be admitted that it is sometimes taken by the same 
 hook on which another fish had previously fastened, so 
 that it cannot be altogether exempted from attacking and 
 devouring the piscatory tribe. 
 
 Although the Sea Wolf has a very unprepossessing 
 appearance and disagreeable odour, it is eaten by the 
 Holms fishermen, more especially the liver, which is 
 considered quite a dainty. In some localities, prior to 
 beint; brought to market, the front part of its head, in a 
 line with the eyes, is cut away; not, however, as KnglNi 
 naturalists would seem to imagine, for the purpose of 
 
THE GOBIES. 487 
 
 diminishing its unsavoury smell, but, as I take it, from 
 some superstitious feeling of a somewhat similar kind to 
 that which prompts the Swedish sportsman (as men- 
 tioned in the " Field Sports of the North of Europe") to 
 decapitate the hare before bringing it into the house. 
 
 Of the genus Gobius, eight species are identified by 
 Swedish ichthyologists as more or less common on the 
 coasts of Scandinavia, viz. : 
 
 1. The Black Goby (Svart Smorbult, Sw. ; Sort Kut- 
 ling, Dan. ; G. niger, Linn.) is pretty abundant in the 
 North Sea and the Baltic, especially on rocky shores, 
 for on those that are sandy it seems not to thrive. On 
 the western coast it attains six inches in length, but on 
 the eastern, where the water is brackish, seldom more 
 than three inches. 
 
 2. The Freckled or Spotted Goby (Hvitaktig Smorbult t 
 or, whitish goby, S\v. ; Held Kittling, Dan. ; G. minutus, 
 Gmel.) would also seem to be common in all the Scandi- 
 navian seas, but never grows so large in the Baltic as 
 on the west coast. The specific name, minutus, has been 
 given in reference to the size of this fish as compared 
 with the G. niger only, for, next to the latter, it is about 
 the largest of the genus, as recognized in the Peninsula. 
 
 3. The Slender Goby (Spets - stjertad Smorbult, or, 
 sharp-tailed goby, S\v. ; G. yracilis, Jenyns) is very rare 
 in the Scandinavian seas. Only a single specimen, 
 indeed, seems hitherto to have been captured, and that 
 at Gullmars Fjord, in the Bohus Skargard. It is now 
 preserved in the Stockholm Museum. 
 
 4. The Double-spotted Goby (Sju-strulig Smorbult, or, 
 seven-rayed goby, Sw. ; Topletted Kutling, Dan. ; G. Ruth- 
 ensparri, Euphras. ; G. bipunctatus, Yarr.). This species 
 is abundant in the Cattegat and North Sea, and high up 
 on the western coast of Norway. 
 
 5. Gobius Nilsnonii, von Di'iben & Koren (Ten- 
 
48S THI-: 
 
 xtraliy Sniorbull, or, two-rayed goby, Sw.), which may In- 
 distinguished at once from any other species In tin- an- 
 terior dorsal fin with two rays only, and by the posterior 
 dorsal as well us the anal fin having twenty level rays. 
 Of this fish several specimens have been taken, in summer 
 as well as in winter, oil' the west coast of Norway, in some 
 thirty fathoms water. When brought up (in a sort of 
 trawl-net), they were found embedded in the stalks of 
 Tuny (Fiicus), or in the empty nests of the CV/<r/V>/>/V/m- 
 Norvegicus. Their length was 1^ to \\ indies, and from 
 appearance they were very young, full-grown specimens 
 not having as yet been captured. 
 
 6. Gobius Stuvitzii, von Diiben & Korean (/> 'ni-sfruliy 
 Smorbtili, or, five-rayed goby, Sw.), is perhaps identical 
 with the White Goby (G. albus, Parn., Ynrr.), though 
 M. Malm is of a different opinion. M. Stuvitz obtained 
 several of these fish near Bergen, in the month of Decem- 
 ber; they were 1 to If inches in length, and, from their 
 bodies being quite transparent, there was every reason to 
 believe that they were very young. Irregular rows of 
 dark spots were noticeable on the bodies of this, as well 
 as the last-mentioned species. 
 
 7. Gobhtfi nUnis, Parnell, Van-ell, has been found by 
 M. Malm, he says, in the Bohus Bk&rgftrd. 
 
 8. Gobi UN /lir/trx, Malm. Of this fish specimens 
 have been taken, in 1852 and 1801, on both occasions 
 in the Bohus Skargard by M. .Malm, who describes it as 
 nearly allied to G. mitnifm. 
 
 Kroyer admits but three of the above-named species in 
 the Danish fauna, viz., the G. ///'////-. the <i. Iliillii-iinpiirri, 
 and the .'/./////////; but he has added one of his o\\ 11 
 (G. intern/)*, Kroy.), which is, IIO\VCV<M-. founded on a 
 single specimen, and which, he says, stands in close rela- 
 tion to the (! . ninnitiix. 
 

 
 
 
CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 The Dragimetn. The Common Angler. The Wrasses. The Gar-Fish. 
 The Smelts. The Hen-ing. The Sprat. The Pilchard. The 
 Anchovy. The Cod and others of theGadi The Hake. The Lings. 
 The Rocklings. The Torsk. The Forked Beards And other 
 Acanthopterygious and Malacopteiygious Fishes allied to them. 
 
 f I^HE Gemmeous Dragonet ( Vanlig Sjo-kock, Sw. ; 
 -L Callionymus Lyra, Linn.), so called from its brilliant 
 colours, of which some idea may be formed by the accom- 
 panying illustration taken from the living fish by M. 
 Wilhelm von Wright, was found, though sparingly, in our 
 Skargard, as also on the western coast, from the Sound 
 to Drontheim, lat. 63. According to Linnaeus, it is also 
 met with in the Baltic, but Kroyer seems doubtful on this 
 point. From its extraordinarily high dorsal fin, suggesting 
 the idea that the same use can be made of it by the fish 
 as by a bird of its wings, the fishermen on the coast of 
 Bohus, and that of Norway, call it the Flyg-fisk, or flying- 
 fish. The male is considerably larger than the female, 
 measuring, when full grown, from ten to twelve inches 
 in length, whereas the latter seldom attains more than 
 
490 THE DRAGON ET8. 
 
 eight or nine. It is nowhere found in numbers together, 
 thereby giving reason to suppose it lives alone or in pairs. 
 From the shape of its body it would seem to be slow in 
 its movements, and of a sluggish disposition, \\ith which 
 supposition all we know of its habits agrees. It dwells in 
 deep water, probably where the bottom is soft, and only 
 comes near the shore on the approach of the breeding 
 season. Both from its conformation and manner of living, 
 Swedish ichthyologists imagine it to live in monogamy. 
 It is said to be very tenacious of life, and to exist very 
 long out of the water. Its food consists of such small 
 prey as it can secure. One commonly finds in its stomach 
 several kinds of small Crustacea and univalve testacea, 
 large quantities of the crushed shells of these animals, 
 closely packed together, being often found in the thin 
 intestinal canal. Its flesh is white and palatable ; but 
 being included amongst fishes tabooed by the fishermen, 
 it is not sought after, and, when accidentally captured 
 by nets or otherwise, is usually cast overboard. 
 
 The ( '(fllioii I/HI its macnlat us, llafin. (Fldckig Sju-kocl:, or, 
 spotted dragonet, Sw.), pretty common in its proper home, 
 the Mediterranean, is very ran- in the Scandinavian seas, 
 only two specimens having hitherto been taken, viz., one 
 in the Sound in 1830, and the other in the Boh us Sksir- 
 gard, in 1836; both were males, the females not having 
 as yet been met with. It does not appear to be the same 
 species as that depicted and described by Yarrell, under 
 the name of the Sordid Dragonet (C. J)r<iri>in-nliis. Linn.). 
 It is much smaller than the (\ /.///<>, probably not 
 much exceeding six indies in length. The habits of both 
 would seem to be very similar. 
 
 The Common An-ler. Fishm- Frog, or Sea Devil 
 
 / ./////// Muriill:, S\v. ; I'mlilrjiti/.-, Norw. ; J/nr-fnu/.-c, i.e. 
 
 sea-purse, Dan. ; Luji/iin* /;/..(<> /<>////*, Linn.), was not 
 
 uncommon in our Bk&rg&rd, and on the western coast of 
 
THE COMMON ANGLER. 491 
 
 Scandinavia, from the Sound to the North, Cape, but I 
 am not sure of its having been identified in the Baltic. 
 According to Kroyer, it attains a length of six feet, with 
 a mouth of such extraordinary capacity as to take in 
 substances of the size of a bushel basket. For the most 
 part it lives at the bottom, and often at a very great 
 depth, where it lies concealed amongst seaweeds, which it 
 much resembles in colour. Here it sets in motion, its 
 tendrils, not unlike worms in appearance, and thus lures 
 the holibut and other fish that habitually live at the 
 bottom, when they are quickly swallowed up by the 
 creature. Hence by the ancients, it was called Sana 
 piscatrLc, or fishing frog. Little or nothing seems known 
 regarding the breeding habits of this fish. It is only 
 occasionally captured ; sometimes in nets along with other 
 fishes, and at others by the hook. The largest are taken 
 on the Jutland Reef in the Skager-Rack, and not unfre- 
 quently at a depth of ninety fathoms. Its flesh is said 
 to be palatable, but, from prejudice, is seldom if ever 
 eaten in Sweden. It is very hard-lived, and instances are 
 on record of its surviving nearly a day and a half after 
 being taken out of the water. 
 
 The fishermen entertain many curious superstitions 
 regarding the Common Angler. Amongst the rest, that 
 should it be captured by a vessel engaged in the " deep- 
 sea fishery," some one of the crew is, in consequence, 
 "fog" or doomed to die shortly. They, therefore, seldom 
 take it on board, but for the most part sever the line, 
 and let it go away with the hook. Otherwise, when they 
 have hauled it up to the surface of the water, they cast 
 a heavy stone into its distended and capacious jaws, and 
 allow it, thus ballasted, to sink to the. bottom. Hence 
 the largest specimens, which are always taken far out to 
 sea, are seldom or never brought to land, so as to serve 
 the purposes of science. 
 
492 TIM; i.onurs EURYPTERUS. 
 
 Besides . man, it has other foes. Kroyer relates 
 that when on one occasion, a fisherman of hi* aequaint- 
 ance was about to row to land, he observed an immense 
 shark probably a specimen of the Xt-inm/im /;<>/vW;,v, 
 Scoresby floundering on the surface of the water. The 
 men (for there were several in the boat) rowed close up 
 to the monster, without its attempting to get out of tin- 
 way, and one of them was bold enough to strike it on 
 the head with an oar, the only weapon at hand, whieli 
 rendered it senseless. Afterwards they towed it ashore, 
 and on ripping open its belly, found, to their astonish- 
 ment, within it a very large Sea Devil, the bulk and 1 he- 
 struggles of which had, doubtlessly, reduced the Shark 
 to the helpless state in which it was found. 
 
 THK I.OIMI1I s i:i \:\ ITEHVS. 
 
 The l.iiliin* ci/ri/jtli'i-HH, von Diiben A; Koivn, is 
 very rare in the Scandinavian seas, only three specimens 
 bavin" as \et been obtained, and all on tin- \vesf coast of 
 
 O 
 
 Norway. No mention is made by Swedish ichthyologist* 
 
 of its inhabiting the Baltic, nor does Kroyer include it 
 amongst the Danish fishes. This diminutive species 
 (neither of the specimens spoken of exceeding four inches 
 in length) may, it is s;,i,l. always he distinguished by the 
 InrLjc pectorals, much more broad than long, and the 
 ventrals spread out like a fan. with six rays. Hut after 
 
THE CHIRONECTES ARCT1CUS. 493 
 
 all, it is perhaps doubtful if this fish, as a separate species, 
 really exists, for Dr. Gunther, to whom I have submitted 
 the above drawing, taken from the Transactions of the 
 lloyal Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, 1844, Pig. 2, 
 pronounces it to be no other than the young of the 
 Common Angler. 
 
 The Batrachus borealis, Nilss., which in many respects 
 resembles the Common Angler (and which Nilsson surmises 
 may be identical with the Gadits Tau, Bloch ; Batrachus 
 Conspicillum, Valenc.), has been added to the Scandinavian 
 fauna from a single specimen, eight inches in length, 
 said to have been taken in the Cattegat near Kullen. 
 But it has lately been questioned whether this fish be 
 really entitled to this distinction, it being reported that 
 the specimen alluded to, now in the Lund Museum, instead 
 of having been captured on the Swedish coast, was 
 purchased from the captain of an American ship ! 
 
 THE CHIHOXKCTES ARCTICUS. 
 
 The Chironectes arcticus, von Diiben & Korea. 
 a single specimen of this fish, and that less than two 
 inches in length, has as yet been met with off the Scan- 
 
494 THE WRASSES. 
 
 dinavian coast. This was taken in a hoop-net amongst :i 
 quantity of Lochla (Osnierus arclimx) in 1820, by M. Brodt- 
 korb, near Vardb'ehuus in Finmark, and forwarded from 
 thence to the Bergen Museum. But ;i* tishes of the 
 genus to which this one belongs are generally supposed to 
 confine themselves exclusively to tropical seas, where they 
 for the most part live in mid-ocean, amongst Suri/n.^niii, 
 and other large floating sea-weeds, the presumption is that 
 the specimen in question had been carried to the coast 
 of Norway by that branch of the Gulf Stream which 
 runs across the Atlantic towards Iceland and Norway. 
 Dr. Giinther is, indeed, of opinion that this fish is not him; 
 but a stray example of Antcnnarius Murmorattas, indi- 
 genous to tropical seas. 
 
 We now come to the genus Ldbnis, of which that dis- 
 tinguished naturalist, Ekstrom, truly says : " Amongst 
 the sea fishes none can compete with them in regard to 
 beauty. They are in this respect a marked exception to 
 the general rule, that the farther one proceeds to the 
 North the more uniform and dull are the colours. He 
 that rows out to fish on the western coast, and for the 
 first time sees a Wrasse recently taken out of the water, 
 may therefore readily imagine himself transported as if 
 by magic to a tropical climate, and waits with impatience 
 for the next nibble, that he may behold another of the 
 paradoxical beings that abound in those seas. But the 
 illusion is of short duration, for when the line is again 
 hauled in, instead of a fish with colours of the rainbow, 
 a codfish or a flounder is brought to the surface." 
 
 Of this genus, the six; following species are all that are 
 at present acknowledged by Scandinavian ichthyologists. 
 The Ballan Wri^se ( />V;y/-//////, Sw. and Nor\\.; 
 
 iiiiin.- yi/ff-i. :md 111.- \..i-w.-L.'i:in -Ji/'l''. :ir.' drrixr.l from 
 word </"'/, i. '' I'o.-ir; :md tin- Norxx r^mn ti>hrniirii ;nv .-n|>]>"-> il fust 
 
? 
 I 
 
 * 
 
 * 
 
 CO 
 
 - 
 
 ' 
 
 
 
 
THE BALLAN WRASSE. 495 
 
 Labrus maculatm, Bloch) v. r as commi n in our Skargard, 
 as also on the westerr "xst ] >l ny, as high up at 
 
 least as Bergen. Occ it ' :en met with as 
 
 far south as the Sound, jvcr, e, in the Baltic. 
 
 It is only an inhabitant , salt wut ~f which the upper 
 portion at any rate of th .i s< ? c. i 1 ,,,^dly be said to con- 
 sist. As with the Ruff and tl.c Cou on Buzzard amongst 
 birds, not two of them are alike Its usual length is from 
 twelve to fifteen inches, but it attains as much as eighteen, 
 and a weight of from three to three and a half pounds. 
 Its favourite resort as its English name, " Rock Pish," 
 denotes is stony ground. Its usual food is small fishes, 
 crustaceans, and molluscs. It is believed to spawn in the 
 spring, say in April and May. Its flesh is white and firm, 
 and though somewhat luscious, is well-tasted ; but it is 
 little valued on the Bohus coast, and seldom eaten, except 
 by the poorer classes, and then not until after it has been 
 split open, and dried in the sun. Hence it is not much 
 sought after by the fishermen. 
 
 About the year 1810, a sort of pestilence is said to 
 have raged amongst the Ballan "V7ra CCL, so that great 
 numbers were found dead on the surface of the water. For 
 several years afterwards these fish were only occasionally 
 seen by the fishermen, but in course of time they became 
 as numerous as heretofore. 
 
 The Blue-striped or Cook Wrasse (Bld-snultra, Bla- 
 gyUa, S\v. ; Rod-neeb, i.e. red-beak, Norw. ; L. mixtus, 
 Linn. ; L. dispar, B. Pries). This fish, so truly depicted 
 in the annexed life-like drawing by M. Wilhelm von 
 Wright, was also found in our Skarg&rd, and likewise on 
 the western coast of Norway, as high up as lat. 63 ; but 
 less commonly than the last-named species. It does not, 
 
 to have applied it from some fancied resemblance between the porcine snout 
 and the corresponding part of these fish. 
 
( 
 
 196 THB\BLUE-STI;IPED WRASSE. 
 
 however, go so far south as tbe Sound, and is unknown 
 in the Baltic. Its i sual lergtb is from twelve to fourteen 
 inches. The male is-somcwhi't smaller than the female. 
 The most striking difference between them is, however, in 
 the colour, that of the male being in the main blue, whilst 
 the female is red, or nearly so. This great variance in the 
 hues of the sexes has caused them to be classed by several 
 English and other ichthyologists as separate species, the 
 male as the L. caruleus, Ascan., and the female as the 
 L. carnetts, Ascan. But careful observations of Ekstrom 
 and others have satisfactorily proved that they arc one 
 and the same fish. 
 
 The food of the Blue-striped Wrasse is supposed to be 
 similar to that of the L. ttntculnfus. Professor C. J. 
 Sundevall, one of the best zoologists in Sweden, and 
 of European reputation, found in the stomach of a female, 
 twelve inches in length, the remains of several different 
 species of crustaceans, and a nearly whole Port nuns, one 
 inch in breadth ; as also some scales, (ins, and vertebne of 
 small fishes. But little seems to be known regarding its 
 breeding habits. The authority just named, however, tells 
 us, that as the ovisacs of the above-mentioned female only 
 contained small and newly-formed ova, evidencing t hex- 
 had recently been emptied, lie arrived at the conclusion 
 that the spawning season must occur prior to midsummer. 
 The flesh of this iish, like that of its congeners, is not in 
 repute with the fishermen, who therefore take but little 
 pains to capture it. 
 
 The Gilt Head, or Golden Maid (S/.-tir- Ii'o,/<>, Sw. ; 
 Sort-njfd [i.e. black-eyed] .V/ '"/-//////<', Dan.; L. .J/r/^//.v, 
 Linn.; r/r// /////>/ v.v .!/,///*, Cnv.), is pretty common in 
 the Bohus Skiirg;ird. I hough it would seem in great 
 decree eoiitined to certain localities. It is likewise pretty 
 eoinmon ahum the uhole of the \\estern coast of both 
 Suedenand Norway, from the Sound up to at least the 
 
THE GILT-HEAD. 497 
 
 62 lat. It is said to inhabit the more southern portion of 
 the Baltic. Its usual length is from eight to nine inches, 
 hut it has heen known to attain as much as ten. Kroyer 
 mentions having found females with mature roe at the 
 
 o 
 
 beginning of July, and on the 5th of that month he 
 examined a male with flydende (all but fluid) milt ; 
 consequently, he looks upon it a certain that this fish 
 spawns in July. 
 
 Speaking of the breeding habits of this fish, the 
 Professor says: "It has been related to me by an 
 altogether trustworthy person, a distinguished savant, 
 and one who, though not a professed zoologist, is greatly 
 interested in the Northern fauna, that on a summer's 
 day about noon, and whilst standing on a low bridge, 
 looking down into the clear water beneath, his attention 
 was attracted by two of these small Wrasses, which 
 came forth from under some sea-weeds, where they had 
 previously hidden themselves. At first they swam rapidly 
 round in a small circle, the one close behind, and as if 
 in pursuit of the other; but presently they came into 
 immediate contact, venter contra venlrem. In this 
 position they remained for a short time, when they 
 separated, and, as before, concealed themselves under the 
 weeds. This, however, was for but a little time, when 
 they again appeai'ed, and the like ceremony was once more 
 gone through. From what my informant relates and 
 lie and others watched their proceedings for upwards of 
 an hour it appears to me that when these fishes were 
 close together, they were in the act of pairing, and that 
 the fructification of the ova of the female then took place, 
 which is the more likely from what we know of the organs 
 of generation of both sexes. It also strikes me as more 
 than probable, that during the intervals that the female 
 remained concealed under the weeds, she took the oppor- 
 tunity of depositing her already fertilized roe, and after- 
 
 1 K 
 
498 JAGO'S GOLD SINNY. 
 
 wards came forth again, that a fresh impregnation might 
 take place." 
 
 Jago's Gold Sinny (Berg [. c. rock]-Snultra, Sw. ; 
 Karudse, Nonv. and Dan.; L. rupetitris, Linn.; Cicn<>l<iln-i'x 
 rupestris, Valenc.), which, according to Ekstrom, forms a 
 kind of connecting link between the Lulu-its and ( 'tcnolnhrnn 
 of Cuvier, is the most common of this family, not only in 
 the Bohus Skargiird, but on the uestern coast of Sweden 
 and Norway, from the Sound to near the North Cape. 
 According to Kroyer, it is also found in the Ualtie. It is 
 one of the smallest of the Swedish AVrasses, its usual 
 length not being more than from four to five inches, 
 though it attains at times to seven. Its habits are said 
 to assimilate much with those of the L. Mclojs,'in whose 
 company it is often found. This is the only one of th 
 fishes that goes close to the shore, being often seen near 
 boat and fishing stations, as also up the mouths of rivers, 
 which it is said to ascend at times for a considerable 
 distance. Unless it be to sei/e its prey, it is believed never 
 to keep to the bottom ; nor to appear near the sxirface 
 except for that purpose, but to remain some two or 
 three feet beneath, and this even during mid-winter; 
 as is proved by the fact of several of these fish having 
 been found on the 12th January, in the stomach of the 
 Glaucous Gull, a bird that never dives, and which could not, 
 therefore, have brought it up from a greater depth than 
 that reached by its bill. The food of this lisli consists 
 exclusively of the smaller kinds of crustaceans, mollusc-. 
 and fishes. It is believed to spawn in .Inly; Kroyer 
 having in that month found the roc of the female fully 
 matured. As with other of the Wrasses, its llesh is held 
 somewhat in contempt by the fishermen. 
 
 The Small-mouthed \Vraxsi-. or i lock Cook (Sn'i-. if/mf 
 
 [i.f. small-mouthed! Smillro, S\\ . ; L. <>.ri>li>lnx, Linn.; 
 / 'iiilltolitln'tix c.rnli'liix, Valene.'i. is the least common of 
 
THE GAR-FISH. 499 
 
 the Wrasses in the Bohus Skargard, as also on the western 
 coast of Norway, where it is found as high up as Sondmor 
 (lat. 02). It does not seem to find its way so far south 
 as the Sound, much less to the Baltic. It is the smallest 
 of the family, its usual length being some four inches, and 
 hitherto it has not been met with much exceeding five and 
 a half inches. It appears to keep farther from the land 
 than the rest of the Wrasses, but in other respects its 
 habits greatly resemble theirs. Nothing seems to be 
 known to Northern zoologists in regard to its breeding. 
 
 The Rainbow Wrasse (Julis vulgaris, Flem., Cuv. & 
 Valenc.). This beautiful little fish, whose proper home 
 is the Mediterranean, and of which, by Yarrell's account, 
 only a single specimen has been found on the English 
 coast, has not yet found a place in Nilsson's "Scandina- 
 vian Fauna," but Kroyer includes it amongst the Danish 
 fishes, though not altogether confident as to its identity 
 with the above-named species. 
 
 The Common Gar-Fish, or Sea-Pike (Ndbb-Gddda, i.e. 
 beaked pike, Sw. ; Horn-Fish, or horned fish, Norw. and 
 Dan. ; Belone vulgaris, Cuv.), was during May and June, 
 its breeding season, exceedingly abundant in the Bohus 
 Skargard, as it is elsewhere on the western coast of the 
 Peninsula, from the Sound to at least as high up as Dront- 
 heim ; and also in the southern and more midland portion 
 of the Baltic. Whilst the spawning lasts, these fish keep 
 in comparatively shoal water, but at its conclusion in 
 the end of June they retire to the deeps ; such of them at 
 least as have not proceeded farther than the Cattegat, for 
 those which spawn in the Baltic do not return from 
 thence until the end of August or beginning of September, 
 when, instead of being lean, as is the case on their arrival 
 in the spring, they are, to use the fisherman's expres- 
 sion, as " fat as butter." It is a common belief in the 
 south of Sweden, that when the Gar-Fish are unusually 
 
 2 K 2 
 
500 THE GAR-FISH. 
 
 numerous in the spring, there will be a drought during 
 the ensuing summer, and that the succeeding year is sure 
 to prove a dear one. The usual length of this fish is from 
 two feet to two feet six inches. Kroyer says it attains 
 three feet, and a weight of two pounds. 
 
 The Gar-Fish, which during spring and early summer 
 are brought to the Gothenburg and other markets in 
 enormous numbers, are captured in various ways, some by 
 the hook, but for the most part by nets of some kind or 
 other. One plan of beguiling them, as related to me by 
 Baron Cederstrom, struck me as somewhat singular. 
 During the spawning season, as known, they may often 
 be seen in immense numbers gambolling, as it were, on 
 the surface of the water. This being observed by the 
 fisherman, he loads his boat with stones, and rowing to 
 the near vicinity of the shoals, spreads his net around and 
 about it. He then casts the stones amongst the fish, who, 
 terrified at the unexpected onset, rush hither and thither 
 in every direction, and not a few, as a consequence, into 
 the toils. In this way the man perseveres until such 
 times as the shoal is entirely dispersed, or that he has 
 succeeded in fully freighting his little craft. 
 
 The Car- Fish has many persecutors. Fishermen in the 
 Sound assert that, in the spring, the Seals lie on the watch 
 for them at the island of liven, in the Sound; and that, on 
 the return of the fish from the Baltic daring early autumn, 
 the Common Tunny drives them under the land, where 
 they would otherwise never go. The Gar- Fish, according 
 to Kroyer, is, moreover, sadly pestered by parasitical 
 worms, the Ax<;t,-'i* .////.<* being found in the ventral cavity, 
 the JErIt!iior/ii/iH'/i>i.< <nif/ntt(<i/ns and E. IV/V/.v, Si-o/t'.r 
 ///;/// W.O/7/////V, and Ilnlr'nii-rjihuliiN Ilrlmicx, Dllj., in the 
 intestinal canal, and the Dixtoma t/iftb<<in infesting the 
 -tomaeh. On the gills the lli>f<-i-i'it,illiii /////<////* and 
 //. Kiiijillnliix. Dies., have also been ub.siT\cd. 
 
THE SAURY PIKE. 501 
 
 The Saury Pike, or Skipper (Makrill-Gddda, Sw. ; 
 Makrel-Gjedde, Dan., both meaning mackerel-pike ; Scom- 
 beresox Camperi, Lacep.). Of this fish one specimen has 
 lately been taken off the Swedish coast, in the Sound, 
 near Malmo. It has also once been captured near 
 Christiania, in Norway. Kroyer mentions, on the autho- 
 rity of Reinhardt, two instances of its being met with 
 off the Danish coast in the Sound. Both of the last-named 
 specimens, as also one from the south of Iceland, are 
 now in the Copenhagen Museum. This fish bears a con- 
 siderable resemblance to the common Gar-Pish, but the 
 dorsal and anal fins are divided into small finlets, as 
 in the Mackerel. Length, fourteen to fifteen inches ; 
 weight, about half a pound. 
 
 Of the Salmonidte, regarding which, as it strikes me, 
 naturalists, both at home and abroad, still seem very 
 much in the dark, I spoke pretty fully in my last book ; 
 that is, of the several species that more or less inhabit the 
 inland waters of the Peninsula. I there made mention of 
 the Smelt, which fish, as shown, thrives just as well in 
 fresh as in salt water ; of two species of Charr ; of the 
 Salmon ; of the Salmon Trout ; of the Bull Trout ; of the 
 Common Trout ; and of two large species of Lake Trout. 
 I also described six several species of the Coregoni that 
 came under my personal observation, all of which, as 
 well as the two large Lake Trout just spoken of, will be 
 found beautifully and faithfully depicted in "Scandinavian 
 Adventures."* But only two or three of these fishes have 
 
 * Dr. Giinther, in his recent work, " Catalogue of the Fishes of the 
 British Museum," vol. vi. p. 189, has, I observe, characterized the drawing 
 of one of the Coregoni, the Lof-sik, Sw., as being "not good." Such 
 may be the fact ; but if so, it is somewhat singular, because one and all of 
 them were depicted by Mr. Alexander Fussell, one of our first artists, from 
 large and fresh Specimens preserved in spirits ; and that, moreover, in my 
 own room, and under the eye of the late Mr. Yarrell, the eminent naturalist, 
 who was capable, it is to be presumed, to judge of their correctness. 
 
502 OSMERUS ARCTICUS ET HEBRI1HCTJS. 
 
 I ventured to name specifically, leaving that difficult and 
 delicate task to other and wiser heads than my own. I 
 have therefore now only to mention the few remaining 
 Salraonida', which belong exclusively to salt-water. 
 
 The Osmerus arcticus, Fabr. (Lodda, Sw. ; Lod<l<\ 
 Norw. ; Lodmt, Icelandic), * whose proper home would 
 seem to be the Arctic seas, is not so uncommon on the 
 coast of Ileli-vland (about 05). Occasionally it is also met 
 witli as far south as Bergen (lat. 00 30'), and has even 
 been taken in the Christiania Fjord. Though K rover 
 thinks it probable that it may at times visit the shores of 
 Denmark, it has not hitherto been identified there. In 
 size and appearance it is not so very unlike the Common 
 Smelt (O. ./-Jjn'r/m/iis), though rather smaller. The chief 
 difference between them consists in the latter having large 
 canine teeth in front of the vomer and on the tongue; 
 with the adipose fin of greater height than length; while 
 the Lodda has no canine teeth, and its adipose fin is of 
 greater length than height. Like the Common Smelt, it 
 emits a strong cucumber odour, which is said to be so 
 very attractive to fishes of prey that, by a lloyal ordinance 
 of 17S(5, people engaged in the Cod-fishery oil' the Lofodeu 
 Islands were forbidden to use it as bait for Cod, Ling, &c. ; 
 because, owing to its scarcity, all could not procure it, and 
 therefore could not share alike. 
 
 The Hebridal Smelt (Mindrc Hilfr<-r-Fixk, i.e. lesser 
 silver-fish, Sw. ; (hnu'mx IW.ridiritx, Varr. ; J>yenli,i>i 
 Ih-ln-iilii'ii, Nilss.) lias hitherto only been taken in the 
 Christiania Fjord, where it would not appear to be 
 very rare, but at not a less depth than from twelve 
 to fifteen fathoms. It is there known under the name 
 of M,-u,i)-*il<L or stream-herring, from the young of this 
 
 I.-"l:m.li.- :.n.l S-:m.lina\ian nani.-s (iiii|.lvin liii-suto or .-!, 
 from tin- |.,vuli:ir |M..-iti.in "f WHW "HI..- -.-al.s farming l..i.-i- 
 
 l!> 
 
THE ARGENTINA SIIATS. 503 
 
 species being in the habit, at certain seasons, of going 
 up the mouth of rivers. Nilsson, who is my authority 
 for the preceding, is of opinion that, though not yet 
 observed, it inhabits other of the Scandinavian seas, 
 especially those on the coast of Bohus-Lan. He further 
 states the length of this fish to be from rather less than 
 seven inches to a maximum of nine inches. Kroyer, on 
 the other hand, says its length is from one and a half to 
 two feet, and that it is met with on the coast of Norway as 
 high up as Stadt (lat. 62). Both quote Osmerus Hebridicus, 
 Yarr., as synonym, though the latter objects to YarrelPs 
 description as being incomplete and superficial, and his 
 wood-cut unsatisfactory. He also finds fault with Yarrell 
 for not being acquainted with the description of this fish 
 already given, and to his stating it to be new. If ever 
 there was a case of doctors differing, it is surely this ; and 
 out of the meshes of this entangled web, I see no other 
 extrication than by supposing Kroyer to look upon the 
 Osmerus Ilebridicus and the Argentina Situs, which I am 
 about to describe, as one and the same fish ; whilst 
 Nilssou, on the contrary, classes them as different species. 
 The Argentina Silus, Nilss. (Storre Silfver-Fisk, i. e. 
 greater silver-fish, Sw. ; Gnl-lax, or yellow salmon, Norw.), 
 is desciibed by Nilsson as attaining a length of one and a 
 half to two feet, and as being peculiarly a salt-water 
 species, never ascending rivers. It resembles the Common 
 Smelt, but is always distinguishable by the dorsal fin 
 being placed before the ventrals. It frequents the 
 western coast of Norway, particularly to the south and 
 north of Bergen (about lat. 00), where it lives, during the 
 summer, at a depth of eighty to one hundred fathoms, in 
 company with the Bergylt (Sebastes Norvegicits, Cuv.). 
 It is then occasionally caught on lines laid for that fish, 
 the bait being mostly a kind of mussel (Mytilus ('(In//*), or 
 a bit of fish. Towards autumn it approaches the coast, or 
 
504 THE SCOPELI ET STERNOPTYX OLFERSII. 
 
 shallows. Like the Salmon, it is thought to he gifted 
 with an enormous power of digestion, there being seldom 
 anything else found in its stomach than pieces oi' seaweed 
 and clay, swallowed together with the molluscs on Avhich 
 it has preyed. It spawns probably during spring or 
 autumn, as it then approaches shallow water. 
 
 The Nordisk Prick-Fi.sk, Sw. (Scope! us borealis, 
 Nilss. ; Matirolicus Midlen, Kroy.), is not uncommon 
 on the western coast of Norway, more especially in 
 the vicinity of Bergen. It has also been met with in 
 the Cattegat, and occasionally near Gothenburg, but 
 hitherto appears not to have been found in the Danish 
 seas. This brilliant little fish would rarely seem to exceed 
 two inches in length. Of its habits, breeding or other- 
 wise, little seems at present known. It is not within 
 my province to say if this fish is identical with the Argen- 
 tine, or Sheppy Argentine, of English authors, or with 
 Scopelus Hinnboldtii, Cuv. 
 
 The Scopeliis glucitdix, lieinh. (Strains Pride- 1 "ink, 
 Sw.), has hitherto only been taken in a single instance in 
 the Scandinavian seas, which was near Sondmor (hit. 02), 
 in western Norway. Several specimens are now in the 
 Copenhagen lluseum from Northern Greenland, where it 
 would seem to be scarce. Its habits, I imagine, are 
 quite unknown. 
 
 The St<;;ii>lii.r l)lft',-*i;, Cuv. (Offers Plait-Fist, Sw.), 
 though a tropical fish, has recently found a place in the 
 Scandinavian fauna, two specimens having been met 
 with in the Norwegian seas, most probably carried thither 
 by the (Julf Stream. One of them was east ashore near 
 llunenfjord, in llclgeland, and is now in the Bergen 
 Museum; and a dra\\ in- of t lie other, which was captured 
 on the coast of Nordlamlen, is in the saint! repository. 
 From various circumstances there is every reason to 
 believe this lish dwells at a ureat depth. 
 
THE COMMON HERRING. 505 
 
 The Common Herring (Sill, Sw.; Slid, Norw. and Dan.; 
 Clupea Harenyus, Linn.) was, during the season, pretty 
 common in our Skargiird, and elsewhere in the Scandi- 
 navian seas, both eastern and western. But on the several 
 coasts of the Peninsula it varies so greatly in form and size 
 (those on the north-west coast of Norway, called the 
 Grubens-Sill, the largest of the Scandinavian Herrings, 
 attaining fourteen or fifteen inches in length, or it may 
 be more, while the Stromminy, which inhabit the Baltic, 
 and are the smallest, rarely exceed eight to nine inches) 
 as to cause many people to doubt their being one and 
 the same species. But naturalists tell us such is the 
 fact, and that the very great difference observable 
 amongst these fish is solely attributable to locality and 
 food, and to the greater or lesser saltness of the water 
 they inhabit. 
 
 Formerly the idea was pretty generally entertained 
 that the great Polar Basin was the proper habitat of the 
 Herring, and that from thence annually issued, in like 
 manner as a swarm of bees from their hive, the immense 
 shoals that in the summer visit the western shores of 
 Europe, and which, when procreation is over, return again 
 to their icy home. But this notion, so far at least as 
 Scandinavia is concerned, is altogether exploded, the 
 prevalent idea now appearing to be that these fishes, 
 instead of being world-wide wanderers, never travel far ; 
 that those, for instance, which spawn on the shores of the 
 Baltic never leave that sea, and those which, for the same 
 purpose, visit the western coasts of the Peninsula, winter 
 either in the Cattegat or in the deeps of the North Sea. 
 And this view of the matter is strengthened by the fact 
 that the Herrings on the several coasts, differing more or 
 less in appearance and size as they do, never intermingle, 
 each colony, so to say, having its own appointed station. 
 It is, moreover, the generally received opinion that these 
 
506 THE COMMON HERRING. 
 
 fishes, like migratory birds, always resort in the hreed- 
 ing season to the place of their hirth. This, however, can 
 hardly be the case, there being abundant evidence to 
 prove that even without assignable cause they frequently 
 shift their quarters, and for a very lengthened period, 
 as I shall hereafter have occasion to show, betake 
 themselves elsewhere. 
 
 The Herring, as regards the Scandinavian seas, breeds 
 at very different seasons. On one part of the coast it 
 spawns, we are told, in May and June, on another about 
 midsummer, on a third in the autumn, say September 
 and October, and on a fourth at mid-winter. It is said 
 that when the Norwegian fisherman expects the arrival 
 of these fish he mounts a lofty eminence and keeps a 
 sharp look-out seawards ; he is thus enabled, even when 
 at many miles' distance, to discern the approach of the 
 Xill-Jlottti, or herring-fleet, as it is called. This is alway- 
 followed by hundreds of whales, which spout water, in 
 the form of steam, high up in the air, so that, according 
 to these men, " kafiytan ltdr torn en ttiya" the meaning 
 of which is that a curtain or wall of mist bounds the 
 horizon. Others again liken the scene to a vast number 
 of smoking chimneys. When the shoal has approached 
 pretty near the coast, the whales form a half-circle beyond 
 them, and swim to and fro. The herrings then separate, 
 and proceed within the islands of the Skiir^ml, at which 
 time they stand closely packed together from the surface 
 of the sea to the very bottom; and after the spawning 
 is over the water is actually discoloured with the milt 
 from the males. 
 
 Formerly the Swedish herring fisheries \\ere the 
 largest and most productive in Europe, but at the 
 present day, owing to the iish having in great measure 
 deserted the const, they have dwindled into compara- 
 tive insignificance. 
 
THE SPRATS AND THE PILCHARD. 507 
 
 The Sprat (Skarp-sill ; Hvass-buk, i.e. sharp-belly, 
 Sw.; JBrisliny, Norvv. and Dan.; Clupea Sprattus [Linn.?], 
 Nilss.) was also common in our Skargard, though less so 
 than the Herring; and elsewhere on the western coast, 
 from the extreme south of Sweden to at least as high up 
 as Drontheim, in Norway. As yet its limits to the north- 
 ward seem not fully ascertained. It is also pretty common 
 in the Baltic to 60 of latitude, which would appear to be 
 about its northern boundary as regards that sea. The 
 usual length of this fish, according to Kroyer, is from 
 four to five inches. Like its congener, the Herring, it 
 swims in shoals. It is said to "lek" at somewhat 
 different periods ; on the west coast in July and August, 
 but in the Baltic in October and November. 
 
 The C. Sclioneveldii, Kroyer, though not acknowledged 
 by Swedish ichthyologists, is included in the Danish 
 fauna. It is found, according to Kroyer, in the Sound, 
 in Isefjord (in the island of Zealand), and in some of the 
 Jutlandic fjords, though not, so far as he is aware, on 
 the coast of Norway. He describes it as about the same 
 size as the Sprat, but as having a smaller head, greater 
 body-height, and a sharper belly than that fish. Nilsson, 
 however, does not consider it as a distinct species, but as 
 merely a variety of (7. Sprattus. 
 
 The Pilchard (C. Pilchardus, Bloch). Until very 
 lately, only a single specimen of this fish had been cap- 
 tured in the Scandinavian seas. This was in 1849, near 
 Kullen, in the upper part of the Sound. It was a female 
 of about ten inches in length, and her roe was in a mature 
 state. But within the past year or so, M. Malm has 
 identified a second example in the Bohus Skargard. 
 
 The Twaite Shad (Stam-sill, Sw. ; Stam-sild, Norw. 
 and Dan. ; Alosa Fiiita, Cuv.) is somewhat scarce in the 
 Bohus Skiirgard and on the western coasts of Sweden and 
 Norway, where it has been taken as high up as Bergen. 
 
508 THE COMMON COD. 
 
 Occasionally it is also met with in the more southern 
 portion of the Baltic. It is generally found alone, though 
 at times in small shoals. Its usual length is from four- 
 teen to sixteen inches, but it attains, I believe, to some- 
 what more. It spawns in June and July, for which 
 purpose it proceeds some distance up rivers, though 
 properly a sea fish. 
 
 The Anchovy (Ansjovis, Sw. ; Engraulis Encr<mirli<>- 
 lus, Linn.), whose proper home is the [Mediterranean, 
 is rare with us, and elsewhere on the western coast < 
 of both Sweden and Norway, where it has been captured 
 as high up as Bergen. Some few have been taken, I 
 believe, as far south as the Sound, but hitherto it does 
 not seem to have found its way into the Baltic. Of 
 the habits of this fish, whose usual length is from live 
 to six inches, Northern naturalists are apparently 
 altogether in the dark. 
 
 The Common Cod (TanHy Torsk, Sw. ; Ahiiiiidt'/i;/ 
 Torsk, Dan., both meaning common cod; (/CK/H-K Mm--- 
 hua, Gadus C!!<n'i<t, Linn.) was common in our Skiir- 
 gard, and everywhere else on the western coast, from the 
 Sound to the North Cape ; as also in the Baltic, where, 
 however, it is of a much smaller size. Formerly it was 
 supposed there were two or more species, but Swedish 
 and Danish naturalists are now agreed, I believe, that 
 they are one and the same lish, and that the great 
 difference observable between them in regard to si/.e and 
 appearance solely depends ou age, locality, and food. 
 Ekstrom is, moreover, of opinion that the name MorrhiHt, 
 which was applied to the adults, should be altogether done 
 away with, and that of (.'nllaritm, which was applied to the 
 younger, should, as the proper one. be alone retained. 
 
 The usual length of this fish is from two to four feet ; 
 but Kvoyer tells us he \\as assured by fishermen at the 
 Lofodeii Islands that " they have taken them as long as a 
 
THE COMMON COD. 509 
 
 tall man fully six feet high." They keep much in shoals, 
 and in preference, as it would seem, where the bottom 
 is rocky. The smaller fish hold more to the shore, but 
 the adults, excepting in the breeding season, when they 
 approach somewhat nearer the land, confine themselves 
 almost exclusively to the deeps. 
 
 For the most part the Cod lives at the bottom ; but 
 such is not always the case ; for Kroyer tells us that 
 " during the summer heats these fish often disport them- 
 selves on the surface of the water, and at times lie still 
 there. One may then, as I myself can testify from 
 personal experience, row the boat close up to the fish 
 and strike it with an oar or other weapon, and even 
 take it with the hand when stunned by the blow. A 
 fisherman has assured me that on a fine and calm 
 summer day he saw, in the Great Belt, thousands of 
 these fish thus lying on the surface of the sea." 
 
 As a rule, the Cod holds to salt water, but it would 
 not seem, nevertheless, to be altogether inimical to fresh. 
 I am informed, at least, by M. Prytz that on the 13th 
 October, 1865, when he was trolling for pike in the 
 river Gotha, opposite Gothenburg, where the water is 
 quite fresh, he caught, with a bleak, a fine cod nearly 
 seven pounds in weight. 
 
 The Common Cod ft-eds on worms, crustaceans, small 
 fish, and on almost anything, in short, that comes in its 
 way. According to Kroyer, " it is indisputably one of 
 the most voracious of the finny tribe. It not unfre- 
 quently bites at the hook to possess itself of a very 
 inconsiderable prize, notwithstanding its stomach is 
 already filled with plaice, whitings, haddocks, &c. One 
 often captures a cod so gorged that the half of the fish 
 it has swallowed, but which the stomach itself could not 
 contain, remains fast in its throat. Even during the 
 spawning season it does not lose its appetite ; as a proof 
 
510 TUB COMMON COD. 
 
 of which I found, when at the Lofodcn Islands, in an 
 immense cod of four feet and a half in length, no less 
 than three other cod fish of the usual size, say some 
 thirty inches in length. 
 
 " In consequence of its voracity," the Professor goes 
 on to say, " one readily perceives that it is not fastidious in 
 its food, hut swallows almost everything it meets with ; 
 and it is said that when digestible substances arc not to 
 be had, even such as merely serve to fill its stomach. 
 One therefore finds in the latter not only seaweed, hut 
 gravel and stones ; and at the end of the spawning 
 season, when it is famished and dehilitatcd, this might 
 almost be called the normal state of things. Sometim -s 
 the stones are so large that they would seem to cause 
 the fish much inconvenience, if not death. In the 
 stomach of a very lean cod of two pounds (equal to 2lb. 
 avoirdupois) in weight, taken in the Sound in October 
 1837, I found several stones, of which the largest was 
 a particularly sharp and angular Hint, of fourteen lines in 
 length and eight in breadth, which it is hardly conceivable 
 could have passed through the intestinal canal. It is 
 therefore not at all unusual to meet with cod fish whose 
 stomach and intestinal canal are in a diseased state, perfo- 
 rated by sharp substances, indurated and cove-red with great 
 numbers of knots and excrescences, all of which \\oiild 
 seem to have their origin in the extreme greediness of 
 the fislu Nevertheless, I will not take it for proved that 
 the Cod swallows stones and similar substances Tor tin- 
 purpose of staying its hunger, it not being impos>ible 
 that these may get down its throat when sei/.in- at the 
 bottom the various small animals on which it mvv-. 
 Small cod fish, which live amongst La,iiniri(C, appear 
 to feed in preference on small crustaceans; and hence 
 the tish may acquire its colour and -ood llavour." 
 
 Kr.'.yer, \\ hen speaking ol't he Ld'oden Island*, tells us, 
 
THE COMMON COD. 511 
 
 moreover : " The fishermen here are exceedingly par- 
 ticular in the selection of the Cod for their own eating. 
 No gourmand can be more critical than they are. They 
 overlook the whole of the captives, and not satisfied with 
 the outward appearance of the fish, make deep incisions 
 in the bodies of the individuals set apart. The 
 colour of the flesh decides their choice ; and the greener 
 it is the better the fish is supposed to be. Many of these 
 men," the Professor adds, " affirm with confidence that 
 the Cod go through a kind of cycle, in regard to the 
 increase and decrease of their fatness ; so that for a certain 
 number of years (three or four, I believe), and until such 
 time as they have attained their culminating point, they 
 become fatter and fatter, but afterwards, for an equally 
 long period, gradually waste away." 
 
 The spawning season of this fish, Ekstrom tells us, 
 varies considerably. " In those parts of the North Sea, 
 as for example the Lofoden Islands, where the Cod are 
 found in the greatest abundance and of the largest size, 
 they, towards the end of the year, congregate at the 
 edge of the several ' banks,' where the water is from forty- 
 five to eighty fathoms in depth, and in such incon- 
 ceivable numbers that these localities have obtained 
 amongst the fishermen the designation of ' Fisk-berg,' 
 literally fish-mountains. Here they lie so closely packed, 
 one above the other (the females, who are in a separate 
 shoal from the males, being always uppermost), that the 
 sounding-lead will not at times, it is said, penetrate the 
 mass. On the first arrival of the fish their milt and roe 
 are hard, but shortly afterwards they become soft and 
 fluid. When this occurs, the ' Lek ' commences, and is 
 carried on in shallower water, where the bottom is over- 
 grown with weeds (which is not the case in the deeps), 
 amongst which the females deposit their ova. The 
 farther north these fish dwell, the sooner the Lek com- 
 
512 THE COMMON COD. 
 
 menccs. The adult fish, which spawn in from twenty 
 to thirty fathoms of water, begin early in the month 
 of January, hut the young, in the more southern local- 
 ities at least, as for instance in the Bohus Skargfird, 
 delay the process until May. One may t lion-fore assume 
 the spawning season with the Cod to extend from Decem- 
 ber to June, in accordance with their respective ages, the 
 state of the weather, and the locality." 
 
 The Cod is- most prolific, zoologists having counted 
 upwards of 9,000,000 eggs in a single female, which 
 extraordinary fecundity, comhinod with the fact of their 
 breeding at an early age (as proved by mature roe having 
 been found in a female only a foot in length), accounts 
 for their incalculable numbers. The growth of she fry is 
 said to be very rapid. 
 
 The Cod is captured in various ways in the Scan- 
 dinavian seas, chiefly by the " long line," but at times, 
 in the comparative shallows, by nets. In the Bohus 
 Skiirgiird, moreover, and the like may probably bo tin- 
 case elsewhere, it is not (infrequently speared, both by day 
 and ntoht. On one occasion I myself saw two fishermen 
 
 O * 
 
 land with several of these fish, weighing from four to six 
 pounds each, which they had thus captured. The Cod is 
 speared, so they told me, in some two fathoms water, near 
 the land, and whilst lying partially hid under fti/iy and 
 other marine plants. 
 
 In Sweden there can hardly bo said to be any "deep-sea 
 fisheries." The Government have of late years, it is true, 
 offered premiums to those cniragod in them, though but 
 few have hitherto availed themselves of the proffered 
 advantages. But in Norway the easi- is different, there 
 being in that country several establishments of the kind. 
 The chief one is ;it the Lol'oder. Islands, \\ here, during the 
 spawning season, wo are told, .">,.">"(> boats assemble, each 
 with a crew ofsi\ or upwards. This fishery alone, there- 
 
THE HADDOCK AND THE BIB. 513 
 
 fore, gives occupation to some 20,000 men, and the 
 captures are said to amount to about 10,000,000 cod 
 fish annually. 
 
 The Haddock (Kolja, Sw. ; Ilyse, Norw. ; Kuller, 
 Dan. ; Oadus ^Eylefinus, Linn.) was likewise very com- 
 mon with us, and elsewhere on the whole of the western, 
 coast of Scandinavia. Very few, however, find their 
 way into the Baltic, probably in consequence of not 
 thriving so well in brackish water as the Cod, and those 
 few confine themselves to the more southern portion 
 of that sea. Though this fish appears to move about a 
 good deal for in places where captured one day in 
 abundance, it is not perhaps to be found the next 
 yet it is not thought to be a great wanderer, but to 
 restrict itself chiefly to the locality where it was bred. 
 Its usual length is from one to two feet, but the fisher- 
 men affirm that it attains three feet and upwards, and a 
 weight of thirteen or fourteen pounds. It is a social fish, 
 keeping in larger or smaller shoals, and for the most part 
 in pretty deep water. It feeds, on crustaceans, worms, 
 and small fish, and when the young herrings enter the 
 Skiirgard, it is amongst their most persistent pursuers. 
 Its breeding habits are not altogether known, some 
 saying that it spawns at the end of December, but others, 
 not until February is well advanced. Its flesh is firm 
 and delicate, and held in considerable estimation by all 
 classes, more especially by the fishermen, to whom it not 
 only serves as food, but is highly prized by them as bait 
 for the Cod and Ling. 
 
 The Bib, or Pout (Bred-Torsk, or broad-cod, Sw. ; 
 Gadus hiscits, Linn.), has only twice been captured in 
 the Scandinavian waters. In the flrst instance at Fiske- 
 biickskil, in November, 183G, which specimen is preserved 
 in the Stockholm Museum ; and in the second case in 
 the Gothenburg Skiirgard by M. Malm, who believes it 
 
 2 \, 
 
514 THE POOH AND THE COMMON WHITING. 
 
 to be a new species, and has figured it as such ; but 
 Nilsson seems to consider it as a mere \ariety of tin- 
 Bib. Hitherto this fish does not appear to have been 
 met with on the coasts of Denmark. Nothing is known 
 of its habits. 
 
 The Poor, or Power Cod (Glys-Torsk, Gly>*-K<>lj<i, Sw. ; 
 A "<///(", Norw.; Gadus minutus, Linn.), is pretty common 
 in the Bonus Skiirgfird and the Cattegat, as also on the 
 coast of Norway, as far up at least as Bergen ; but in the 
 Sound it is somewhat rare, and though Bloch tells us it 
 inhabits the Baltic, yet Swedish and Danish naturalists 
 are altogether disbelievers on that point. It is the 
 smallest of the genus Gadus, its usual length being from 
 six to eight inches, and seldom exceeding ten. Its chief 
 resorts are deep water, where the bottom is sandy, and 
 in. the near vicinity of precipitous, rocky ground. Re- 
 cording to the fishermen, it remains in much the saint- 
 locality all the year round. It lives on small prey, ehieily 
 crustaceans such as Jdolea, (laminarns, &c. and mol- 
 luscs. Little seems known of its bin-ding habits. 
 Swedish ichthyologists imagine that it holds its Lek in 
 the spring, but Danish authorities say June. Its flesh, 
 in Sweden at least, is not much esteemed, but in Norway 
 is said to be better liked. 
 
 The Common "Whiting (ILrilUny, Sw. ; 11'ittliny, 
 Norw.; Hr'nllhiy, Dan.; Gadu-s Mi-rlimyus, Linn.) \\as 
 very common with us, and elsewhere on the \\estern 
 coast, as high up, according to K rover, as the near 
 vicinity of the North Cape itself. It is also an inhabitant 
 of the more southern portion of the Baltic. Though 
 properly speaking a sea-lish, it would not seem inimical to 
 fresh \\ater. 1 myself, at least, have known numbers to 
 betaken with the rod and line from one of the Gothenburg 
 bridges, \\here the water is altogether free from salt. 
 Its iiMial h-iiL'th is from ei_rht to fourteen inches, but it 
 
THE COMMON WHITING. 515 
 
 attains twenty and upwards. A sandy bottom seems to 
 be its place of resort. During the summer, one usually 
 finds it in from twelve to sixteen fathoms water, but in 
 the autumn it approaches nearer the shore. It is not gre- 
 garious, strictly speaking, for, even during the breeding 
 season, it never assembles in regular shoals, so at least say 
 Swedish naturalists ; but the Danish are at variance with 
 them on this point. Neither is it a great traveller, but 
 is believed to dwell the whole year round not far from 
 where it is bred. It is reputed to be a most voracious 
 feeder, and a special enemy of the young herrings. It 
 spawns early in spring, say March and April, but Northern 
 zoologists appear to know very little in regard to where 
 it deposits its roe, &c. 
 
 The young fry make their appearance early in summer, 
 when, if the fishermen are to be credited, they collect in 
 numbers beneath the great Sea-Nettles (Medusa capillatci), 
 with which the ocean abounds, seeking shelter, appa- 
 rently, between its long filiform tentacles. This story is 
 strengthened by the fact that during the summer the 
 fry is never found near the shore, and that one then 
 sees young whiting, of from four to five inches in lengths 
 remain by the hour together under the Medusa?, following 
 them in their slow progressive movements, which seems 
 to imply a certain degree of acquaintance and intimacy 
 between them. Possibly, however, the small whitings 
 in question feed on the marine Ilyperince that attach 
 themselves to the glutinous tentacles of the creatures, 
 or it may be seek protection from larger fish that shun 
 the Medusae. Be this as it may, from their being so 
 constantly observed together the fishermen draw the 
 sagacious conclusion that the young whitings are stiftade, 
 or bred, in the Medusa3, and that, so long as they are 
 small, the latter serve as their ammor, or wet-nurses. 
 
 The Whiting is, in every sense of the word, a godsend 
 
 2 L 2 
 
516 TUB GADUS POUTASSOU. 
 
 to the poor fishermen residing in the Scandinavian Skiir- 
 gardar, for let the weather be ever so bad, these fish may 
 always be captured amongst the islands, and the men ami 
 tlu-ir families can therefore never stand in need of a meal. 
 Their capture, moreover, gives ample occupation, not 
 only to the aged and infirm, but to women and children, 
 whole boat-loads of whom are often seen to IK- llm-> 
 employed. The Whiting, in Scandinavia, as in other 
 countries, is in considerable request for the table. 
 
 The Gadus Poittassou, Risso (Kliiin1i'-IIi'iHii><i, Sw.; 
 Ktilmulf, Kolmun, Nor\v., in both languages meaning 
 black-mouth), whose proper home is said to be the Medi- 
 terranean, is by no means rare in the Christ iania Fjord, 
 and on the western coast of Norway, but seems not to 
 have been identified either in the Sound or in the Baltic; 
 neither is mention made of it by Kroyer as l>ein- an 
 inhabitant of the Danish seas. This fish, whose usual 
 length is from ten to eighteen inches, has the general 
 characters of the Common Whiting, but the lower jaw 
 projects beyond the upper, the back is darker, and the eye 
 nearly double the size of that in the Common Whiting. 
 It is said to be a Sl<ni<l-Ji*k, or one that is stationary 
 in the Scandinavian seas all the year round. According 
 to the Bergen fishermen, it is often found at a depth of 
 from eighty to one hundred fathoms, and never goes into 
 shallow water. llisso, who was the first, I believe, to 
 describe it, informs us that it spawns early in the spring; 
 but Northern ichthyologists are unacquainted with its 
 breeding and other habits. Its llesh, though somewhat 
 ilahby, is said to be well-tlavonrcd. 
 
 The Pollack (Hltink-itrj, Sw.; Lyr-Turxk, S\\ . \ Norw.*; 
 
 * Tin- Nurwi-^'imi ilr>ii.'iiatiiiii. aro.nlini: to r<>iit<>|t|ii<l;m. N /.//,<-. \\ Im-li 
 ui;i\ in'1 imi>r<>l>.il>ly IN- "| tli.- xnii. ,f Si-citrli name 
 
 tl ..... i-jitin nf wliidi Yarn-ll i- imalili- t" atl'urd 
 
THE POLLACK. 517 
 
 Lubbe, Dan. ; Gadus Pollachim, Linn.) was common in 
 the Bolius Skargard and Cattegat, as also on the Nor- 
 
 O O ' 
 
 wegian coast, fully as high up as Sondmor, lat. 62. 
 But in the Sound it would seem to be somewhat scarce ; 
 and the like is the case as regards the Baltic, to the more 
 southern parts of which it is, I believe, confined. Its 
 usual length is from eigtheen to twenty-four inches, but it 
 attains to upwards of three feet. Though often met with 
 alone, or in small companies, it at times goes in large 
 shoals. Kroyer mentions having been present, on the 
 16th May, 1834, near Fredericia, in Jutland, when from 
 six hundred to seven hundred of these fish were taken 
 at a single haul of the net. Its food consists chiefly of 
 small fishes, such as the launces, the gobies, or the young 
 of larger fish. 
 
 Like the Whiting, it commits great havoc amongst the 
 young herrings, called by the fishermen Sill-mor, to seize 
 which it often comes up to the surface. During these 
 attacks of the Pollack, one sees whole swarms of herrings 
 leap out of the water to avoid their enemies, who, in their 
 turn, vault equally high to secure their prey. From the 
 noise thereby created, and the turmoil in the water, the 
 fishermen are made aware of the approach of the Pollack, 
 and on casting out their nets, are always sure of a good 
 capture. So long as the herrings remain on the coast, 
 the Pollack stays, but on the herrings retiring to the deep, 
 the Pollack also disappears. One, nevertheless, meets 
 with young individuals during the whole autumn near 
 the shore, but these are never taken in the same numbers 
 as the adults during the summer months. 
 
 Little is known to Northern naturalists regarding the 
 breeding habits of this fish ; but it would appear to spawn 
 in the early part of summer, Kroyer having found the 
 eggs of the female greatly developed at the end of May ; 
 and he therefore questions the accuracy of B. Fries' 
 
518 THE COAL-FISH. 
 
 statement, that it spawns at the same time as the Common 
 Whiting, namely, in March and April ; as also that of 
 Couch, quoted by Yarrell, that the Pollack sheds its roe 
 in the winter. Its flesh seems to be the least valued of 
 all the Gadi, that is in Sweden; but in Denmark, as \\ell 
 as in France and England, it seems to be rather liked. 
 
 Nilsson notices another kind of Pollack, called by him 
 the Gadits Etniim-kit, Nilss., that is common, he says, in 
 the Christiania Fjord, and there goes by the name of 
 Okm-paal. This small fish, whose length seldom exceeds 
 six to eight inches, and which was first recognized as a 
 species by Professor Esmark, might be easily mistaken 
 for the young of the Pollaek, but for tin; presence of the 
 small beard, the shorter head, and the larger eyes and 
 scales. Nothing is known respecting its habits. 
 
 The Coal-Fish* (C'/v-.sr/, Sw. ; Sej, Gnu'-xfj, Danish; 
 Gadm carbonarius [old fish?], G. virens [y< >ung fish?], 
 Linn.), whose proper home would seem to be the Arctic 
 seas, is common in the Bohus Sksirgsird and Cuttegat, and 
 also all along the Norwegian coast up the North Cape ; 
 but it is said to be somewhat scarce in the Sound ; and 
 though Kroyer admits that some lew enter the IJaltic, 
 he altogether gainsa\s Varrell's statement as to their 
 being plentiful there. It attains to a large size, three fed 
 and upwards. Kroyer speaks of having seen an indi- 
 vidual three I'eet eight inches in length. The adult ii>h 
 hold most to the deeps, \\here the bottom is rocky; but 
 the young resort greatly to bays and inlets, the water 
 there being comparatively shallow. In their habits, also, 
 the old and the young dill'er widely; the former assimilating 
 more to the Coil, whilst those of the latter arc- more akin 
 to the Mackerel ; for ill the summer they seldom keep to 
 the bottom, but for the most part in mid-water, follouin- 
 
 * The Green <''! t' iVnn.ml ;ni'l Y.-irn-ll i- not r<vc>i;iii/i''l l>y 
 
 iiM.li-i in- it ;i- im iitln-r tluiu (he yoang df the Octtl Kisli. 
 
THE HAKE. 519 
 
 the coast in large shoals, especially where there are 
 currents, arid frequently disporting themselves on the 
 surface, making in the while high leaps into the air. 
 According to Ekstrom, the Coal-Fish, in the Cattegat, 
 spawns at the end of March or beginning of April ; but 
 the Norwegian fishermen say mid- winter, the accuracy of 
 which statement Kroyer seems to doubt. The fry soon 
 appear in shoal water, near the shore, where they remain 
 during the summer, but at the approach of winter retire 
 to the deeps. The flesh of the adults is little prized. 
 When salted and smoked, however, in which state it is 
 exported to foreign countries under the name of Stock- 
 fish, it forms a valuable article of commerce. 
 
 The Hake (Kummel, Sw. ; Lysing, Berg-lax, Norw. ; 
 Kulmide, i. e. black-mouth, Dan. ; Merluccius vulgaris, 
 Elem.) is common in the Bonus Skargard and Cattegat, 
 as also on the Norwegian coast, as high up at least as the 
 Polar Circle. But it is scarce on the more southern shores 
 of Sweden ; and would seem unknown in the Baltic. Its 
 usual length with us .was from two to three feet, but 
 it often attains four feet and upwards. By Swedish 
 and Danish naturalists it is looked on as a Hafs-Jisk, 
 or deep-sea fish, i.e. as properly belonging to the deeps, 
 and seldom entering the Skargard. Of the adults I 
 speak, for the young ones are found amongst the islands 
 all the year round. It always keeps near the bottom, 
 and during the greater part of the year is either spread or 
 in small companies, following the herring and mackerel 
 shoals, but on the approach of the breeding season collects 
 in large numbers at the "Lek-sttille" or spawning-ground. 
 It is looked on as an inferior fish, especially when captured 
 on a muddy bottom, but if on stony or hard ground, is 
 somewhat more palatable. When salted and dried, it 
 is nevertheless nearly as good as cod. 
 
 Except during the breeding season, when its appetite 
 
520 THE HAKE. 
 
 would appear to fail, it is an exceedingly voracious fish 
 and is readily taken by the hook. It lives chieily on other 
 fish, and is said to bite asunder even more than it devours. 
 It is also related that when the line is about to be dra\\n 
 out of the water, it disgorges event bin- previously 
 swallowed, for the purpose, as the fishermen believe, of 
 making itself lighter. Its excessive rapacity has probably 
 given rise to the story told by Strom, that, "On a certain 
 occasion no fewer than three hakes were captured on 
 one and the same hook, which found its way through 
 their several bellies as the fish were gorged by each other 
 
 in succession. 
 
 According to Professor Sundcvall, the Hake spawns in 
 
 O 
 
 the end of July, or beginning of August. The fishermen 
 say there is only a single locality in the whole of the 
 Cattegat where these fish congregate in any great numbers 
 for that purpose, and which, in consequence, is called 
 "Kunnnel-yrinul" or hake-bank. The spot in question, 
 which is of very limited extent, consists of sand and small 
 stones, and the depth of water is from sixteen to twenty- 
 four feet. Here in the season hundreds of boats, each 
 usually containing a crew of throe men, may often be seen 
 collected. The baits used arc mackerel and herring; and 
 if the hakes In- abundant the vessel may be loaded, we are 
 told, " in the course of the forenoon." 
 
 The Hake is a very capricious fish. According to 
 Hollberg, they were so abundant in the Cattegat about 
 the year 1780, that more were captured than could be 
 converted to use. Afterwards they became very scarce, 
 but from 1801 to 1808 they once more appeared in 
 tolerable plenty, and several hundred barrels were salted. 
 Anain they became rare, so much so, that it was not until 
 after the lapse of several year- that he \\as enabled to 
 procure a specimen for scientific purposes. About the 
 \ear ]^:{o, they were once more pretty common; but 
 
THE LING. 521 
 
 since then their numbers have been on the decrease. 
 " This fluctuation," says Professor Sundevall, " much re- 
 sembles the so-called periodical visits of the herrings, and 
 not improbably arises from similar causes. The Hake has 
 but few spawning-places;probably only one, in the Cattegat; 
 and it may be that, like many other species of fish, it 
 is wedded to the spot to which it is accustomed. But 
 when molested during its Lek (and in consequence of 
 its great voracity, it is easily captured, either before or 
 after spawning), it may readily happen that a sufficient 
 number of adults do not remain, in which case the fish 
 will naturally become scarce, until such times as the 
 fishermen having abandoned the place of capture as being 
 no longer productive, a new generation supplies the place 
 of those destroyed." 
 
 The Ling (Langa, Sw. ; Lanye, Norw. and Danish ; 
 Lota Molva, Cuv. ; Molva mdgaris, Nilss.), whose proper 
 home is supposed to be in the Atlantic and North Sea, is 
 common in the Bohus Skargiird and Cattegat, as also on 
 the western coasts of both Denmark and Norway, up to 
 and beyond the North Cape. But it is somewhat rare 
 in the Sound (Kroyer, indeed, has never heard of it either 
 there or in the Belts), from whence only very small 
 specimens have been obtained. In the Baltic it is 
 altogether unknown. Its usual length is from three to 
 
 o O 
 
 four feet, but it attains five or six, and a weight of 
 sixty pounds. The adult fish confine themselves almost 
 altogether to the open sea, where they are captured at a 
 depth of from 100 to 400 fathoms, but the younger hold 
 nearer the shore. Some imagine that the Ling, as with 
 the Cod, keep in large shoals, but Ekstroni and Kroyer 
 say, that with the exception, perhaps, of the spawning 
 season, these fish live much spread. It is reported to be 
 most voracious, very large fishes, chiefly flat-fishes and cod, 
 being often found in its stomach. Its breeding habits are 
 
522 THE MOLVA ABYSSORUM. 
 
 very imperfectly known to Northern naturalists ; Nilsson 
 says it spawns in March, but Ekstrom and Kriiyer in 
 June. Then again, we are told it deposits its roe amongst 
 tang and other weeds at the bottom of the sea, which 
 supposition (this fish holding its Lek in the deeps) 
 Ekstrdm imagines to be mere guess-work. Its flesh, when 
 fresh, is much prized for the table ; as also its liver, 
 which the fishermen in our Skiirgard convert into a dish 
 called stamp, somewhat resembling "stirabout" in appear- 
 ance, which they cat with much relish. Few fishes, it is 
 probable, are troubled with so many diseases as the Ling. 
 To say nothing of worms, which are almost always seen 
 in its intestines, its liver is not seldom found to be for the 
 greater part eaten away. At times, moreover, it is liable 
 to a cutaneous disorder a sort of scab, that is very 
 uncommon in other fishes. It is captured in much the 
 same manner as the Cod, with the line and the " long 
 line." The best fishing-ground was said to be at some 
 distance to the north-west of the Scaw. 
 
 Nilsson, it should be observed, has recently added 
 another Ling, the 3folva Abyssoriiin. Nilss. (/>'////>'-/"////<", 
 Norw.), to the Scandinavian fauna. It is found, he says, 
 on the coast of Norway, from about CO up to llelu-eland, 
 and he describes it as very similar in appearance to the 
 Common Ling; but it may be distinguished from the 
 latter by the lower jaw being the longest, the e\ es larger, 
 and the body much more tapering to the tail. The habits 
 of the two, the Professor further tells us, are widely 
 dillerent ; the Common Ling, as a rule, always holding 
 to the deeps, whilst the M. Jb>/x.wrm/i, on the contrary, 
 is never taken far out at sea, but in such bays and inlets 
 on the coast as are of considerable depth, with a muddy 
 bottom. The flesh of this fish, he adds, is more delicate 
 and better than that of the Common Ling. 
 
 The Three-bearded Itoeklinir (Tri--t"iinit<i M^ /-/</// w. 
 
THE ROCKLINGS, 523 
 
 i. e. three-reined coast-ling, Sw. ; Steen-lange, i. e. rock- 
 ling, Nor\v. ; Hotella vulgaris, Cuv. ; M. tricirrata, Nilss.) 
 lias not hitherto been identified in the Bohus Skargard, or 
 the Cattegat ; hut on the western coast of Norway it is 
 met with sparingly. As yet it has not found a place in 
 the Danish fauna. Usually it is from twelve to sixteen 
 inches in length. Its favourite resorts are said to be in 
 somewhat shallow water, where the bottom is rocky and 
 overgrown with weeds, amongst which its movements 
 are represented as quick and lively. But of its habits, 
 whether breeding or otherwise, little or nothing seems 
 known to Northern naturalists, w r ho, however, imagine it 
 to spawn early in the spring. 
 
 The Four-bearded Roekling (Fyr [4] -tommad Slcar- 
 langa, S\v. ; Fire-traaded Ilav-kvabbe, i. e. four-threaded 
 sea-burbot, Dan. ; M. Clmbria, Struss., Linn.) was with us 
 rare, but is not uncommon on the western coast, from the 
 extreme north of Norway to the Sound, .in which, as well 
 as in the Great and Little Belts, according to Kroyer, it 
 is more numerous than elsewhere in the Danish seas. 
 On one occasion, at least, it has been captured in the 
 Baltic, near Kiel. Its usual length is stated by several 
 ichthyologists to he about twelve inches, that is something 
 less than that of the M. vulgaris. But little seems 
 known regarding the habits of this fish. 
 
 The Five-bearded Roekling (Fem\b]-tdmmad Skiir- 
 IniKja ; Sjo-vessla, i. e. sea-weasel, Sw. ; Tang-Brosme, i. e. 
 sea-wrack torsk, Norw.; Ft.m\~\-traaded Ilav-kvaLbe, Dan. ; 
 llf. Jlttstela, Jen.) was common with us, and is more or 
 less so, Nilsson tells us, on the western coast of Norway ; 
 but this Kroyer would seem to doubt altogether, having 
 himself never met with it there, or heard of an individual 
 having been captured since the time of Strom, who 
 flourished a hundred years ago. It does not appear, 
 however, to find its way as far south as the Sound, much 
 
524 THE SILVERY OA1JE AND TUB TORSK. 
 
 less into the Baltic. Its common length is said to be 
 from nine to eleven inches. As with the two species of 
 Motella named, the learned in Scandinavia seem to know 
 nothing of the breeding and other habits of this ti>-li. 
 
 The Silvery Gade (Motella <ir(j<'nlcol<i, Yarr.) is also 
 included in the Scandinavian fauna, larger and smaller 
 specimens having been taken by F. von Diiben, off Grip, 
 an island near Christiansund, on the western coast of 
 Norway (lat. 63), in August, 1843. This fish, about two 
 inches in length, represents in miniature the M. n>/i/<i>-/x, 
 from which, however, both Yarrell and Nilsson agree that 
 it may be readily distinguished by the conformation of the 
 head and the colour of the body. Jenyns and Yarrell's 
 Mackerel Midge (31. </lnca, Jen.) is by Nilsson considered 
 to be identical with the M. tiri/rti/co/n, Yarr., while Kroyer, 
 on the other hand, surmises it may be the young of 
 Jf. Mustela. 
 
 The Torsk, or Tusk (Lubb, Sw. ; Brosme, Norw. ; 
 Brosmius rnh/aritt, Cuv.), which is considered by 
 naturalists as a Northern fish, was somewhat scarce in 
 our Skiirgard. The northern Catteirat would, indeed, 
 seem to be about its limit to the southward; it is never 
 met with in the Sound or in the ]5altic ; but on the 
 western coast of Norway, up to the North Cape itself, it 
 is pretty common. Its usual length is from two feet and 
 a half to three feet, but at times it is still larger. The 
 adults are seldom met with, excepting at a threat depth, 
 say from sixty to one hundred fathoms, with a rocky 
 bottom; but the younger approach nearer to the shore. 
 It would seem to be a .social fish, beini; unii-rally found 
 in shoals, though not so large as those of others of the 
 ( ladus family. The precise nature of its food is not knovi n ; 
 but it takes the hook freely when hailed with mussels 
 I/////7//.V nindiiilux, Mi'ill.). It is believed to spawn in April. 
 Its flesh is considered coarse and ill-!la\ oured. 
 
THE FORKED BEARDS. 525 
 
 This fish, like the Bergylt, or Norway Haddock 
 (Sebastes Norvegicus), and others that habitually dwell 
 in great depths, is, as already mentioned, so affected by 
 sudden tempests as often to be found in large numbers 
 dead and dying on the surface of the water ; the greater 
 portion with their eyes started from the sockets, and the 
 stomach protruding through the mouth. Hence, in parts 
 of Norway, a sudden tempest is called by the fishermen 
 Brosme-for, or torsk-tempest. In parenthesis I may men- 
 tion that once, when I was crossing the Cattegat in a 
 sailing-packet during a very severe winter, we fell in with 
 hundreds and hundreds of ling floating dead on the 
 surface of the sea, then in great part covered with drift 
 ice, and many of which we secured and ate. There 
 being no mark of violence on their bodies, I was utterly 
 at a loss to account for this phenomenon, and it was not 
 until of late years that I have been enlightened on 
 the subject. 
 
 The Great Forked Beard (Vanliy Bartel, Sw. ; Phycis 
 furcatus, Flem.), which is found in the Mediterranean, 
 has not yet been identified in the Bohus Skargard or in 
 the Cattegat, but is occasionally met with on the western 
 coast of Norway, where it attains to a length of from 
 eighteen inches to two feet, and is captured along with 
 the Cod. In the Danish seas and in the Baltic it has 
 not been recognized. Its habits seem quite unknown to 
 Northern naturalists. 
 
 The Lesser Forked Beard, or Tadpole-Fish (Svart 
 Padd-Torsk, literally, black toad-cod ; Smed, or black- 
 smith, Sw. ; Sten-Brosme, i. e. rock-torsk, Norvv. ; Rani- 
 ceps trifurcatus, Flem.), is not uncommon in the Bohus 
 Skiirgard and the Cattegat, or on the western coast, 
 from the Sound to at least as far north as Sondmor 
 (lat. 62). According to Kroyer, it has also been met 
 with in the Baltic. It is usually from nine to twelve 
 
526 THE MACROURUS STRoMII ET RUPESTKIS. 
 
 inches in length, and is not believed to exceed a foot. 
 Little seems known of its habits ; but Professor 15. Fries 
 imagines that it lives for the most part in comparatively 
 shallow water amongst seaweeds. Its food consists of 
 various kinds of marine animals crustaceans, molluscs, 
 sea-urchins, and sea-stars of which one finds the remains 
 in its stomach. Its flesh is white and good, but from the 
 slimy and unsightly appearance of tin- lish it is for the 
 most part looked down upon by the fishermen, and 
 seldom brought to market. 
 
 The Macrourm Strum!!, Sundevall (M<n;-<nirin< \<>rr<>- 
 gicus, Nilss. ; Strains' Sko-lrist, i. e. Strom's shoe-last, 
 Sw.), a Northern fish, though unknown in our Skarg;ird, 
 lias been captured in one instance on the Jutland Keel'. 
 On the western coast of Norway, from its southern 
 extremity to the North Cape, however, it is not so very 
 uncommon, and is there known by the name of >Y,W</.s7. 
 Its usual length is from two feet and a half to three f.vt. 
 It is a deep-sea fish, and is often taken in from 80 to 
 120 fathoms, for the most part in deep fjords near pre- 
 cipitous cliffs, but at times at a distance from land. Of 
 its breeding and other habits Northern naturalists seem 
 in entire ignorance. 
 
 The Macron run /v//r.s7/v'.s'. Uloch (frt/jrir/nx' SL-<>-l<'i*l. 
 Sw.), also a Northern fish, has only on one occasion been 
 identified in the Scandinavian seas. This was in ls:U), 
 at Hammerfest, not far from the North Cape, and in the 
 follow-in- year Professor Sundevall gave a description of it, 
 in the "Transactions of the Royal Academy of Sciences," 
 under the name of M. Fabric!!. 
 
CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 The Common Plaice. The Flounder. The Common and other Dabs. 
 The Pole. The Holibut. The Turbot. The Brill. The Topknots. 
 The Whiff. The Sole. The Birnaculated and other Suckers. 
 The Conger Eel. The Launces. The Pipe-Fishes. The Short Sun- 
 Fish. The Common Sturgeon. The Sea Monster. The Dog-Fishes. 
 The Sharks. The Skates. The Eays. The Sea Lamprey. The 
 Myxine. The Lancelet And other Malacopterygious and Plagio- 
 stomous Fishes allied to them. 
 
 T NOW come to the Elat-fishes, which, it is to be 
 observed, number fewer in the Scandinavian seas 
 than in those of Britain. In the former only thirteen 
 species have hitherto been identified, whilst our own 
 fauna includes as many as eighteen. 
 
 The Common Plaice (Jlod-spiitta, or red-spot, Sw. ; Rod- 
 spcette, Dan. ; Platessavulgaris, Elem.) was common with 
 us and in the Cattegat ; as it also is on the whole of the 
 western coast, from the North Cape to the Sound. It 
 is likewise pretty common in the southern parts of the 
 Baltic. Nilsson says it is found in this sea as high up 
 as Stockholm ; but Ekstrom imagines another species of 
 flounder, the P. Flesus, has been mistaken for it. Its usual 
 length is from ten to fourteen inches, but it attains a 
 length of three feet, and a weight of eight pounds. Erom 
 the sleek and comfortable appearance of this monster 
 
528 THE COMMON PLAICE AND THE PLOT \ HI K. 
 
 fish, Fabricius tells us, it is called by the inhabitants 
 Prest-Jli/iuli'r, or parson's flounder, which designation, lie 
 further informs us, " is not unfrequently applied to old 
 ladies who have little other to recommend them than their 
 fat and unwieldiness." The Common Plaice spawns in 
 spring. The smaller fish are esteemed for the table, both 
 on account of their taste and as being easy of digestion ; 
 they are said to be in best condition from the end of May 
 to the beginning of July ; but the larger ones are seldom 
 eaten until dried and salted. They arc taken by both 
 lines and nets of various kinds on the coast of Jutland 
 where they would seem to be more numerous and larger 
 than elsewhere chiefly in the drag-net ; and " when one 
 thousand or one thousand one hundred are captured at 
 a single haul," Olavius observes, " it is looked on as 
 good fishing." 
 
 In the more, southern portion of the Baltic, near 
 Abekus in Scania, I should observe, they occasionally 
 capture a flounder, which the fishermen call Jlornnye, 
 literally bastard, as it is supposed by them to be a 
 hybrid between the P. rn/f/m-ift and the P. Flesi/s. 
 Nilsson, however, considers it a local variety of t In- 
 former, and has therefore named it the fjStt-iaggig 1H><1- 
 xjti'if/o, or the spiny-scaled plaice (curiclan Jnilti: 
 
 The Flounder (Skrubb-SkiuMn, S\v. ; ShmU,,-. Dan.; 
 P. Flesns, Linn.) was also common both in our Skiirg;ird 
 and on the western coast, as high up, according to Nilsson, 
 as the North Cape ; but K rover says be is unable to follow 
 it further than Drontheim. It is also common in the 
 Baltic, where its ran^e seems to lie much more extended 
 than that of the common plaice, it liein- by all accounts 
 an inhabitant of the (Julf of Bothnia. With u> its 
 ordinary length \\as from ei-lit to twelve inches, but it 
 attains to fifteen inches and ii]>\\anU. The >p;i\\ning 
 season with this tish is in the spring. 
 
THE COMMON AND THE LEMON DAB. 529 
 
 In our Skargiird it was captured both by the line and 
 the net ; and in shallow water it was not unfrequently 
 speared. When the surface of the sea is ruffled, the 
 fisherman at times pours a little train-oil on it, which 
 causes it to become smooth as glass, and the man is in 
 consequence enabled to see whatever object lies at the 
 bottom. For the table it is looked upon as a much 
 inferior fish to the plaice. 
 
 The Flounder would seem to thrive nearly equally well 
 in fresh as in salt water. Some years ago Sir Thomas 
 Maryon Wilson introduced a number of these fish into a 
 large piece of water on his estate at Searles, in Sussex, 
 which, when I was last there, throve remarkably well, and 
 may be still living, for all I know to the contrary. 
 
 The Common Dab (Sand-S/cddda, Sliitt-Flundra, Sw. ; 
 Sand-Flynder, Norw. ; Sltette, Ising, Dan. ; P. Limanda, 
 Flem.) was likewise common with us, and elsewhere on 
 the western coast to and beyond the North Cape. It is 
 also common in the Baltic, as high up as the Stockholm 
 Skargiird and the Gulf of Finland. Its usual length is 
 from ten to eleven inches, and seldom much exceeds a 
 foot. Its food consists of small crustaceans and other 
 marine animals. The stomachs of several dissected by 
 Professor Sundevall were found filled with small Idotece, 
 as also pieces of Annelides, and branches of small Alga3 
 (Ceramiiim, Fuel). The spawning season with this fish 
 is in early summer, say May or June, or somewhat later 
 than that of the two species named. The young are 
 supposed to be of slow growth. Sundevall imagines 
 they do not arrive at maturity until their third or fourth 
 year. In Sweden this fish would appear to be esteemed 
 for the table ; but in Denmark in Copenhagen at least 
 Kro'yer tells us it is but little cared for. 
 
 The Lemon Dab, or Smooth Dab (Bery-Skadda, or 
 rock-flounder ; Phtddrr-iin/ii, or thick-lipped flounder, 
 
 2 M 
 
530 THE SANDNECKKR, OR LONG ROUGH DAM. 
 
 Sw.; Saml-Flynder, or sand- flounder, Nonv.; Mare-Vl'jn<1<',\ 
 Dan.* ; P. mlcrocephalus, Flem.) was less common in our 
 Skiirgiird than the several species named ; and the like 
 would seem to be the case elsewhere on the western coast. 
 where it is met with from the Sound to at least as high 
 up as Bergen (lat. 60). Kroyer, indeed, imagines that 
 as it is an Icelandic fish, its range to the northward IN 
 probably much more extended. Ekstrom tells us it is not 
 an inhabitant of the Baltic ; hut Boie, on the contrary, that 
 it is met with at Kiel. Its usual length is from ten to 
 twelve inches, and Kroyer does not recollect seeing speci- 
 mens exceeding fifteen or sixteen inches, which he says 
 may he considered its maximum. Its favourite resorts 
 are stony ground ; and hence Bcr<t-Sk<i<l<l<t, the name by 
 which it is best known to the fishermen. English natu- 
 ralists tell us it spawns in May, and Nilsson, in .Inly; 
 Kroyer, from careful examination of its sexual organs, 
 is inclined to believe it does not deposit its ova until 
 late in the autumn or early winter. Its flesh is valued, 
 being considered equal to that of the common plaice. 
 
 The Sandnecker, or Long Hough Dab (IJer-Skddda ; 
 Lei-- !' I a it <lra, or day-flounder, S\v. ; //>/<//'.,/>/</, or shark- 
 dab, Dan. ; P. liiiinntlnliiett, Jen.), which would seem to 
 be somewhat rare in the British seas, is common in the 
 Bohus Skarg;ird, and elsewhere on the \\estern coasts of 
 both Sweden and Norway, where it ranges up to Tromso 
 (lat. <)'.).\), and probably still higher. In the Danish 
 is and the Sound it is also pretty common. But if 
 found in the Baltic, which seems doubtful, it certainly 
 does not penetrate very far into that sea. Its usual 
 length is from ten to ele-\cn inches though at times it 
 
 ' The I>iini-li iiani'-. M^iiif'viiii,' Mnry-fliiuiiilfr, ri-niiixls "in- nf tin- 
 designation, Mn,-i/ S.Jr i;m'M to tlii-i li-!i in 1 Vvoiixliin 1 . Anotln'i Im-.-il 
 ii:inii- iiti'li'i- wliidi it is knn\\ii in Drmu.-ivk. Snt.n- /'////i/Ar, i. . !"> 
 fliiiiiiilcr, is iin I'ljiiivali-nl t" tin- Kn^'lixli :i|i|M-lhiti..n ( Smrtir l>nl,. 
 
THE POLE. 531 
 
 reaches thirteen or fourteen. Its food consists of crusta- 
 ceans and other marine animals, possibly also of small 
 fish. Professor Sundevall has found shrimps (Palcemon, 
 Mi/sis) in its stomach; and Kroyer, species of Ophiura, 
 as well as bivalve molluscs (Carditim, Tellina, &c.), and of 
 fishes, Gobius minutus. In the summer, like some of its 
 congeners, its resorts are in comparatively shallow water, 
 but during winter it is met with at times at a depth of 
 thirty fathoms. Nilsson and others believe this fish to 
 spawn in May and June, but Kroyer, not until mid-winter. 
 He draws this conclusion from having in the month of 
 September found the ovisacs of the female tolerably de- 
 veloped. This fish is, we are told, always lean, and for the 
 table is looked on as much inferior to most of the other 
 species of flounder. 
 
 The Pole, or Craig Fluke (Svart-fenad SMdda, or black - 
 finned flounder, Sw. ; Skja;r-ising, or rock-dab, Dan. ; P. 
 saxicola, Fab. ; P. Pola, Cuv.), the least numerous of the 
 Scandinavian flounders, is somewhat rare in the Bonus 
 Skiirgard ; as also on the more southern parts of the western 
 coast of Sweden, the Sound included. In the Baltic it has 
 not hitherto been recognized ; and the same is the case on 
 the western shores of Norway, though, from being an 
 Icelandic fish, Kroyer entertains little doubt of its being 
 found there. Its usual length is from sixteen to eighteen 
 inches, but is said to attain to two feet. " Excepting that, 
 as its Danish name denotes, it keeps to a rocky bottom, 
 its habits," Kroyer remarks, " are altogether unknown 
 to us. At times it is captured together with the Plaice 
 in five to eight fathoms water. It is not tenacious of life, 
 as proved by the fishermen never bringing it alive to 
 Copenhagen. I have not been able to procure the young 
 of this species of such I speak as were less than twelve 
 inches in length. Notwithstanding, the adults arc taken 
 the whole year round, and it would therefore seem as if 
 
 2 M 2 
 
532 THK HOI, I III I. 
 
 they did not seek the const in like manner ;is the young 
 of other flounders." The period at which this fish deposits 
 its roe is rather unsettled. Kroyer, however, says : " On 
 the 22nd July I found in a female seventeen inches in 
 length, the lobes containing the roe to be nearly ei-ht 
 inches long, and the roe itself appeared ready for shedding. 
 I therefore came to the conclusion thai it spawns in the 
 beginning of August." This statement of the Protest- 
 is in accordance with what the .Swedish fishermen have 
 told Nilsson. The Pole is held in estimation for culinary 
 purposes, many thinking it equal to the Sole. 
 
 The Holilmt (//<ille-Mtnnlr<t* Sw. ; //^//,<- 
 
 (Dan. and) Norw., h'l-i'jlr, Norw. ; UippoyloNtnix 
 
 Flem.), a Northern fish, and the largest of the flounders. 
 
 is common in the Holms Skiirgard and the ('attest ; hut 
 
 it becomes scarcer and scarcer as one follows the Swedish 
 
 coast to the southward, so that comparatively few find 
 
 their way into the Sound, and rarely if ever into the Baltic. 
 
 On the western coast of Denmark, and the Duchies of 
 
 Slesvig and Holstein down to Heligoland, as also aloni; 
 
 the whole coast of Norway up to the North Cape itself, 
 
 this fish is common. Its usual length with us was from 
 
 three to four feet, and weight thirty to forty pounds; 
 
 but individuals of from one hundred to one hundred and 
 
 fifty or even two hundred pounds \\erenot so very unusual : 
 
 \\e read, indeed, of perfect monsters. Kroyer tells us, 
 
 for instance, that he himself dissected a holibut caught 
 
 on the Norwegian coast that was seven feet in length, and, 
 
 1 hough terribly out of condition, weighed three hundred 
 
 * Tin- jiivtK //''' '- ili-rivcil fn>in tin \\onl ),,i'lir i i 
 
 meaning such parts of tin- l.ottoiu, wln-iv -prints of fiv.-li wat.'i- wrll up, 
 tlii-y Iwiiu- tin- favouritf iv,.. i-t of this tisli ; Imt Kn>\iT tliinks. w iili S<-li..nr 
 Aelllf, tin- \\onl mav In- tak.'li from tin' si/i- of the ti-.li, li'fii ;,i-iiiii r,'iitj:!<i, 
 
 i/iti, /!'' iit'i;/>taimiif,ii rudieMn*, being ttwlargi ud (therefore) 
 
 liolv tisli, \\liirli mav als.. jjivr tin- .-In.- to tlic Kn^'li-li naiiu- of /, IH,,il. 
 
THE HOLIBUT. 583 
 
 and forty-four Danish pounds, or three hundred and 
 eighty English ; and Nilsson, that he was informed by a 
 fisherman exposing one of these fish weighing two hundred 
 pounds for sale in the Lund market, that during the 
 preceding summer he had taken a specimen off the island 
 of Wiidoro, in the Boh us Skargard, that weighed seven 
 hundred and twenty Swedish pounds, or six hundred and 
 seventy-five English ! Olafsen, in his " Iceland Journey," 
 relates, moreover, that during his stay in Iceland, he 
 saw a Holihut ten feet long ; and Fabricius speaks of 
 another of the like size. It is a deep-sea fish, and, as a 
 rule, keeps much farther from the shore than any other 
 of the flounders : it is believed to thrive best where the 
 bottom consists of mud and clay. Its food consists partly 
 of large shell-fish, such as lobsters, and the great crab 
 (Platyoarcinus Pugnrus], &c., and partly of such fish as 
 habitually dwell at the bottom. According to the fisher- 
 men, it is specially fond of the Sea Wolf; they judge so, 
 because when the latter is fast to the " loner line," the 
 
 O ' 
 
 Ilolibut frequently carries it bodily off. 
 
 It is said to be amongst the most voracious of fishes. 
 Kroyer states that in the stomach of the monster, just 
 spoken of, he found three cod fish, each three feet in 
 length, the aggregate weight of which could not have 
 been less than forty pounds. The Professor tells us 
 further, that he was informed by a fisherman in the 
 northern part of the Cattegat, that during the preceding 
 year Holibuts had in two several instances gorged the 
 lead with which soundings are taken. One of the fish 
 escaped, but the other was captured. Olafsen also relates 
 many remarkable instances of this fish's excessive greedi- 
 ness ; amongst the rest, that wood, iron, and even lumps 
 of ice have been found in its stomach. 
 
 Nothing certain seems known as to the breeding habits 
 of the Ilolibut, some imagining it to spawn at Christmas 
 
534- THE HOLIBUT AND THE TURBOT. 
 
 and others from June to August. Kroyer is of the latter 
 way of thinking, because one then finds these fish in 
 shallow water, and near to the mouths of rivers. 
 
 For the most part it is taken by the hand-line, or the 
 " long line," and 'at a depth of from sixty to a hundred 
 fathoms ; Strom says from three hundred to five hundred. 
 It bites very freely, especially if the bait be a suitable 
 one, and the sun shining brightly, to enable the fish to set- 
 it the better. It is remarkable, Kroyer observes, that 
 " though the Holibut is, properly speaking, a deep-sea 
 fish, it is at times met with in five or six, or it may be in as 
 little as four, fathoms water : a circumstance of which the 
 fisherman is not slow to take advantage ; for, on espying 
 it whilst at the bottom, he harpoons it in a fashion of his 
 own." In Sweden, as also in Denmark, the Holibut is 
 held in much esteem for the table; but in Norway, we arc 
 told, opinion is somewhat divided as to its merits, some 
 looking on it as a delicacy, whilst others rather despise 
 it. The head and fins, which are particularly fat, are 
 the parts most prized. In the Bohus Skiirgard this fish 
 is often converted into a palatable sou]), called Jinf, or 
 Jiukliiii/ ; but how prepared 1 know not. "When brought 
 to market, a purchaser can seldom be found for the entire 
 fish, and for the most part, therefore, it is cut up into 
 slices, and sold by the pound. 
 
 The Turbot (1?'nj<j-llrttr* thorny or prickly hvar, S\v. ; 
 Piy-Varrc^fun. ; Jlltnmhux nni.rintiix, Linn.), which, next to 
 the Holibut, is the largest of theFloiindiT-,. \v;is somewhat 
 scarce in our Skiirgard. So it is to be inferred ;it lenst, 
 from the very scanty supply of these fish brought to 
 the Gothenburg market, one of the best in the North of 
 
 * A1-" t'!;/'! 1 1 in-/: in I (jinisli nN<> /'/./ \',, ,>. Respecting* the origin 
 
 nf tliis n|i| ( intliir IIMIIII-. II fur, l'n ;v. ,Vi'., Niirtlu-ril Iiatliruli>t> :ur imalilr 
 
 iii \i\\t- ur- :in\ information. 
 
THE TURBOT. 535 
 
 Europe ; and this would seem to be generally the case 
 in the Scandinavian seas, both, eastern and western, all 
 of which it in habits. In the Baltic, it does not appear 
 to go much higher up than the 61st or 62nd degree of 
 latitude ; and on the Norwegian coast, Kroyer states his 
 inability to trace it farther than Stadt (lat. 62). Its 
 usual weight with us was ten to twelve pounds, but from 
 twenty to twenty-five is not very uncommon ; by the 
 fishermen's account, indeed, it is occasionally taken of 
 forty and upwards. It keeps for the most part to the 
 bottom, in preference where sandy ; and goes much nearer 
 to the shore than the Holibut. English authorities tell 
 us this fish is occasionally seen at or near the surface of 
 the water, but I am not aware of this peculiarity having 
 come under the notice of Northern naturalists. Its food 
 consists of crustaceans, small fish, and marine animals. 
 
 Kroyer describes this fish as very tenacious of life : 
 " When our fishermen in the Cattegat," he says, " cap- 
 ture a large Turbot and cannot at once find a purchaser, 
 they tie a line to its tail, or pass it through the mouth 
 and gills, and fasten it to a stone, or to a post, on the 
 shore, and even though the water be very shallow, the 
 fish will live a long time, provided the weather be not too 
 warm. The way in which it is conveyed in the ' well ' 
 of a vessel puts it to a still harder proof. After a line 
 has been passed, as mentioned, through its mouth and 
 gills, it is suspended in a perpendicular position to one 
 of the deck-beams, that it may not, by coming in contact 
 with other fish, injure them with its prickles." Swedish 
 naturalists assign May as the month in which it spawns ; 
 but Kroyer imagines the time to be August ; the fry, 
 some two inches in length, having been found by the 
 Danish fishermen in the earlier part of the year. It is 
 for the most part captured by the hook, but will not 
 willingly, they say, take a stale bait. A living one is 
 
536 run BUM. i. \\n MM. i. IK'S TOI-KNOT. 
 
 considered the best of all. This fish is highly esteemed : 
 and in both Sweden ;md Denmark "takes the same place 
 at the table as the pheasant amongst birds." 
 
 The Brill (Slat I- 1 1 r,; Sw. ; Sl<et-Farre, Dan. ; both 
 meaning the smooth brill ; 7.'. //////"//'*, Cuv.) was, like 
 the Turbot, somewhat scarce in the Bohus Skiinj.ird; but 
 would seeui to be common enough farther to the south- 
 ward, on the coasts of both Sweden and Jutland, as also 
 in the Baltic where, however, its ran ire is more limited 
 than that of the 11. ma.rhinin. As yet, it has not been 
 identified on the western shores ol' Norway ; but it is 
 supposed to be found there up to at least 61 or 62 of 
 latitude. Its usual weight in the Scandinavian seas is 
 five or six pounds, hut Kroyer makes mention of one 
 weighing fifteen that came under his notice. Its food 
 and manner of living are similar to those of the Turbot. 
 Nilsson believes it spawns towards the end of .May, but 
 Kroyer, having found the lobes with clearly-developed, 
 although small, roe at the beginning of November, as 
 also in the same state in the commencement of May, 
 thinks the spawning season is a matter that requires 
 future elucidation. It is valued for the table, though in 
 a much less degree than the Turbot. 
 
 Midler's Topknot (Littler Hear, Sw. ; l.<i,/,lc,i 7",//-/v 
 [both imply ing hirsute or shaggy], Dan.; /.'. &rfo,Abildg.) 
 lias not \et been identified, so far as I am aware, in the 
 Bolnis Skiirgard, but is met \\ith, though sparingly, in the 
 more southern parts of the C.itte-at down to the Sound; 
 but 1 know not if it be an inhabitant of the Baltic. It is 
 also found on the \\ estern coast of Norway, up to or beyond 
 I'.'T-i-n (latitude ()0i), from whence .specimens have been 
 received. Its usual length is from four to live inches, and 
 it probahlv never attains to more than ei^ht or nine. 
 Nothing is known to Northern naturalists regarding its 
 breeding or other lialiits. Little \alue is set on this lish ; 
 
THE WHIFF AND THE RHOMBUS CARDINA. 537 
 
 and when it chances to become fastened in the net with 
 other fishes, it is mostly thrown away. 
 
 Bloch's Topknot (R. punctatus, Yarr.), it should be 
 observed, has not as yet been met with in the Scandinavian 
 'seas. It may always be distinguished from Miiller's 
 Topknot by the elongated first ray of the dorsal fin, by 
 both sides of the body being rough, by the large eyes, and 
 the separation between the ventral and anal fins. 
 
 The Whiff (Stor-munt Hoar, or large-mouthed hvar, 
 Sw. ; JS. Hegastoma, Donov.) has not hitherto been met 
 with, either in the Bohus Skargard, or elsewhere on the 
 Swedish coast ; but it is not uncommon on the western 
 coast of Norway, at Glesviir (lat. 60) and Bergen 
 (60^), where it is called Sjaa-hjeft and Glas-flynder 
 respectively, both names being applied by reason of its 
 thin and transparent appearance. It is said to remain in 
 the Norwegian seas all the year round, at a depth of 
 from eighty to a hundred fathoms, and to spawn in 
 April or May. 
 
 The Rhombus Canlina, B. Fries (Sma-IIvar, or little 
 hvar, Sw.), was exceedingly rare in the Bohus Skargard, 
 and hitherto has not been met with elsewhere in the Scan- 
 dinavian seas. Couch, our eminent ichthyologist, says of 
 this fish: " There cannot be a doubt that the name R. Car- 
 diua, given to it by Swedish authors, is -misapplied, as it 
 bears little likeness to the species thus named by Cuvier. 
 I have, therefore, assigned to it the name of ' Ekstrom's 
 Top-knot.' ' And in describing this new species, of which, 
 I believe, only a single specimen has been met with in 
 England, he remarks : " Both eyes are nearer the snout 
 than in B. hirtus, Yarr. ; on the checks the scales are 
 regular and plainly visible, while they are not discerned in 
 the R. hirtus ; the pectoral is longer and more pointed, 
 and the uneoloured side, as well as the cheeks, is covered 
 with ciliated scales, which is not the case in /'. 
 
638 TUB COMMON SOLE. 
 
 Another species of l!li<nbns has also been recently 
 added to the Scandinavian fauna by M. Malm, called the 
 H. soleafoiiniis, Malm, by whose account it is not very 
 rare in the Bohus Skargard. It is described by him as 
 somewhat resembling the II. Mc<i<iNtom<i, but is, amount 
 other characteristics, at once distinguished by fewer and 
 larger scales. 
 
 The Common Sole (Tninja, Sale, S\v. ; Tiui<it>, Dan.; 
 Solca vtd<jriti, Cuv.) was tolerably common in the Bohus 
 SkJirgiird, and elsewhere on the western coasts of both 
 Sweden and Denmark ; as also on that of Norway up to 
 about Stadt, lat. 62, beyond which Kroyer has been 
 unable to follow it. It is an inhabitant of the Baltic, but 
 does not seem to penetrate very deep into that sea. Its 
 usual length is from twelve to sixteen inches, and seldom 
 
 ~ 
 
 attains to more than twenty. Its food and manner of 
 living are similar to those of the Flounders. Moderately 
 deep water, with a sandy bottom, is its favourite resort 
 during the summer; but, on the approach of winter, it 
 retires farther from the shore. It is said to thrive nearly 
 equally well in fresh as salt water, being often met with, 
 not only at the mouths of, but far up, rivers. According 
 to Ekstrom, it spawns in May and June. Formerly it 
 seems to have been more numerous in the Scandinavian 
 seas than at present. Kroyer tells us that some forty 
 years ago no fewer than sixteen hundred of these lish 
 were on one occasion captured at a single haul of the net 
 near to Hesseloen, in the Southern Cattegat. It is highly 
 valued for the table, where it always appears fried - 
 'a boiled sole," according to Ekstrom, "would be as 
 meat an anomaly as a roasted turbot." 
 
 The Biinaetilated Sucker (7'/v/ : /A/W 7>/>/>/V/-.v////"/r, 
 or the two-sp'ii led double-sucker, Sw. ; Lepidoff cuter biUM- 
 i-iildl us, Flem.), \\hieh rarely attains to a length of three 
 inches, has not hitherto been identified in the Bohus 
 
THE SUCKERS. 539 
 
 Skiirgard, or elsewhere in the Swedish seas; but on the 
 western coast of Norway it would not appear to be rare. 
 It dwells at the bottom, usually at the depth of about thirty 
 fathoms, and for the most part with its mouth attached 
 to a stone or an empty mussel-shell, and hence is seldom 
 secured, except in the skrapa, a kind of dredge, used by 
 zoologists to bring up small marine animals. In this 
 way the Baron von Duben, who was the first to add it to 
 the Scandinavian fauna, captured on one occasion five of 
 these fish in the shell of a Cyprina Islandica. When 
 taken out of the water, it at once fixes itself to the hand, 
 or to the side of the vessel on which it is placed ; and, if 
 removed by force, will forthwith attach itself to the first 
 object that offers. Its adhesive powers continue, it is 
 said, even after death. It has been observed that the 
 globes of its eyes protrude in an extraordinary manner, 
 and may be moved independently of one another. When, 
 therefore, it has fastened itself to a stone, or what not, 
 it can with facility watch the movements of its enemies, 
 without changing the position of its head. Nothing 
 farther seems known to Northern naturalists in regard 
 to its habits. 
 
 The Lump Sucker (Steu-bit, or stone-biter (male), 
 Qvabbso (female), Sw. ; llogn-Kexe, Norw. ; Hac-padde, or 
 sea-toad, Dan. ; Cycloptcnis Lump us, Linn.) was common 
 with us, and along the whole of the western coast of 
 both Sweden and Norway up to the North Cape. It is also 
 pretty common in parts of the Baltic. Its usual length 
 is from a foot to a foot and a half, and weight four to 
 seven pounds, but it attains a somewhat greater size. 
 The female is considerably larger than the male. As 
 with the Bimaculated Sucker, its power of adhesion is 
 great. It is said, indeed, that if, when captured, it be 
 placed in a bucket of water, it will affix itself so firmly to 
 the bottom that, on taking it by the tail, the bucket, 
 
540 THK SlCKKKs. 
 
 with its contents, may lie lifted from the ground without 
 the fish relinquishing its hold. It lives at the bottom, 
 preferring it where stony, and for the greater part of the 
 year in the deeps. It would seem to live in monogamy ; 
 for, during the spawning season, which occurs in the 
 spring, the male and female are always seen together ; and, 
 when she has deposited her ova, usually in rocky ground, 
 and at only a few feet beneath the surface of the water, 
 he, after fructifying the eggs, keeps immediately over 
 them (many, indeed, imagine they are hatched by him), 
 and guards them from every foe with the utmost com-;; 
 Should he be disturbed by the presence of a person, he 
 retreats but a short distance, looking back constantly in 
 the while, and shortly returns to his post, liven the well- 
 armed Sea Wolf is said to hazard its life if it approaches 
 the nest of the Lump Sucker; for this creature, notwith- 
 standing the smallness of its teeth, is capable of affixing 
 itself to the neck of its adversary and inflicting a mortal 
 wound. The flesh of the female is, we are told, Habby, 
 and little eaten, but that of the male is by some looked 
 on as a delicacy, especially when dressed in the manner 
 of the Burbot (Lota m ft/arts}, which in flavour it somewhat 
 i< sembles. The ova, being of a large size, of a reddish- 
 brown colour, and very numerous, are taken up from the 
 bottom in a peculiar kind of dredge, and afterwards salted 
 and eaten as Caviar. They are used as bait, moreover, 
 by the fishermen. 
 
 The Unctuous Sucker, or Sea-snail (SI or re L/t/n/>-/-'/xk, 
 or greater lump-fish, Sw. ; Almhulfliij l\'ni<)-hng> or com- 
 mon ring-belly, Dan. ; /,/'//"/>* rnl<jnrix, Flem., /. linrlxi- 
 /".v. Kkstrorn), is rare in the Scandinavian seas; and 
 hitherto has only been identified, 1 believe, on the 
 eastern coast of S\\cden, \\here, in about lat. 5b", some 
 few specimens have been taken. Its usual size would 
 si-em to be from three to live inches, but it is said to 
 
THE CONGER EEL AND TUB WIDK-MOUTIIED LATJXCE. 511 
 
 attain to six or seven. According to Ekstrom, it spawns 
 in March. Little or nothing is known of its habits. 
 
 Montague's Sucking-fish (Hindre Lump-Fisk, or 
 lesser lump-fish, Sw. ; Montague's Ring-bug, Dan. ; Llparis 
 Montagui, Yarr.) was scarce in our Skargurd, as is also the 
 case on the western coasts of both Sweden and Norway, 
 where it ranges as bigh up as Bergen, and most probably 
 still fartber to the nortbward. Hitherto it does not 
 appear to have been identified in the Baltic. It is smaller 
 than the L. vulgaris, seldom exceeding three inches in 
 length. Its habits are believed to be similar to those of 
 its congeners. According to Kroyer, it spawns in May. 
 
 Of the fresh-water Eels mention is made in " Scan- 
 dinavian Adventures," and it therefore only remains for 
 me to speak of the Conger Eel (Hafs-Al, Sw. ; Hav-Aal, 
 Dan., both implying sea-eel; Anguilla Conger, Linn.), 
 which confines itself altogether, I believe, to the ocean. 
 This fish was scarce with us, as is the case, indeed, 
 in all the Scandinavian seas, both eastern and western. 
 Its usual length is from five to six feet, and weight 
 fifteen to twenty pounds, but it attains at times a much 
 larger size. Specimens have been taken in the Skager-Rack 
 (the " Sleeve ") nine feet in length, and weighing sixty 
 pounds. It is supposed to spawn in December and 
 January. Its flesh, though eaten, is much inferior to that 
 of the Common Eel. 
 
 The Wide-mouthed Launce, or Sand Eel (IIvit-Tobis, 
 or white tobis, Sw. ; Si-il, Norw. ; Tobis, Dan. ; Ammodytes 
 Too/anus, Linn.), was tolerably common in our Skargard 
 and everywhere else in the Scandinavian seas : on the 
 western coast, from the North Cape to the Sound, and on 
 the eastern, as high up, at least, as Stockholm. Its usual 
 length is from six to seven inches, but it attains to twelve 
 or thirteen, the larger ones being called Tobis- kutiy, i. e. 
 tobis king. During the summer months, when it is 
 
542 THE SMALL-MOUTHED LAUXCE. 
 
 thought to spawn, it approaches the shore, hut passes the 
 winter far from thence, as evidenced by the fact of its 
 often being found in the stomachs of the Cod and other 
 fish that habitually dwell in the deeps. Its food consists 
 of small crustaceans, marine animals, &c. It is said to 
 be very voracious. Nilsson found in the stomach of an 
 individual twelve and a half inches in length a whole fish 
 of the same species that was six and a quarter indies 
 long, the tail of which stood up in its ^or^c. In its 
 stomach, moreover, were the bones of another tisli. 
 
 The Small-mouthed or Sand Launce (BI<i-T<>bix, or 
 blue tobis, Sw. ; Sand-yratvling, or saiid-diirurr. Dan.; 
 A. Lancea, Cuv.) was only found, according to Kkstrom, 
 in the more southern portion of the Bohus Sksiru-.ird ; hut 
 on all the other coasts (if at all sandy, at least) of the 
 Peninsula it w r ould seem to be pretty common. As in 
 almost all places, however, this fish and the preceding go 
 by one and the same name, that of Tobi*, it is dillicult to 
 define the exact habitat of each. For a long time, indeed, 
 the tw r o were considered to be one and the same li-h. 
 But, to say nothing of the inferior size of the A. Lnna-a, 
 which rarely exceeds seven inches in length, it may 
 readily be distinguished from the A. TobnnniK hy the 
 lower jaw being shorter in proportion, and by the dorsal 
 iiu commencing a little nearer the head, in a line over the 
 middle of the pectoral fin. The Small-mouthed Launce 
 spawns in Aunust, that is, at a somewhat later period 
 than that assigned to the "\Vide-mouthed Launce. In 
 other respects their habits are very similar. 
 
 In certain parts of the Peninsula many Launces, espe- 
 cially of the smaller species, are taken in nets during 
 the summer. This is more particularly the case at Cim- 
 britshamn, on the south-eastern coast of Sueden, where 
 something like a regular fishery is then carried on; and 
 of the extent of which some idea may he formed from the 
 
THE PIPE-FISHES. 543 
 
 Parson's share of the spoil, amounting to six barrels of 
 dried fish. The breast, or centre of the nets, consists, 
 Professor Sundevall tells us, of a white sheet, the bright- 
 ness reflected from which, by the rays of the sun, opposite 
 whereto it is always placed, attracts the Launces within 
 the toils ; and when the net has been drawn near the 
 shore, and the fish begin to bury themselves in the sand, 
 they are routed from thence by a sort of rake. Those 
 captured are for the most part dried, and stored away for 
 winter provender. 
 
 The Great Pipe-Fish (Stor Kant-Nal, or great-edged 
 needle ; Stor Tang-Naal, or great fucus-needle, Dan. ; 
 Syngnathus Acus, Linn.) has not hitherto been found either 
 in the Baltic, or on the western coast of Sweden. So at 
 least we are told by Nilsson, but Kroyer assures us it is 
 occasionally captured both in the Cattegat and the Sound. 
 Be this as it may, both of the above-named authors agree 
 in saying it is not uncommon on the western coast of 
 Korway, as high up as Bergen, or even Drontheim (Krdyer). 
 Its usual size is from twelve to sixteen inches, but it 
 attains to eighteen. 
 
 The peculiar formation of the sexual organs of this 
 fish, and others of the family, and the manner in which 
 the ova of the females are fructified, had for ages been a 
 puzzle to the learned, but at length Yarrell, on the 
 authority of the late Mr. Walcott, cleared up the mystery 
 in " British Pishes," wherein he says : " The male differs 
 from the female in the belly from the vent to the tail fin 
 being much broader, and in having for about two-thirds 
 of its length two soft flaps, which fold together and form 
 a false belly (or pouch). They breed in the summer ; 
 the females casting their roe into the false belly of the 
 male." Prior, however, to this singular fact having been 
 communicated to the English public, Ekstrotn (when 
 speaking of the S. Typlde, of which presently), had, in 
 
."II THE I'lrE-FISHKS. 
 
 1831, made the like discovery, as also, that the male not 
 only hatches the ova entrusted to his cart- by the female, 
 but during the growth of the fry performs towards them 
 all the affectionate duties of a mother, lie further tells 
 us, that these fish spawn in deep water in the month of 
 May. "Shortly before that time the leaf-shaped flaps. 
 closing the male's pouch, swell, the opening itself becomes 
 more and more filled with a white, clear, and thick- 
 mucus, which serves as a bed for the ova, pos>ihly also, .-IN 
 food for the newly hatched young ones. These, when 
 born, embed themselves in the mucus, which diminishes 
 proportionally with their growth; so that by the time 
 they are enabled of themselves to move about in the 
 water, little or none of it remains. Most likely actual 
 congress takes place between the pair, during which 
 the female deposits her ova in the male's pouch, where 
 it is retained by the flaps in question, whilst he over- 
 spreads it with his milt. The ova, which Hi 1 in rows, 
 are large as compared with the size of the fish. \Vhen 
 first deposited they are yellow, but whiten gradually, and 
 at length become clear as water, with a small dark yellow 
 spot, which, when the egg is about to be excluded, 
 blackens, and clearly shows the embryo. One day in 
 July," he goes on to say, " when I was present at the 
 drawing of a net in the Skargml, a male, with fully deve- 
 loped young in its pouch, was captured. AVith some 
 stones I immediately made a little pond at the ed^e of 
 the water, in which the fish was placed. After swimming 
 backwards and forwards a short time, it, by a downward 
 movement of its tail, opened the pouch, out of \\hieh the 
 young, one after the other, crept, and swam dose under 
 and on both sides of their lather, though always keeping 
 near the pouch. AVhen, however. I attempted to take 
 hold of the old lish, it made a sudden upward movement 
 of its body (bending it bo\\-form\ on which the \uung 
 
THE PIPE-FISHES. 5i5 
 
 ones immediately crept back into the pouch, and the flaps 
 closed upon them. I repeated this experiment several 
 times, and always with the same result." 
 
 The S. rostellatus, Gyllenstjerna, Nilss. (S, Typhle, 
 Malm ; Lltcn Kant-Nul, or little edged-needle, Sw.), has 
 lately been added to the Scandinavian fauna as a new- 
 species (?). According to M. Malm's account, it would 
 not appear to be so very uncommon in the Bohus Skar- 
 ga,rd. This little fish, the length of which seldom 
 exceeds six inches, might, we are told, be readily mis- 
 taken for the young of the great Pipe-Fish, but the head 
 is shorter than the dorsal fin, and the number of lateral 
 plates from the gill-cover to the anus is invariably six- 
 teen, instead of twenty or twenty-one. 
 
 The Deep-nosed Pipe-Fish [Yarrell], or Lesser Pipe- 
 Fish [Jenyns], (_B 'red-it abba d [i. e. broad-nosed] Kant-Nal, 
 Sw. ; Liden [i. e. little] Tany-Naal, Dan. ; S. Typhle, 
 Linn. ; S. Acus, Ekstrom) is very common in the Bohus 
 Skargard, more so, indeed, than any of the family, as also 
 in all the other Scandinavian seas, both eastern and 
 western. Its usual length is from nine to ten inches, 
 and seldom exceeds twelve. Except during the spawning 
 season, which would appear to continue for two or three 
 months, and at which time it retires to the deeps, it lives 
 for the most part in comparatively shallow water, amongst 
 sea-weeds and grasses. For the table it is valueless. 
 
 The Snake Pipe-Fish (Stor Hafs-Nfd, or great sea- 
 needle, Sw. ; Snippe, Dan. ; S. cequoreus, Linn.) was less 
 common in our Skargard, and elsewhere on the western 
 coast of Sweden and Norway, where it ranges up to, or 
 beyond, Sondmor (lat. 62). It does not appear to have 
 been identified in the Baltic. Its usual length is from 
 
 o 
 
 sixteen to eighteen inches, but it is said to attain to near 
 two feet. Nilsson, I should observe, considers Yarrell's 
 yEquoreal Pipe-Fish (S. aiqu-oreus, Linn., Yarr.) to be the 
 
546 THE VIPE-FISHES AND THE S1IORT SUN-FISH. 
 
 female, and his Snake Pipe-Fish (S. <tn<//> 'mcns, Jen., Yarr.) 
 the male and young female of this fish. Kroyer also 
 thinks there is a mistake either in Yarrell's illustration or 
 description of the two fishes. 
 
 The Straight-nosed Pipe -Fish (Lit [i.r. little] 
 Il'ifs-Nal, Sw. ; Stor .\tj-S,tog, or great beaked-snake, 
 Dan. ; S. Ophidian, Linn.) was common with us ; as also 
 elsewhere on the western coast of Sweden (in Norway it 
 has not, to my knowledge, been recognized) and in the 
 Baltic, where it is said to range as high up as the Gulf 
 of Bothnia. Its usual length is from six to eight inches, 
 and it seldom reaches more than nine or ten. 
 
 The Worm Pipe-Fish * (Krnm-nosad [i. c. crookcd- 
 nose] Ildfx-Xnl, Sw. ; Lidnt [i. c., little] X<t>h-Sno(j, Dan. ; 
 S. hiniltririfuruiix, Yarr.) was scarce with us, and cls>-- 
 where on the western coast of both Sweden and Norway, 
 where, however, Kroyer has met with it as high up as 
 Bergen (lat. f>0). In the Baltic it would not seem to 
 have been identified. Its usual length is said to be from 
 five to six inches. Nothing is known as to its manner of 
 living, though its breeding habits are supposed to be 
 similar to those of the S. Aciis, and others of the class. 
 
 The Short Sun-Fish (Klnniji-I-'ink, or lumpy fish, Sw. 
 and Dan. ; Or/Jinr/<>i-ixrx Mole, Schneid.), whose proper 
 
 ^ 
 
 home would appear to be the Atlantic, was very rare in 
 our Skfirgarcl, and every \\ here else in the Scandinavian 
 seas. The few that have been identified have for the most 
 part been cast ashore during storms, and all, moreover, 
 were small, the largest not exceeding two feet in length ; 
 but in other seas we hear of this fish attaining a weight 
 of from four to five hundred pounds. It is believl 
 to dwell in the deep.s, but nothing seems known of its 
 breeding or other habits. 
 
 Of YiiiTi'll, not of .li-nyns \vlio-i- Worm I'ijn- FUli (S. liuiJ>ri<-!fanni, 
 .!!!. i i- tin- Straight nosi-,1 1'ipr Ki-.li of Y;mvll. 
 
THE COMMON STURGEON AND THE SEA MONSTER. 547 
 
 The Common Sturgeon (Star,* Svv. and Dan. ; Storje, 
 Norw. ; Acipenser Sturio, Linn.) was found with us, and 
 on the whole of the western coast, from Finmark to 
 the Sound, as also in the more southern portion of the 
 Baltic, but is seemingly very scarce everywhere. Cer- 
 tainly it was so in our Skargard, for it was only once in a 
 time that one saw it exposed for sale in the Gothenburg fish 
 market. Those taken in the Scandinavian seas are small, 
 the usual length being from four to six feet, and I never 
 heard of one exceeding eight. Elsewhere this fish attains 
 a nruch larger size. In the river Oder, Kroyer tells us, 
 fish of from ten to twelve feet in length are not so 
 uncommon, and Bloch speaks of one in the river Elbe 
 measuring eighteen feet. It would seem to thrive well in 
 fresh water, it having occasionally been captured at Lilla 
 Edet, on the river Gotha, which is at a distance of forty 
 to fifty miles from the sea. 
 
 The A. Lichtensteinii, Bloch, is by Nilsson considered 
 to be the young of this fish, while A. latirostris, Parn., Yar- 
 rell, is looked upon by the Professor as another variety, 
 the snout, according to him, decreasing with the age of the 
 fish. To this latter variety, he says, belongs a specimen 
 (at one time thought to be A. Huso] caught in Braviken 
 (a large fjord of the Baltic), in 1853, as well as two or three 
 others taken in the Baltic and the Sound. Kroyer speaks 
 hesitatingly of a new species, A. hospitus, Kroy., founded 
 upon only an imperfect specimen caught in the Sound. 
 
 The Sea Monster, or Northern Chimaera (Haf-Mus, 
 Sw. ; Hav-Mus, Dan. [both implying sea-mouse] ; Hav- 
 kaf \_i. e. sea-cat], Norw. ; Chimcerct monstrosa, Linn.), 
 whose proper home is the Northern seas, was not un- 
 common with us and in the Cattegat, as also on the 
 
 * This word has greatly puzzled etymologists, some deriving it from the 
 Greek /rrelpa, others from the Spanish province Asturias, while others again 
 will have it to come from a Slavic origin. 
 
 2 N 2 
 
548 i in: DOG-FISHES. 
 
 \\estern coast of Norway, where it ranges at least as high 
 up as the Lofoden Islands. But it .is only occasion- 
 ally met with as far south as the Sound, and, by all 
 accounts, is altogether unknown in the Baltic. Its usual 
 length with us was about two feet and a half, and its 
 
 O 
 
 weight five to six pounds; but it attains a somewhat greater 
 size. Nilsson mentions that in 1822 a sort of pestilence 
 raged amongst these fishes in the Bohus Skiirgurd, which 
 carried off great numbers, and since that time the fisher- 
 men report they have become much scarcer. Northern 
 naturalists seem but little acquainted with its breeding or 
 other habit?. It is frequently taken by people when fishing 
 for haddock, the hook baited with the common salt-water 
 mussel (M;il tin* cilu/ix), and generally at a depth of from 
 forty to sixty fathoms, where the bottom is stony ; as also 
 on the "long-line" set for cod and ling, in from eighty 
 to one hundred fathoms, with mackerel or haddock for 
 bait. The Sea Monster is not eaten, but great store is set 
 on its liver from the quantity of oil it contains, more, 
 Kroyer says, than that of any other fish with which he is 
 acquainted. The oil is not only useful for many household 
 purposes, but is held in high estimation for the extraor- 
 dinary medicinal properties it is believed to possi --. 
 
 \Ve now come to the Sharks, of which nine species 
 are included in the Scandinavian fauna, viz. : 
 
 The Small-spot ted Dog- Fish (Siii<i-Jl'n-ki<i ])<>;/(/- /'/.-/, 
 literal translation of the English, Sw. ; Snum-plti'lti-il AW- 
 llnj, i.e. small-spotted red-shark, ])an.; S<iinilnx 
 Linn.) was scarce \\ith us and elsewhere on the 
 coasts of Sweden and Norway, where its limits to the 
 northward seem but imperfectly known. It is not an 
 inhabitant of the Baltic ; but few, indeed, find their 
 wa\ so far smith as the Sound, and on the \\csteni coast 
 of Denmark, according to Kroyer, it has not yet been 
 identified. It is about the smallest of the sharks, its 
 

 
 
 
THE DOG-FISHES AND THE PORBEAGLE SHARK. 549 
 
 usual length being from two feet to two and a half, 
 though at times it attains three feet and upwards. The 
 female, as with others of the Squalus family, is larger 
 than the male. It is useless for the table, and is only 
 eaten, if at all, by the lower classes. But its liver, like 
 that of other sharks, is valuable from the quantity of 
 oil it produces. 
 
 The Large-spotted Dog-Fish (S. Catulus, Linn.), which, 
 Jenyns has a strong suspicion, is identical with the S. 
 Canicula, has not hitherto been recognized in the Scan- 
 dinavian seas; but Northern naturalists seem to think 
 it not at all improbable that it may have been overlooked. 
 It is said to attain a somewhat larger size than the 
 species preceding. 
 
 The Black-mouthed or Eyed Dog-Fish (Ringlad [i. e. 
 ringed] Dogg-Fisk, Sw. ; Haagjaile, Norw. ; S. annulatus, 
 Nilss. ; Scyllium melanostomnm, Bonap.), a well-known 
 Mediterranean fish, is rare in the Bonus Skargard, and 
 elsewhere on the western coast of Sweden ; and in the 
 Baltic it is unknown. But on the north-west coast of 
 Norway, where it is found as high up, at least, as Dront- 
 heim, it would not seem to be so uncommon. Its length, 
 Nilsson tells us, is two feet and upwards, but neither he 
 nor other Northern naturalists give us any information 
 as to its habits. 
 
 The Porbeagle Shark (Hd-Brand, Sw. ; Haa-Htei', 
 Norw. and Dan. ; S. Cornulicus, Faber) was not so uncom- 
 mon with us, or on other parts of the western coasts of 
 Sweden and Norway, from near the North Cape to the 
 Sound. It is also said to inhabit the more southern portion 
 of the Baltic. Usually its length is from five to eight 
 feet, but it not unfrequently attains nine and upwards. 
 Kroyer says he was informed by some fishermen, but he 
 vouches not for the truth of the story, that they on one 
 occasion captured a fish of this species upwards of ten 
 
550 THE PORBEAGLE SHARK AND THE COMMON TOPE. 
 
 feet in length, its weight being about five hundred pounds 
 Danish, which is somewhat more than English. 
 
 "This fish," whose English name is derived from its 
 supposed habit of hunting in company, " omits," Professor 
 Sundevall informs us, " even in a still greater degree; than 
 any other of the family, a most disagreeable and some- 
 what peculiar odour, more especially from its openings ; 
 and this uncleanness, which is common to all the sharks, 
 is the origin of the name SfjiK'lu* (from SijiH't<; Lat.*). 
 Of its breeding habits," he goes on to say, " little is 
 known bevond the fact that as is the case with all the 
 
 w 
 
 sharks, excepting those on which both dorsal fins are 
 placed behind the vcntrals (Scyllium, Cuv.), which are 
 oviparous it brings forth its progeny alive. The younij 
 one described by Strom was taken out of the mother 
 ' during the summer,' which makes it probable that this 
 fish pairs in the spring." 
 
 The Porbeagle is seldom captured on the Swedish coast 
 otherwise than in the herring or other net, which it often 
 very seriously damages. The fishermen all agree in 
 saying that this shark, when taken by the hook, is less 
 lively than any other of the family, and "hangs sleepy 
 and dead on the line." "When hauled on board the boat, 
 it is generally laid across the gunwale; and after the 
 liver, the only valuable part, has been extracted, the 
 fish is usually cast back into the sea. 
 
 The Common Tope (7/-.SW/;//',t (Irn-Ilaj, or grey- 
 
 * Couch, I observe, says it is derived from (lie Creek word aKv\\u, to 
 nkin or flay ; pcrlmpn because the prickly covi-rin^ of tin- .-kin rendering 
 
 this fish difficult to handle; but it nniM 1 l>-cr\cd. that the word ^i/miliix 
 
 was applied by I'liny to tin- Skate or Kay, and certainly not to the >harks. 
 
 t " The name of 7/<i," says Professor Sundevall, " which in Scania, 
 Boh us I Jin, the whole of Norway (Una), Iceland (//</). as al-o, according to 
 Yarrell, ill the Orkney Island- (//. i. i- applied to the I'icked \> Kish 
 
THE COMMON TOPE AND THE BASKING SHARK. 551 
 
 shark, Sw. ; Blaa-Haj, or blue-shark, Dan. ; S. Galeus, 
 Linn.), whose proper home is said to be the Mediterra- 
 nean, was scarce in the Bonus Skargiird, and elsewhere 
 on the western coast of Sweden : few, indeed, find their 
 way so far south as the Sound, and none would appear to 
 enter the Baltic. But " on the western coast of Jutland, 
 and on the Danish side of the Cattegat," according to 
 Kroyer, " this fish is quite common during the summer." 
 As yet, it does not appear to have been identified on the 
 western coast of Norway. Its usual length in the Scan- 
 dinavian seas is about three feet, and five feet is the 
 largest recorded to have been captured ; but in other 
 seas it attains to six feet and upwards. It is said 
 to be fond of the society of its fellows, as also that the 
 living young ones, thirty to forty in number, are 
 excluded from the female in May or June, and at one 
 and the same time. 
 
 The Basking Shark (Brygde, Sw. ; Brygde, Brttgde, 
 Norw. and Dan.; S. maximns [Linn. ?], Gunner.) has never 
 been identified in the Bohus Skargard, or anywhere in the 
 Swedish seas ; but on the north-western coast of Norway 
 it is by no means uncommon. It is by far the largest 
 of the Scandinavian sharks. Our own naturalists speak 
 of its attaining from thirty to thirty-six feet in length; 
 but if ancient records are to lie believed, it equals, if not 
 exceeds, the whale in size. The learned Bishop Gunnerus, 
 who flourished a century ago, and who is considered a 
 
 of which presently is, in fact, the generic name for the sharks, the Swedish 
 and Danish forms being Haj, and the Dutch Haai." This word, with some 
 addition, is by most Gothic nations used for others of the Squalidse, as for 
 example, H&-Brand, Haa-Mcer, Haa-Kjterring, llaa-Kal, l/aa-Storje, the 
 last-named appellation being derived, it is supposed, either from its head, 
 or rather snout, greatly resembling that of the Common Sturgeon (Storje, 
 Norw. and locally Swed.), or as a matter of distinction, as said in a note, 
 page 476 owing to its being of a superior size to some other fishes. 
 
552 THE BASKING SHAI1K. 
 
 good autlmriiv as regards tlie Squalida*, informs us, for 
 instance, " on the information of persons of unques- 
 tionable veracity," that on the coast of Nordlanden 
 one was captured seventy-two feet in length, the liver 
 alone of which filled fifteen tunnor, or barrels ; and 
 another one hundred nnd eight feet in length, whosi- 
 liver filled twenty-four tunnor.* It is possible, hm\r\< -r. 
 that at the present day such monsters no longer exist. 
 owing to the constant war carried on against the species, 
 time does not admit of their arriving at maturity. Though 
 this fish is of such enormous dimensions, it, would seem 
 by all accounts to be perfectly harmless and peaceably 
 inclined ; and, unlike the m-eater part of its congeners, 
 who are voracity itself, and prey on all kinds of animals, 
 whether living or dead, that come within their reach, it 
 feeds solely, as it is believed, on molluscs, crustaceans, 
 and the like. Not even the remains of fish have been 
 found in its stomach. 
 
 On the north-west coast of Norway there is something 
 like a regular fishery and it has been carried on for 
 more than a century for the Basking Shark. The boats 
 used for the purpose are from thirty-six to forty feet in 
 length, and each has a crew of four men, who are amply 
 provided with harpoons and other implements of destruc- 
 tion. The fishing season usually commences in the 
 beginning of August, when they cruise to and fro on 
 such parts of the coast as are known to he the favourite 
 haunts of the fish in question ; and when they see one 
 lying listlessly on the surface, as is its frequent habit 
 (hence its I'.n-lisli name) the harpooner, after the boat 
 has approached it as nearly as possiM,-, drives his \\eapon 
 
 * Tin- tunna hoMs ;l lxnit twenty six of our gallon*. Ti-n In 
 tun nor of liver an-c-onsiilrrril to ! c,|uiv:ili-nt to six 1,1 fi^'lit tunnor of oil. 
 \r thU r.ilr. rini-M-ijui'iitlv, tin- last iiii'iitimii-il Mi must have furnish, ! it~ 
 captors with :f*<i to nn pill.,n> of oil. 
 
THE BASKING AND THE GREENLAND SHARK. 553 
 
 deep into its body. Subsequently operations are carried 
 on in a similar manner as when the whale is the object 
 of attack. If the creature be lean, it at times can hold 
 out for a whole day ; but if it be fat, three or four hours 
 usually suffice to tire it out, when it is hauled alongside 
 the boat. Its tail is then partially severed to prevent its 
 struggles, and afterwards it is stabbed with lances until 
 quite dead. It is now turned over in the water, so that 
 its belly lies uppermost, when it is secured by a rope to 
 the mast. One of the men, provided with a long and 
 sharp knife, then makes an incision in the fish suffi- 
 ciently large to introduce his arm, upon which he severs 
 the ligaments by whichthe liver is attached to the body. 
 Finally the belly is ripped up, on which the liver 
 floats to the surface, in like manner as a huge feather- 
 bed, when the rope by which the fish is secured to the 
 boat must be instantly severed, or the latter would be 
 carried to the bottom with the creature. 
 
 The Greenland Shark (Ha-skerding , Svv. ; Haa-skjaird- 
 ing, Haa-kj (erring, Norw. ; Hav-kal [from the Icelandic 
 Hd-kaU~\, Dan. ; S. borealis, Scoresby), whose proper home 
 is the Arctic seas, into which it is said to penetrate deeper 
 than any of its congeners, is somewhat scarce in the 
 Bonus Skargard and Cattegat. It is but rarely that it 
 finds its way as far south as the Sound, and never, I 
 believe, into the Baltic. But on the western coast of 
 Norway, up to the North Cape itself, it is by no means 
 uncommon. Next to the S. maximus, it is the largest of 
 the sharks frequenting the Scandinavian seas. Its usual 
 length is from twelve to fifteen feet, but, according to 
 Bishop Gunnerus, it attains as much as twenty-five feet. 
 Its senses of smell and hearing are very acute ; and it 
 is said that, though habitually dwelling in the deeps, 
 which it seldom quits except in pursuit of prey, even 
 the voices of men will bring it to the surface. Hence 
 
554 THE GREENLAND SHARK. 
 
 the Greenlanders, when fishing where the depth is great, 
 as we are told by Fabrieius, are very cautious of speaking 
 loud for fear the monster should make its appearance, in 
 which case, to say nothing of the lish in whose capture 
 they are engaged beinir seared from the spot, the\ are 
 at times obliged to flee to the nearest shore to secure 
 their own personal safety. 
 
 This shark is said to be the most voracious of the 
 family, a perfect marine tiger in short, and devours 
 almost everything, whether living or dead, that it comes 
 across. Bishop Gunnerus relates that on one occasion a 
 whole reindeer, that had probably fallen from the cliffs 
 during a snow-storm, was found in its stomach ; and on 
 another, the entire carcass of a great or bearded seal 
 (Plioca barbata), the largest of the Scandinavian Phoe;e, 
 together with fourteen fishes ! Fabricius tells us, more- 
 over, that the stomach of a shark of this species, measuring 
 fourteen feet in length, that he himself opened, contained 
 no fewer than eight codfish, a ling measuring four feet, 
 the head of an immense holibut, and several large lumps 
 of whale blubber. Scoresby, our celebrated navigator, 
 gives us to understand that this shark will not molest 
 people. Such is not the notion of the Scandinavians, who 
 assert that the creature makes quick work of a man, 
 should he unfortunately come in its way. It is on record, 
 indeed, that some years ago a boat containing two fisher- 
 men was capsized near Bergen ; some little time after- 
 wards a Greenland shark was captured in whose stomach 
 was found half of the hody of one of the unhappy fellows, 
 which was recognized by his disconsolate widow from the 
 clothes he wore. 
 
 According to Fabricius, this fish spawns in July and 
 August. The immature eggs, which are of the si/.e of 
 those of a barn-door fowl, are, he tells us, so numerous 
 as to fill half a barrel. 
 
THE GREENLAND SHARK. 555 
 
 On parts of the Norwegian coast, this and other sharks 
 are taken in considerable numbers by the hook. That 
 used for the purpose is large and strong ; attached to 
 it is a swivel and a short chain, to prevent the monster 
 from severing the line with its teeth. A lump of bacon, 
 meat, or seal's-flesh, which is looked on as the most 
 alluring of all, serves as bait. To collect the sharks to 
 the part of the deep fjord where it is purposed to fish for 
 them, a quantity of offal of all kinds, inclosed in a sort of 
 crate, is some days previously sunk to the bottom, the 
 scent of which, when it begins to rot, attracts the crea- 
 tures to the spot. Afterwards the crate is drawn up, and 
 the baited hook substituted in its stead. When the shark 
 seizes the bait, the fisherman either secures the line to 
 the gunwale of the boat, which in consequence is often 
 drawn down to the water's edge, or he attaches to the 
 end of it an empty cask that floats on the water. The 
 shark, on finding itself fast to the hook (and the like is 
 usually the case with its congeners), almost immediately 
 commences rolling itself round and round on the line, in 
 the hopes, possibly, of thereby breaking it ; but after a 
 time it becomes exhausted by its struggles, when it is 
 hauled to the surface. Prior, however, to being taken on 
 board the boat, it is knocked on the head with an iron- 
 shod bludgeon, always at hand for the purpose. 
 
 This shark, like the S. maximus, is chiefly sought after 
 for its liver, which in an adult fish produces, it is said, 
 no less than about forty gallons of oil. In parts of 
 Norway, however, its flesh, according to Bishop Gun- 
 nerus, after being prepared in like manner with the 
 holibut as Hav or Rekling, is often eaten by the poorer 
 classes of people. 
 
 The Picked Dog-Fish (Pigg-Haj, Sw. ; Pig-Haa* 
 
 * The appellation of Pigg, or Pig, signifying a spike, is no doubt 
 derived fi-oin the same origin us the English, this fish having a spine in 
 
556 THE PICKED DOG-FISH. 
 
 Norw. ; Pig-Iffij, Dan. ; S. Acanthias, Linn.) was common 
 in our Skiirgard, the most so, probably, of all the sharks. 
 This is likewise the case along the whole western coast of 
 both Sweden and Norway, from the North Cape to the 
 Sound. Off the north-west coast of Jutland, according 
 to Kroyer, it is also very abundant, and once in a linn- 
 is said to have found its way into the Baltic. Its usual 
 length in the Scandinavian seas is about two feet and a 
 half, and it seldom or never attains more than three 
 feet. Its resorts are in less deep water than the most 
 of its congeners. It is rarely met Avith on rocky Around, 
 but confines itself almost solely to localities where the 
 "bottom is soft and miry. It is gregarious, and in the 
 spring especially goes in immense shoals. It is most 
 voracious, feeding on marine animals and lish ; and 
 should the latter he too largo to swallow cut in-, it bites 
 them in two. It is a great enemy to the herrings, fol- 
 lowing them everywhere ; and in Norway, Ekstrom tells 
 us, one often hears of shoals of the latter being regularly 
 beleaguered by these rapacious fishes. 
 
 The Picked Dog-Fish, as with some other sharks, is 
 viviparous ; but Northern naturalists are not very well 
 acquainted with its hreedini: habits. The prevailing 
 opinion seems to be that these tish pair in Auirust and 
 September, and that the greater portion of the females 
 bring forth in May and .June, and the remainder during 
 the summer. Professor Sundevall thinks it probable the 
 young are horn in quirk succession after each other, and 
 not at shorter or longer intervals, as would appear to lie 
 Ihe ircneral impression, lie has come to this conclusion 
 from finding the ymmu; in all the females he has opened 
 
 advano- of rsu-li of iN two .lov^il tins. It- otlirr mimes arr llnfisk (u-nl, 
 thoiifjh Irss fr.M|urntly, almost r\ .-rywliiTc) ; ///>. or //./;/>. in I'vlan.I 
 (Oliifsi-ii. KnU-ri ; ll,i,tr>ir in the Fame Isliiiuls (I.un.ltl ; /Ar /.//, or llnl- 
 kaU, in Soiini:i. 
 
THE PICKED DOG-FISH. 557 
 
 of the same size, and equally developed in every way. He 
 is further of opinion that the female does not produce 
 more than about ten young ones ; and in this he is partly 
 corroborated by the fishermen, who have assured him 
 they seldom find in her stomach at the same time more 
 than five or six that arefull-grodda, or fully grown. 
 
 Couch, when speaking of the Picked Dog-Fish, says : 
 " Such is the strength of instinct, that little creatures, not 
 exceeding six inches in length, may be found in company 
 with the larger and stronger, following ' schulls ' of fish, 
 on which at the time it is impossible they should be able 
 to prey." The fishermen in the Bohus Skargard, and 
 elsewhere, assert, on the contrary, that the young, so far 
 from accompanying the old ones in their predatory excur- 
 sions, always confine themselves to shoal water, and keep 
 to the bottom, where many are captured during the 
 autumn by the line. Believing in the correctness of 
 these men's statements, Swedish and Danish naturalists 
 rather smile at this " tirade," as they call it, of our cele- 
 brated ichthyologist. The gravid female, when hauled 
 into the boat, is not unfrequently, in its death struggles> 
 taken in labour ; and the learned therefore surmise that 
 it is the young thus prematurely ushered into the world 
 that have given rise to the fiction in question. 
 
 This fish is taken in various ways in Scandinavia. At 
 times in nets, called Ha-garn, constructed expressly for 
 the purpose ; and at others on lines and in nets laid out 
 for other fish. Occasionally they are captured in enormoxis 
 numbers. " One morning," says Kroyer, " I was present 
 near Agger, in Jutland (lat. 56 47'), when the fishermen 
 drew their nets on shore filled almost exclusively with the 
 picked dog-fish. From the best calculation I was able to 
 make, not less than eleven thousand were taken at this 
 fishing-station alone during the preceding night." When 
 the Picked Dog-Fish are congregated in numbers they give 
 
558 THE PICKED DOG-FISH. 
 
 great trouble and annoyance to the fishermen, both by 
 plundering and by destroying their nets and carrying off 
 such fish as have fastened on the hook. 
 
 In Bohus-Lan, during the fifteenth century, a regular 
 fishery was carried on for the capture of these fish, which, 
 owing to the diminution in their number, at length ceased. 
 Peder Clausen, who flourished soon after the period in 
 question, when speaking of this matter, says : " As this 
 fish was known to be very fond of human flesh, num- 
 bers of people, especially such as were fat and fleshy, were 
 murdered and cut into bits, which were then used as 
 bait." To this circumstance, coupled with the fact that 
 the inhabitants were accustomed to fish on Sundays, the 
 worthy man attributed the absence of the Picked Dog- 
 Fish from the coast. 
 
 The flesh of this species of shark is perfectly white, 
 and free from the disagreeable odour common to the 
 larger kinds. It is said to be tolerably palatable, and 
 in Bohus-Lan and elsewhere is eaten both fresh and 
 salted and dried, in which latter state it at times forms 
 an article of commerce. " When during the summer time 
 it has remained undressed for several days," says Pro- 
 fessor Sundevall, " it emits a very strong and uncom- 
 monly distinct smell of ammonia, and that, moreover, 
 without one's perceiving the rotten odour usually accom- 
 panying half-putrid meat. It at the same time gives 
 forth a very strong phosphorescent light." 
 
 The S. SpiiKLi; Linn. (/;/-/.r.ra, Sw. ; Sort-lltui, Nonv.; 
 Sort-Il<ij, Dan., both meaning black-shark), is common 
 in the Bohus Skaruard and in the northern portion of the 
 Cattegat, as also on the western coast of Norwa\ as high 
 up certainly as Drontheim. It is somewhat (|iiestionable, 
 however, if its range in that direction is much more 
 extruded, as K rover did not meet with it at the Lofoden 
 Islands; nor has it hitherto been identified, 1 believe, 
 
THE SQUALTJS SPINAX AND THE SEA FOX. 559 
 
 in Iceland. But its range to the south is much more 
 limited ; for even in the more southern parts of the 
 Cattegat * it is a rare visitor, and as yet has not heen 
 met with in the Sound, much less in the Baltic. This 
 fish is generally understood to he identical with the 
 S. niger, Bonap., a Mediterranean fish ; but if so, why 
 should it not visit the British seas, where it would appear 
 not to have been hitherto recognized ? It is the smallest 
 of the Scandinavian sharks. Its usual length with us 
 is from tw r elve to fourteen inches, and it seldom attains 
 to more than eighteen. As with the Picked Dog-Eish, it 
 keeps in shoals, and for the most part to the deeps 
 where the bottom is muddy. Little seems known to 
 Northern naturalists as to what constitutes its food 
 and its habits, beyond the fact that it brings forth its 
 young alive, and, as it is supposed, at various seasons. 
 It is said to be very hard-lived. Bishop Gunnerus 
 relates that, even when its liver and entrails have been 
 taken out, it has been known to " spille paa bordet," that 
 is, to dance on the table. Its flesh is not eaten : we 
 are, indeed, told by Ascanius that on the Norwegian 
 coast it is looked on as poisonous. But the oil extracted 
 from its liver is not only valuable in itself, but is sup- 
 posed to possess medicinal virtues. 
 
 The Sea Eox, or Thresher (S. Vulpes, Gmel.), has not 
 found a place in either the Swedish or Danish faunas ; 
 but Kroyer says he has been credibly informed that some 
 
 * " Though the width of the Cattegat between the Scaw and the Swedish 
 coast is but small, say between forty and fifty (English) miles," Kroyer 
 remarks, " yet this inconsiderable distance shows not unimportant modifi- 
 cations in zoological geography, in consequence of the Cattegat sinking or 
 falling considerably towards the East. This ia exemplified as regards the 
 S. Spinax and the S. Galeus. The former, a Northern fish, is frequent, 
 as just shown, on the Norwegian side of the Cattegat, but scarce on the 
 Danish ; whereas the latter, a Southern fish, is, as mentioned, pretty common 
 on the Danish, but rare on the Swedish side." 
 
THE COMMON SKATE. 
 
 twenty years ago a fish answering to it in every respect 
 was cast on shore during a violent storm on the western 
 coast of Jutland. 
 
 Of the Skate family, which, according to Yarrell, num- 
 bers seventeen species in the British seas, only seven have 
 hitherto been identified in those of Scandinavia, viz. : 
 
 The Common Skate (Slatt-llucka, or smooth skate, 
 Sw. ; Plett-Rockc, or spotted skate, Norw. ; Shade, L)an. ; 
 Raja Satis, Linn.) is common in the Bohus Skiirgfird, 
 and more or less so elsewhere on the western coasts of 
 both Sweden and Norway, from the Sound to somewhat 
 beyond the Polar Circle. With the exception of the 
 R. radiata, its range in this direction is more extended 
 than that of the Rays. Off the western coast of Jutland it 
 is also common, but has not hitherto been identified in 
 the Baltic. It is the largest of the family inhabiting the 
 Scandinavian seas, and, as with its conveners, the female 
 is of superior size to the male. On the Swedish coast its 
 usual length is from three to five feet, but on that of 
 Norway it attains to much more. Kroyer says he himself 
 has there seen individuals seven to eight feet long, which 
 he judged must have weighed two hundred pounds. In 
 the Stockholm Museum is preserved the egg-shell, or 
 " sea purse" as it is called, of what is believed to be this 
 skate, that was brought up from the deeps, measuring 
 thirteen inches in length by five and a half in breadth, 
 clearly showing that the fish by which it was deposited 
 must have been of gigantic dimensions. As a rule, it 
 lives in the deeps, but at certain seasons approaches tin- 
 shore. It is very voracious, and spares nothing that 
 comes in its way. 'Flat-fishes and various species of 
 Gadus constitute its chief nourishment ; but it also 
 feeds on crustaceans, particularly the larger ones. As 
 its movements are slow, it \\oiild seem rather to lie on 
 the \\atch for its prey than to pursue it. 
 
THE COMMON AND THE LONG-NOSED SKATE. 561 
 
 According to Kroyer, " it pairs in April and May. 
 Contrary to its usual habit, it then comes up to the 
 surface. At Hjerting, on the west coast of Jutland 
 (lat. 55 30'), they tell me that of a calm and mild evening 
 a considerable number of these fish may be seen in the 
 bay floating on the water, and might then be readily 
 captured even with a common boat-hook. Several males 
 are said to follow one female, and whilst in the act of 
 pairing, the sexes are very securely attached to each 
 other. The female commences depositing her eggs in 
 May, and is supposed to continue till September, as only a 
 couple of eggs are matured at a time. The lobes are of 
 a fine sea-green colour, and of a considerable size. The 
 young of upwards of two feet in length that are captured 
 in the Cattegat in June and beginning of July are, in 
 my opinion, bred in the spring of the same year. The 
 appendages of a male of this size are not more than one 
 inch long ; and even when the fish has attained a length 
 of five feet, it is not sufficiently developed to enable it 
 to propagate its species. The appendages of the old 
 male are of such an extraordinary size as to give one 
 the idea tliat it is furnished with three tails." 
 
 With us in England the common skate is, according 
 to Yarrell, held in estimation ; but such is not the case 
 in Scandinavia, where by the better classes it is somewhat 
 despised. It is eaten, however, by the peasants, but for 
 the most part when salted and dried. 
 
 A very singular notion regarding this and other skates 
 formerly prevailed amongst the Danish fishermen, viz., 
 that they keep watch over the bodies of the drowned, and 
 guard them, against the attack of other fishes. 
 
 The Long-nosed Skate (Plogjcrns-Rocka, or plough- 
 share skate, Sw. ; R. Tomer, B. Fries ; ? R. oxyrlnjnclms, 
 Linn.) is rare in the Bohus Skiirg;\rd, but is not unfre- 
 quently taken during summer with the " long-line " on the 
 
 2 o 
 
562 TUB SIIARP-NOSED RAY. 
 
 Jutland Reef in the Skager-Rack. Elsewhere in the Scan- 
 dinavian seas it has not hitherto been identified. It i? 
 believed to attain a very large size. Those captured in 
 Swedish waters, it is true, have not exceeded five feet in 
 length, but none of them, as there is reason to believe, 
 had arrived at maturity. This fish lives generally in deep 
 water ; but with its breeding and other habits Northern 
 naturalists are but little acquainted. 
 
 The Sharp-nosed or White Ray (Sldganu-Bocka, S\v. ; 
 Hvid-Rocke, or white skate, Dan. ; R. Untea, B. Fries) was 
 likewise rare with us and on the western coast of Norway, 
 where, however, as yet, it has not been recognized much 
 higher up than Stavanger (lat. 59). In the southern 
 portion of the Cattegat, and in the Sound, as also in the 
 Baltic, it would appear to be entirely unknown. The 
 fishermen in the Bonus Skargfird say this species may 
 be readily distinguished from others of the family by the 
 paleness or whiteness of its colour, resembling Jjltif/itrn, 
 or unbleached yarn ; and hence its Swedish appellation. 
 Yarrell informs us that it has been taken, off the coast of 
 Northumberland, seven feet nine inches in length and 
 eight feet three inches in breadth, and adds that it is the 
 largest of the British rays ; for though in length and 
 breadth it may not exceed the common skate, its superior 
 thickness renders it heavier. But such giants, or anything 
 approaching them in size, have not hitherto been heard 
 of in the Scandinavian seas. This fish confines itself 
 for the most part to the deeps. Kroyer mentions that 
 the specimens brought under his notice in Norway, all 
 young ones of about three feet in length, were captured in 
 fully one hundred fathoms water. " The adults," he goes 
 on to say, " only approach the coast during summer and 
 autumn, but the young, on the contrary, ;ire met with 
 near the shore all the year round." Little or nothing 
 is known of the habits of this fish. 
 

 IP 
 
 I 
 
 f 
 
THE SHAGREEN EAT AND THE THORNBACK. 563 
 
 The Shagreen Kay, so called from the rougli shark- 
 like texture of the skin (Nabb-Rocka, or beaked ray, 
 Sw. ; Neb-Skade, or beaked skate, Norw. ; Gjoge-Rocke, 
 or cuckoo-ray, Dan. ; R. fullonica, Linn.), a southern 
 species it woiild seem, was scarce with us, as also on 
 the western coast of Norway, where it ranges up to 
 Drontheim Fjord, or it may be somewhat beyond. Once 
 in a time it is met with in the southern Cattegat, but 
 hitherto it does not appear to have been identified 
 either in the Sound or the Baltic. It is unknown, 
 according to Kroyer, in the Danish seas. Pennant tells 
 us it attains to a like size as the common skate ; but 
 those -hitherto found in the Scandinavian waters appear 
 not to have exceeded three to four feet in length. It 
 dwells for the most part in the deeps, where it is cap- 
 tured on the " long-line " in from fifty to one hundred 
 fathoms, or perhaps more. Its food and habits are very 
 imperfectly known to Northern naturalists. 
 
 The Thornback (Knagg-Rocka, or knotted ray, Sw. ; 
 Som-Rocke, or nailed ray, Dan. ; R. clavata, Linn.), a 
 southern fish, I believe, for we read of its being abundant 
 in the Mediterranean and on the coasts of the Crimea, 
 is common in the Bohus Skiirgard and on the western 
 coast from the northern portion of the Sound upwards ; 
 but its limits to the north seem not to be ascertained, 
 though they are not very extended, it is to be presumed, 
 because this fish is not thought to inhabit the seas of 
 either Iceland or Greenland. Its usual length with us 
 is from two to three feet, which it seldom exceeds. The 
 female, as with other of the rays, somewhat surpasses the 
 male in size. Moderately deep water with a sandy bottom 
 would seem to be its favourite resort. According to 
 Ekstrom, it is a Stand-fisk, or stationary fish, that is, 
 one confining itself pretty much to the same locality all 
 the year round. " Its ' Lek,' " he says, " commences in 
 
 2 o 2 
 
564 THE STARRY RAT. 
 
 June and July, and continues for a long time. From 
 observations made by the late Professor B. Fries, it seems 
 probable that the egg is not vivified until after being 
 produced by the female, and that she only deposits a 
 single one at a time, with some interval between each. 
 The ' egg ' oblong-square in form, with a short projec- 
 tion at each corner is protected by a thin leather-like; 
 covering of a grey-brown colour. The fishermen say the 
 fry is of slow growth." 
 
 The Thornback is captured by the line and in nets. 
 " Its flesh," says Ekstrom, " is considered very inferior, 
 being white and flabby, and having a disagreeable and 
 insipid taste. It is seldom or 'never eaten fresh by the 
 inhabitants of the Bohus Skiirgurd, but, after being salted 
 and dried, is disposed of to the peasants in the sur- 
 rounding country, who prepare it as Liit-fixlt '' a very 
 singular and favourite dish, which is peculiar to Sweden, I 
 think, but which space does not admit of my describing. 
 Kroyer speaks equally unfavourably of the eatable qua- 
 lities of this fish, which is remarkable, as Yarrell and 
 others say that in England it is prized for the table. 
 
 The Starry Hay (h'lo-Ktx-kn, or claw-ray, Sw. ; Twin-, 
 Dan. ; K. /-nilitilit, Donov.), a northern fish, and rare, as 
 it would seem, in England, is captured occasionally in 
 the Bohus Sks'irgiird. It is also found along the whole 
 western coast of both Sweden and Norway, from the 
 North Cape to the entrance of the Baltic, into which, 
 it is imagined, some few find their way. It is the 
 smallest of the Scandinavian rays. Kroyer says that 
 out of the great number be has seen not one exceeded 
 eighteen inches in length, and he is of opinion that 
 it does not attain to any considerable size ; but Nilsson 
 speaks of a specimen that came under his notice which 
 measured t\\ent\-one indies. According to Kroyer, "it 
 dwells in shallower water than any other of our rays, 
 
THE STIXG RAY. 565 
 
 though with reference to the season. Early in the 
 spring, say in March, it goes up in the shallows, 
 where it appears to remain the greater part of the 
 summer, and does not return to the deeps until the 
 setting in of the winter. Of all its congeners, it seems 
 most capable of enduring brackish water, as evidenced by 
 its being so frequently met with in the Sound, and in 
 the Great and Little Belts. In its stomach I have found 
 several kinds of crustaceans, belonging to the genera 
 Palfemon, Hippolyte, Crangon, &c. ; various sorts of 
 worms, especially Nereids ; as also the remains of small 
 fish, but the species were not distinguishable." 
 
 The breeding habits of this fish are not exactly known. 
 It is thought, however, that the females deposit their 
 eggs, or rather " purses," in shoal water throughout the 
 summer, and that the young first appear late in the 
 autumn. This inference is drawn because during the 
 winter one occasionally finds young ones of from three to 
 five inches in length near the shore. 
 
 The Sting Ray (Spjut-Rocka, or spear-ray, Sw. ; 
 Pil-Jloc/ce, i. e, arrow (tailed) ray, Dan.; R. Pastinaca, 
 Linn.), so named from its spine being capable of in- 
 flicting a severe wound, though not a poisonous one, 
 has only in one instance been identified in the Scandi- 
 navian seas. This was some twenty years ago, near 
 Kullen, on the coast of Scania. The specimen was a 
 small one, measuring only fifteen inches ; but in its 
 proper home, believed to be the Mediterranean, this 
 fish attains to a much larger size. Northern naturalists, 
 I should observe, are quite puzzled to understand from 
 whence Yarrell obtained the extraordinary information 
 that the sting ray ranges to a high degree of north lati- 
 tude on the coast of Norway. 
 
 The Sea Lamprey (Hafs-Nejonoyon, or the sea nine- 
 eyes ; Sugare, or sucker, Sw. ; Hav-Neyennjen, or sea 
 
560 THE SEA LAMPKEY. 
 
 nine-eyes, Dan. ; Petromyzon marinus, Linn.) was found 
 with us, and on the whole of the western coast of hoth 
 Sweden and Norway, from beyond the Polar Circle to the 
 Sound ; as also in the more southern parts of the Baltic ; 
 but it is somewhat scarce everywhere. Pennant speaks 
 of its attaining to the thickness of a man's arm, and a 
 weight of five or six pounds, but I have no idea of its 
 ever having been taken in the Scandinavian seas at all 
 approaching to that size. It is said to be very hard-lived. 
 Hofman relates that he has seen it exist for nearly a 
 whole day out of the water, and exposed, besides, to a 
 bright sun. It spawns in early summer, and for tint 
 purpose, although a salt-water fish, ascends rivers, often 
 to a considerable distance. Its powers of suction are 
 great. To prevent being carried away by currents, or 
 for other causes, it often affixes itself to a stone ; and 
 hence its popular name of " Stone - Sucker." It also 
 sucks itself fast for the most part to the belly of the 
 fish on which it purposes to prey, and with its sharp 
 teeth eats itself into the flesh. The fishermen in the 
 Bohus Skiirgiird say that it more especially attacks the 
 Ray family, and that they occasionally draw up one of 
 these fishes with a sea lamprey attached to it, though 
 more frequently they only see the wounds it has in- 
 flicted. Bishop Gunnerus tells us, moreover, that at 
 times numbers of lampreys fasten themselves to the 
 body of the Great Basking Shark, and do not quit their 
 hold of the creature until they have compassed its death. 
 Though the flesh of the sea lamprey is in reality good, 
 yet in Sweden it is little prized. On the greater part of 
 the Danish coast. Kroyer tells us, it is looked on as 
 poisonous, and when the lisli is accidentally captured, it is 
 usually ea-t hack into the sea. Of the Lampern, or River 
 Lamprey (J'. Jlnrinfilis, Linn.), a lull description is given 
 in the " Scandinavian Adventure-." 
 
THE MYXINE. 567 
 
 The Myxine, or Glutinous Hag (Pir-dl, Sw. ; Sleep- 
 mark, or slime-worm, Norw.; Slim-aal, or slime-eel, Dan. ; 
 MJyxine glutinosa, Linn.), was very common with us, and 
 on the western coast, from the Sound to beyond the Polar 
 Circle ; but hitherto it has not found its way into the Baltic. 
 From its peculiar structure and apparent want of eyes 
 Linna3us and others were led to class it with the worms, 
 and it was not until after dissections, and published 
 descriptions, that its true relation to the lampreys was 
 acknowledged. Its usual length is from twelve to four- 
 teen inches, but it attains to fifteen or sixteen. It dwells, 
 for the most part, in the deep say from twenty to fifty 
 fathoms and in preference where the bottom, to which it 
 always confines itself, is muddy. It appears to be a very 
 inert fish. " Those taken alive and placed in a tub of salt 
 water," says Professor Sundevall, "lie for the most part 
 extended to their full length at the bottom of the vessel. 
 When disturbed they swim in the manner of the eel, but 
 with less vigour. If placed in fresh water, they die almost 
 as rapidly as if in spirits." 
 
 It does not prey on living animals like the sea 
 lamprey, but only on such as are defunct, and on almost 
 anything, the human corpse not excepted, that comes in 
 its way. And of dead fishes it finds abundance in the 
 nets and on the lines of the fishermen when, owing to 
 stress of weather, they have remained unexamined for a 
 day or two. It is believed to enter the fish by the mouth, 
 and after eating its fill, to make its exit through the 
 anus ; and it often happens that the men, on taking up 
 their gear, find nothing remaining of the fish but the 
 bones and the skin, which, instead of flesh, is filled with 
 myxines. Professor Sundevall relates that in a dead 
 haddock that had only been placed in the water a few 
 hours he found near twenty of these singular creatures, 
 buried several inches in its flesh. The myxine, in conse- 
 
668 THE HYXIKE. 
 
 quence of this its destructive habit, is mortally hated by 
 the fishermen, and with them probably originated the 
 opprobrious name of hag, by which it is known to us in 
 England. The quantity of glutinous matter that exudes 
 from the body of this fish is past belief. It is said that 
 if a rnyxine be placed in a vessel containing a cubic foot of 
 water, the liquid will, in the course of two or three hours, 
 become impregnated with so thick a slime that it can be 
 drawn out in threads, or lifted up at the end of a stick in 
 like manner as a rag. Even if this experiment be repeated 
 three to four times in succession, a similar result will 
 follow. " This slime, like all other slime," says Sundevall, 
 " is composed of line globules, which, when the mass is 
 distended, may be drawn out into spiral threads : it would 
 appear to be tougher or more glutinous than any other 
 kind of slime." 
 
 The myxine is oviparous. " One always finds in the 
 full-grown female," says Suudevall, " about twelve eggs 
 which are larger and altogether differently shaped from 
 the rest. They are oblong, and of three times greater 
 length than breadth, and are quite opaque; and when 
 they are deposited by her, twelve more of the smaller e.. 
 would seem to assume the oblong shape and commence 
 to increase in growth, &c. The Professor gives us many 
 other very interesting particulars respecting the breeding 
 habits of this fish, but they are too long for insertion in 
 these pages. Its spawning season seems unknown to 
 Northern ichthyologists ; but K rover is inclined to believe 
 it is not confined to any particular time of the year. 
 Neither Sundevall nor Kroyer, both of whom have care- 
 fully studied the habits of this fish, have been able to find 
 any individuals that they could with certainty assume to 
 be males. Kroyer considers the fact that the young fry 
 have never, in Danish \\aters, been found of a less length 
 than nine inches, to be an "enigmatical circumstance." 
 
THE LANCE LET. 569 
 
 The Lancelot (Lansett-Fisk, i. e. lancet-fish, Sw. ; 
 Lancetclanned Trcevlemimd, i. e. lancet-formed fibre- 
 mouth, Dan. ; Sranchiostoma lubricuni, Costa ; Amphioxus 
 lanceolalus, Yarr.), which was first noticed in 1774 by 
 Pallas, who looked on it as a worm, and as such classed 
 it under the name of Lumbricus lanceolatus, is not so very 
 uncommon in the Boh us Skiirgard and the Cattegat, 
 though elsewhere in the Scandinavian seas it has not, I 
 believe, been hitherto identified. To judge by YarrelFs 
 figure, which he says is of life size, it must be fully three 
 inches long ; but Kroyer seems to think that on the 
 Jutland coast at least it does not attain to more than two. 
 It dwells on a sandy bottom, but in a depth of water 
 which varies considerably, being at times found in ten to 
 twelve fathoms, and at others near the shore. It is said 
 that if this fish be placed in a tub of salt-water, with sand 
 at the bottom, it will either lie still for hours together, as 
 if dead, or it will so embed itself in the sand that only 
 the upper part of its body remains visible ; if disturbed, 
 it becomes lively, and casts itself hither and thither, or it 
 swims about the tub with a worm-like lateral motion. 
 Its food is believed to consist of microscopic animals. 
 Little or nothing is known to Northern naturalists 
 respecting the habits of this very singular little fish. 
 
CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 The Swedish Herring-Fisheries, Past and Present. Superstitions. - 
 Enormous Takes. The Herrings desert the (Wst.- Keasons assigned 
 for their Disappearance. These Reasons ^unsaid l>y the Ki-hermen. 
 Speculations on the Subject. LOBS attendant on the AWnee of the 
 Fish. Demoralized State of the Fishermen. 
 
 AS mentioned in a recent chapter, the Swedish 
 herring-fisheries were at one time the largest 
 and most flourishing in Europe, but owing to the 
 disappearance of the fish from the coast for the past 
 sixty or eighty years, they have dwindled down to 
 almost insignificance ; and at the present day there is 
 little to remind one of them but the curing-houses and 
 other buildings, now in a state of wrack and ruin, in 
 which operations used to be carried on. The subjoined 
 short account of the fisheries in question the chief of 
 which were in the Bohus Sksirgfird may not be without 
 interest, both to those connected with similar establish- 
 ments and to the naturalist. 
 
 Though for ages previously herrings had been most 
 plentiful, yet duriiii: the iir>t half of the Mxteenth 
 
THE SWEDISH HERRING-FISHERIES. 
 
 571 
 
 century beyond which it is needless to go back they, 
 in great measure, deserted the coast. In 1556, however, 
 there was a Land-stotning, as it is called ; that is, the 
 fish having emerged from the deeps their usual place 
 of resort appeared in incalculable numbers in the 
 Skilrgard, and this continued until 1587, a space of 
 thirty-one years, when they for the most part once more 
 absented themselves. 
 
 SWEDISH FISHEKMEN. 
 
 During the period of glut (from 1556 to 1587), the 
 fisheries are described as having been more productive 
 than at any other on record. We learn from the old 
 chronicles, indeed, that for the space of fifty or sixty 
 miles the shores of the main land and the adjacent 
 islands were studded with curing and salting houses, 
 many of them two or three stories high, and inhabited 
 by vast multitudes of people who had congregated there 
 from various and distant parts, and whose sole occupation 
 
572 SUPERSTITIONS. 
 
 was in connection with the fisheries; that "herrings 
 were then so very abundant that thousands of ships carne 
 annually from Denmark, Germany, Friesland, Holland, 
 England, and France, to purchase the fish, of which 
 sufficient were always found for them to carry away to 
 their own or other countries." And this would not seem 
 to be a very exaggerated account, as from the small town 
 of Marstrand alone no less than six hundred thousand 
 tunnor, or some two million four hundred thousand 
 bushels, were yearly exported. 
 
 The disappearance of the fish from the coast in 1587, 
 which reduced many people to penury and misery, was, 
 according to the belief of the age, foreboded by the capture 
 of a herring, the queen of the family as it was supposed, 
 of such enormous size, that two men could with diiliculty 
 carry it suspended on a pole ! But idle as is the story, it 
 is only on a par with that related by Peder Clausen, viz., 
 that when in ancient times a like sudden disappearance of 
 the herrings had occurred, the people sagely attributed 
 their absence to trollilom, or witchcraft, believing that the 
 sorcerer, to effect his object, had thrown into the sea a 
 so-called "copper horse," one of the implements of his 
 nefarious trade. 
 
 From 1587, the concluding year of the glut, to 1GGO, 
 a space of seventy-three years, the herrings only appeared 
 in small numbers on the Bohus coast ; but in 1660 there 
 was another " Land-stotning," though not comparable to 
 that of 1556. But as during the recent dearth of lisli most 
 of the people connected with the fisheries had departed 
 to their distant homes, and the curing-houses had fallen 
 into decay, lew besides the inhabitants of the province 
 were enabled to avail themselves of the opportunity, 
 and these men, having now the fish all to themselves, 
 so to say, soon became comparatively wealthy. The 
 \\:n- in Nor\\ay in 1075 (Holms-Lan then forming a 
 
ENORMOUS TAKES. 573 
 
 part of that kingdom) nearly put an end to the fishery 
 for that time. 
 
 Subsequently the fish appeared at intervals on the 
 coast, especially in the year 1727 ; hut there being a want 
 of people, as also of the proper fishing gear, to enable 
 them to take advantage of the opportunity, no very great 
 captures were made. 
 
 In 1717 there was again a " Land-stotning," though 
 much less abundant than that of 1556, and the same 
 continued until 1808, when the fish once more departed. 
 In this while, a space of sixty-one years, the fisheries were 
 prosecuted with great ardour and success, and to the 
 great gain of those engaged in them. Herrings were so 
 very plentiful during one particular year, that a tunna, 
 or four bushels, could be piirchased on the spot for two 
 skillings, or a half-penny of our money ; and though 
 the fish were converted to all manner of purposes, 
 people hardly knew what to do with them. Subse- 
 quently, however, to 1799 and up to 1808, when the 
 herrings left the coast, the fisheries were less remu- 
 nerative, which was attributed as well to a diminution 
 in the number of the fish, as to their appearing at a 
 later and more inconvenient season of the year for their 
 capture. During the earlier years of the glut in question, 
 the great "take" was at an end by Christmas, but now 
 the fishery only commenced shortly before that time. 
 It is true that Is-notar, or ice-nets, were made use of, 
 but without much success, probably from ignorance of 
 the proper manner of handling them. A large portion 
 of such of the captured fish as were not exported 
 were boiled down into oil. Others were salted, smoked, 
 dried, prepared as pilchards, &c., and not a few consumed 
 in the country itself. One year, when the herrings 
 were unusually numerous, it was calculated that not 
 less than 2,938,000 barrels were taken ; and as each 
 
574 THE HERRINGS DESERT THE COAST. 
 
 barrel is supposed to contain about one thousand fish, 
 the aggregate would be something like 2,938,000,000 
 of herrings ! 
 
 During the glut we are now speaking of (1747 to 
 1808), the Bohus fisheries were looked on as a second 
 El Dorado ; and as the government gave encouragement 
 to settlers, every nook and cranny, both on the islands 
 and on the coasts of the main land, were soon, as of old, 
 dotted with buildings of one kind or another. Indeed, 
 when the fisheries were in their glory, it was computed 
 that, independently of the inhabitants themselves, fifty 
 thousand strangers at the least took part in them. 
 
 In 1808, as shown, the herrings once more left the 
 coast, and have never since revisited it in any considerable 
 numbers ; as a consequence, the extensive curing-houses, 
 which subsequent to the " Land-stotning" of 1717 had 
 again risen up as if by magic, soon disappeared altogether 
 or fell into a state of dilapidation and decay, and many 
 individuals who had invested their all in the fisheries 
 were reduced to want. 
 
 The absence of the herrings from the Skiirgiird for the 
 past fifty or sixty years lias given rise to a great deal of 
 speculation. Few questions, indeed, have been more dis- 
 cussed. The reasons assigned by Swedish naturalists and 
 others, who were deputed by the government to investi- 
 gate the cause of the disappearance of the fish, were many 
 and weighty. Amongst the rest "The noise and uproar 
 in the Skiirgurd when the fisheries were flourishing, 
 caused by the tens of thousands of congregated people, 
 which noise in calm weather, or when the wind was oil' 
 the land, might be heard miles and miles out at sea; the 
 enormous quantity of refuse of all kinds cast out from 
 the curing and boiling-houses into the sea, which, on 
 sinking, destroyed all submarine vegetation, and masses of 
 \\hicli, resembling lloat ing islands and emitting a dreadful 
 
REASONS ASSIGNED FOR THEIR DISAPPEARANCE. 575 
 
 stench, might at times be met with far away from land ;* 
 the very great destruction of the fry and lesser fish, 
 owing to the small size of the meshes of the nets 
 customary in the Skargard ; and lastly the use of the Wad, 
 a drag-net of gigantic proportions, which, sweeping the 
 bottom, proved destructive to all the grass and other 
 plants, amongst which herrings are accustomed to spawn." 
 The "Wad," I should observe in parenthesis, was 
 from one hundred and twenty to one hundred and fifty 
 fathoms in length, and from twelve to fifteen fathoms in 
 depth, with hauling lines four to five hundred fathoms 
 long. It was cast into the water as far from land as 
 practicable, so as to enclose the greatest possible number 
 of fish, and was drawn to the beach by means of 
 windlasses. Three boats and fourteen to fifteen men 
 were required to manage one of these enormous nets. 
 Under favourable circumstances, upwards of two thousand 
 barrels (about eight thousand bushels) of herrings were 
 taken at a single haul. There were usually twelve to 
 eighteen individuals to a " Wad," the most intelligent of 
 whom, the Wad-kung, or king, as he was called, took the 
 command. Sometimes several of these Wad-lag, or com- 
 panies, made common cause, and by uniting their several 
 nets were thus enabled altogether to block up the 
 entrance of a bay or inlet, in which case the fish were 
 landed in nets of smaller dimensions. But covetousness 
 often gets the better of prudence ; for it frequently 
 happened that the net ' inclosed such a multitude of 
 herrings that the men were unable to draw it on shore ; 
 and from the fish being packed together in dense masses, 
 they presently died, and were left to rot at the bottom of 
 
 * Though more than half a century has since elapsed, the places where 
 this filth deposited itself in any considerable quantity are still quite visible, 
 and by the fishermen are called Dvd-bottiiar, or dead spots. 
 
676 THESE REASONS GAINSAID BY THE FISHERMEN. 
 
 the sea : millions were thus annually lost to every one. 
 And the evil ended not here; for the localities where this 
 useless destruction took place were usually deserted by 
 the herrings for a long time afterwards. 
 
 The fishermen and others interested, however, saw the 
 matter in a somewhat different light from the deputies, 
 they contending that, so far from the noxious mat ten- 
 cast from the curing-houses into the sea heing injurious 
 to the fish, as asserted, it was, in reality, in the highest 
 degree beneficial, affording them nutritious and whole- 
 some food. They further contended that the capture of 
 the smaller herrings, called Lott-SiU, was in no degree 
 hurtful to the fishery (as assumed by the deputies), they 
 being of a totally different species from the larger her- 
 rings; that the proper home of these smaller fish are the 
 Arctic regions, from whence they were chased by whales, 
 sharks, seals, &c., to the shores of Europe, and that 
 their destruction, in however great numbers, could not 
 therefore have any possible connection with the non- 
 appearance of late years of the larger herrings, or those 
 for which the fisheries were carried on. 
 
 But leaving the merits of their story out of the ques- 
 tion, these men, by M. Holmberg'a account, would not 
 appear to have been the most intelligent in the world. 
 " .Many of them," he says, " were hardly aware that 
 fish spawn at all ; and some, on being questioned as to 
 the cause of the smaller herrings (I.dlt-Sill) having 
 neither roe nor milt, replied, ' They did not breed like 
 oilier fish, but were stij'ln<l>' f r//r llcrrc lirurt //y//V 
 in-;' that is, 'were created by Providence every third 
 year.' Others varied the story somewhat, their notion 
 being that ' the Lull-Sill \\ere quickened in the M\-I 
 every month out of a irreen substance that tlourished 
 on the surface, and hence it was altogether impossible 
 to diminish the breed.' " 
 
SPECULATIONS ON THE SUBJECT. 577 
 
 Though the reasons assigned by the learned and 
 others for the absence of the herrings from the Bohus 
 coast are plausible enough, they are not altogether satis- 
 factory to my mind. One or more of the nuisances com- 
 plained of such as casting the offal of the curing-houses 
 into the sea, and the noise in the Skargard may not 
 improbably have deterred the fish from entering inlets 
 near to the shore, but they do not sufficiently account 
 for their altogether absenting themselves from the coast. 
 The cause for this, as it seems to me, must be sought 
 elsewhere. The Herring, as known, is a most capricious 
 fish, seldom remaining long in any one place. There is 
 scarcely a fishing station, indeed, around the British Isles 
 that has not experienced the great variation both as to 
 time and numbers in their visits, and that without any 
 assignable reason. Their present absence from the 
 coast of Bohus is rather owing, it seems to me, to some 
 hidden law of nature, of which we shall possibly be for 
 ever in ignorance, than to the causes alleged. Doctor 
 M'Culloch, one of our best authorities, takes a somewhat 
 similar view of the subject. He says : " Ordinary 
 philosophy is never content unless it can find a solution 
 for everything, and is satisfied for this reason with ima- 
 ginary ones. Thus in Long Island, one of the Hebrides, 
 it was asserted the herrings had been driven away by the 
 manufacture of kelp, some imaginary coincidence having 
 been found between their disappearance and the establish- 
 ment of that business. But the kelp fire did not drive 
 them away from other shores, which they frequent and 
 abandon without regard to this work. It has been a 
 still more favourite and popular fancy that they were 
 driven away by the firing of guns ; and hence this is not 
 allowed during the fishing season. A gun has scarcely 
 been fired on the Western Islands or on the west coast 
 since the days of Oliver Cromwell, yet they have changed 
 
 2 i> 
 
578 LOSS ATTENDANT ON THE ABSENCE OF THE FISH. 
 
 their places many times in that interval. In a similar 
 manner, and with equal truth, it was said they had been 
 driven from the Baltic by the battle of Copenhagen. It 
 is amusing to see how old theories are revived. This is 
 a very ancient Highland hypothesis, with the necessary 
 modification. Before the days of guns and gunpowder, 
 the Highlanders held that they quitted the coasts when- 
 blood had been shed ; and thus is ancient philosophy 
 renovated. Steam-boats are now supposed to !>< tin- 
 culprits, since a reason must be found : to prove their 
 effects, Loch Fine, visited by a steam-boat daily, is now 
 their favourite haunt, and they have deserted other lochs 
 where steam-boats have never yet smoked." 
 
 Taking all things into consideration, therefore, and 
 as the Herring has on many previous occasions absented 
 itself for years and years together from the Bohus coast, 
 it seems to me not at all improbable that the inhabitants 
 will some fine day be rejoiced by another "Land-stiitning" 
 of these fish. 
 
 The disappearance of the herrings from the Bohus 
 Skiirgard for more than half a century has been attended 
 with considerable loss, not only to those interested in the 
 fisheries, but to the mercantile community at large. In 
 other respects the country itself has probably been a 
 gainer by the absence of the fish. Great injury was in 
 the first place done by the fisheries to agriculture; for 
 when there was a " Land-stotning," the men cast aside 
 their farming implements, and leaving the women to till 
 the ground an occupation considered beneath their dig- 
 nity they hastened to seek their fortunes in what was 
 then looked on as a mine of wealth. As a consequence, 
 the soil was soon ruined, and years were required before 
 it recovered itself. Speaking generally, moreover, men 
 once engaged in the fisheries lost their previous habits 
 of industry and economy, and were never afterwards 
 
DEMORALIZED STATE OF THE FISHERMEN. 579 
 
 able to settle down to their old occupations. It is true 
 that whilst matters went on prosperously they gained 
 with ease a great deal of money ; but, as usually happens 
 in similar cases, it was as quickly spent. They lived, so 
 to say, only for the day, leaving the morrow to take care 
 of itself. Many, therefore, owing to their dissipated 
 manner of living, were necessitated to borrow, and that 
 not only on the security of the fish then in the Skargard, 
 but on the anticipated " Land-stotning " of the following 
 year ! The consequence was, that if the herrings did not 
 then make their appearance, houses, boats, nets, clothes, 
 in short, all they were possessed of were sold to 
 satisfy their creditors, and the last days of these men 
 were therefore worse than the first. 
 
 Then again, when the fish deserted the coast for years 
 together, which, as shown, was not of unfrequent occur- 
 rence, the great mass of people in the Skargard were left 
 without occupation or profitable employment of any 
 kind, and consequently suffered much. It is said, indeed 
 that, though some sixty years have now elapsed since the 
 herrings took their departure, many families have not yet 
 fully recovered from the want and misery to which they 
 were then reduced. 
 
 But the worst of all was the very demoralized state of 
 the dwellers in the Skargard during the continuance of 
 the fishery. Peder Clausen, when speaking of the great 
 glut of 1556 to 1587, says : " None led such ungodly 
 lives as these ' Strandsittare,' or squatters, for drunken- 
 ness and brawls, as well as other great wickednesses, were 
 of constant occurrence amongst them." And in another 
 place : " The great thanklessness shown by the people to 
 God, and the way in which they have abused His many 
 bounteous gifts, as also their ungodly and dissolute lives, 
 were no doubt the cause of the disappearance of the 
 herrings." The author of " Den Norske So," or the 
 
 2 P 2 
 
580 DEMORALIZED STATE OF THE FISHERMEN. 
 
 Norwegian Sow (a publication deriving its name from 
 a bog of unnatural form a priifi-t monster, in short 
 that existed in tbe province of Aggerbuus in 1581, and 
 tbe advent of whicb was looked on by tbe superstitious 
 as tbe precursor of God's vengeance for tbe sins of tbe 
 people), wben speaking of the same glut, testifies to tbe 
 like effect, and even in stronger language. During tbe 
 last successful fishery that from 1747 to 1808 matter-. 
 instead of improving, would appear, by tbe testimony of 
 M. Holmberg, to have been still worse. He writes : 
 " The vagabond life led by the people in the Skiirg;ml 
 exceeded all belief blasphemy, outrages, immorality of 
 all kinds, and scenes of beastly drunkenness, were going 
 on all day. From morning to evening the fishermen and 
 others were seen staggering about in their houses, in 
 their boats, and on the piers erected for the protection of 
 tbe latter ; whilst the nights were devoted to debaucheries 
 of the worst description. This was, however, the less 
 surprising, as the people of both sexes thus congregated 
 together consisted for the most part of the very dregs of 
 society ; and as there was no police to keep them under 
 control, one can therefore hardly wonder at the inha- 
 bitants of tbe province saying, as they now do, ' (Jn<l 
 lute Sillen aldrig komiim nji-n ; ' that is, ' We hope to God 
 the herrings will never return.' ' 
 
GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 BY P. A. NUTTALL, LL.D. 
 
 A. 
 
 ANCHOVY, the, 508. 
 
 Anderson, 0. J., the celebrated 
 African traveller, 357. 
 
 Angler, the Common, 490 ; its 
 habits, 491 ; superstition respect- 
 ing the, ib. ; one swallowed by a 
 shark, 492. 
 
 Antiquities of Scandinavia, 319 et 
 seq. 
 
 Aquatic Birds, 334 el seq. ; the Great 
 Black-backed Gull, 336; readily 
 domesticated, 337 ; a strong di- 
 gestion, 338 ; the Common Gull, 
 ib. ; the Caspian Tern, 339 ; the 
 Mallard, 340 ; the Long-tailed 
 Hareld, 343; the Eider Duck, 
 347. 
 
 Arctic regions, Walrus-hunting in 
 the, 452, 453. 
 
 Armed Bull-head, the, 4G9. 
 
 B. 
 
 BAG of game, how to make one, 52. 
 Bagpipe, made of seal's stomach, 443. 
 
 Basse, the Common, 459. 
 
 Bast-Dona, a contrivance for snaring 
 birds, 248. 
 
 Bear, adventure with a, 49. 
 
 Bearded Seal, 408. 
 
 Bergylt, the, 470. 
 
 Berries, artificial, for enticing birds, 
 255 ; different kinds of, ib. 
 
 Bewilderment of the Capercali, 13. 
 
 Bib, the, 513. 
 
 Bird-clouds, 370. 
 
 Birds (see Game and other Birds). ;j 
 
 Birds of Passage, lament of the, 
 201. 
 
 Birds of Prey, devices for capturing, 
 259; the Hok-bur, 2GO ; the 
 Slag-bur, 2G2; the Bur Med 
 Slaende Nat-Edgar, 2G3 ; the 
 Bur Med Drag-Nat, 2G4 ; the 
 Slag-Nat, 265 ; the Gyr Falcon 
 trap, 2GG ; the Tobbehyttor, 267 ; 
 Owl versus Hawk, 2G8 ; working 
 the dead horse, 209. 
 
 Bivouac in the Skargard, 356, 357. 
 
 Blackbird, the, 243, 2HJ. 
 
 Black-Cock, the, 72 ; has a wide 
 geographical range, ib. ; its natural 
 
OBNEEAL INDEX. 
 
 history, 73eteq. ; its natural habits, 
 73 ; varieties of, ib. jthebarrenhens, 
 73, 74 ; snowed in, 75 ; burrows 
 in the snow, 76 ; a migratory 
 bird, 76, 77 ; pairing season, 78 ; 
 his spel, 79, 81 ; looked on as a 
 barometer, 79 n. ; his combative 
 propensities, 80; pairing time, 
 81 ; breeding time, 82 ; curious 
 crosses of the, 83 ; shooting tlie, 
 at the pairing ground, 85 ; at 
 the lek, 87, 88 ; to the pointer, 
 89 ; to the Fogel-Hund, 91 ; use 
 of the Stick-Niit, ib. ; of the 
 Bidvan, 93, 94 ; decoys for taking 
 the, 93 et n. ; stalking on foot, 
 ."> ; in a sledge, 96, 97 ; traps 
 and snares for capturing, 99-102. 
 
 Bias-Hal, the, 430. 
 
 Blennies, the, 482 4s 1 ; the Crested, 
 482 ; the Viviparous, 484. 
 
 I'.luss, shooting by, 154. 
 
 Bloss, construction of, for catching 
 Game Birds, 68 et n. ; mode of 
 using it, 69. 
 
 Bloss och HAf, for capturing Game 
 Birds, TII. 
 
 Blubber of the Seal, utilities of the, 
 111'. 
 
 Bonus Castle, 293 ; its origin, L'O I ; 
 besieged by the Danes, 294, 295. 
 296, 297 ; a terrible explosion, 
 396. 
 
 Bohus-Lao, the classic part of Scan- 
 dinavia, 318 ; its antiquities and 
 historical remains, 319 et in/. ; 
 ( >! man's historical notice of, 15s 
 1 : fishing carried on at, for 
 the capture of the Dog-fish, 
 
 Boh us Skargard, the chief fishery of 
 Sweden, 57n, deserted by the 
 herring*, 57 I. 57*. 
 
 Bonito, the Plain, -177. 
 
 Breeding habits of the Ca) 
 
 25 ; of the Black-Cock, 82 ; of 
 
 the Woodcock, 19:i; of the 
 
 ( 'iiiniiion Snipe, 233. 
 Brill, the, 5.V,. 
 Bullfinch, the, I'll. 
 Bulvan, shooting to the, 71 ; use of 
 
 the, in sporting, 93 etn., '.'1. 
 Bur Med Drag-nut, for capturing 
 
 Hawks, 264. 
 Bur Mrd Shi.-ndo Nnt-Bagar, for 
 
 capturing Hawks, '2> '<''<. 
 Bustard, Great, exceedingly scarce 
 
 in Sweden, 181 ; natural history 
 
 of the, 181 et seq. ; mode of 
 
 capture, 1*3. 
 Bustard, the Little, 184 ; Collared 
 
 or Ruffed, ib. ; the Trotting, !b. 
 Butterfish, the, 183. 
 Bygel-Dona, a contrivance for 
 
 snaring birds. _ II'. 
 
 C. 
 
 CALL-NOTE of the Woodcock, 1 92. 
 
 Capercali, the largest of the Euro- 
 pean Gallinte, 1 ; has a wide 
 geographical range, ib. ; its phy- 
 sical characteristics, 26 ; acci- 
 dental varieties of the, '2 1 '! ; 
 sterile hens, 4 ; its chosen haunts, 
 Ui. ; its food, !/,. ; their rousting 
 in the snow, (i, 7 ; its partial 
 migrations, 7 et seq. ; its occa- 
 sional bewilderment, 1 .'! ; its pug- 
 nacious disposition, 15; bewitch- 
 ment of the, 16 ; anecdotes of 
 the, 1'!, 17 ; pairing grounds of 
 the, 19, 20 ; harem of the, 22 ; 
 combats between the cocks, - I ; 
 breeding. 25 ; curious crosses, -''> ; 
 making love to a goose, 27 ; ene- 
 mies of the, 28 ; rearing the 
 young, 29 ; domestication of the. 
 .".i> ; its treatment in confinement, 
 <">! : its naturalization, in Scot- 
 
GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 58:3 
 
 land, 33 et seq. ; shooting at the 
 pairing ground, 38 ; shooting to 
 the pointer, 45 ; to the Fogel- 
 hund, 47 ; stalking, 52-57 ; shoot- 
 ing by hick, &c., 60 ; different 
 snares for catching, 62 et seq. 
 Capercali and k Black-Cocks, hybrids 
 
 between the, 103, 104 et seq. 
 Carlsten Castle, 310 ; its impreg- 
 nability, 311 ; description of 
 the, 312 ; convicts imprisoned 
 there, 313; Draconic laws of, 
 315. 
 Cherry Island, wintering on, 455, 
 
 456. 
 
 Church-goer, a strange one, 175. 
 Clapper Hunt, 407. 
 Coal-fish, the, 518 ; its habits, 518, 
 
 519. 
 
 Cock-shooting on the coasts of 
 Bohus-Liin and Halland, 212 ; as 
 compared with the southern parts 
 of Europe, 213. 
 
 Cod, the Common, 508 et seq. ; its 
 habits, 509 ; its voracity, 510 ; 
 spawning season of the, 511 ; 
 its extraordinary fecundity, 512. 
 Cod-fisheries, 512. 
 
 Convicts imprisoned in Carlsteu 
 Castle, 313, 314; severe punish- 
 ment of, 316. 
 Coot, the, 270. 
 Coregoni, the, 501. 
 Cotti, the, 465 et seq. 
 Cowberries, tise of, 67. 
 Craig Fluke, the. 531. 
 Crake, the Spotted, 270. 
 Cranberry, berry of the, 4 n. 
 Crane, the, 270. 
 Crested Seal, the, 410. 
 Crinoline, a contrivance for shoot- 
 ing wild fowl, 282. 
 Crosses of the Capercali, 26, 27 ; 
 
 curious instances of, 83. 
 Crows, snaring of, 269. 
 
 D. 
 
 DABS, the, 529, 530. 
 
 Dal-Ripa, the, 121 et seq.; where 
 found, 122 ; description, 123 ; 
 moulting, 124 ; resorts and food, 
 126 ; feeds at night, 127 ; a tree 
 bird, 128; roosts in the snow, 
 129; its lek, 130 ; breeding, 132 ; 
 parental affection, 133 ; mos- 
 quitoes a deadly pest to the, 135 ; 
 naturalization in England, 136 ; 
 produce of the, 1 38. 
 
 Danneholm, 293. 
 
 Dead horse, working the, 269. 
 
 Deal-fish, the, 479. 
 
 Divers, the, 270. 
 
 Diving-dog, the, 277. 
 
 Dog-fishes, 548, 549 ; the Small- 
 spotted Dog-fish, 548 ; the Large- 
 spotted, 549 ; the Black-mouthed, 
 ib. ; the Picked, 555 ; its habits, 
 556, 557 ; viviparous, 556 ; fishery 
 for the capture of, established 
 at Bohus-Lan, 558. 
 
 Dog, training of the, 119. 
 
 Dona-gang, the pathway in which the 
 Donor are set, 246. 
 
 Donor, the, for snaring the Krams- 
 foglar, 246 ; of different kinds, 
 under different names, 246-247. 
 
 " Drag," pairing and breeding of the 
 Woodcock at the, 203 ; shooting 
 at the, 207. 
 
 Dragonets, the, 489, 490. 
 
 Drumming of the Snipe, 234. 
 " Duck or Die," 369. 
 Duck-punt, the, 276. 
 Duck-shooting, 274, 275 ; number 
 of maimed birds that escape, 278. 
 Dyr-hus, near "Wrftngsted, 319 ; at 
 Massleberg, 320. 
 
 E. 
 
 EAGLES' FEAST, 371. 
 
'.I NKRAL INDEX. 
 
 el-pout, the, 484. 
 
 Eels, 541 et aeq. 
 
 Eider Duck, the, 200, 347 ; migi-a- 
 tion of the, 200 ; its habit*, 348 ; 
 its plumage, 349 ; its food, 350 ; 
 its nesting habits, 351 ; its pro- 
 geny, 352 ; its flesh not uupalat- 
 able, 353 ; shooting of, in the 
 Skargdrd, 354. 
 
 Ekstiom, (J. U.,a great naturalist and 
 sportsman, 14 . ; his description 
 of Woodcock-shooting, 205. 
 
 Elf-Grytor, remains of the, 329, 331. 
 
 Elfsborg Castle, 292. 
 
 England, naturalization of the Hazel- 
 Hen iu, 117. 
 
 Eric's Grotto, St., 309. 
 
 F. 
 
 FALDIN, Mrs., her cat and ducklings, 
 342. 
 
 Fall-stock, for catching game birds, 
 66 ; for catching Woodcocks, kc., 
 213 ; a trap for capturing tin' 
 OUer, 387. 
 
 Fieldfare, the, 243, 246. 
 
 Finlauders, their early settlement, 
 153 et n. 
 
 Fineries of Sweden, 570 et seq. (see 
 Herring Fisheries). 
 
 Ki.*li.'s, Scandinavian salt-water. -l.">s 
 et seq. ; the great abundance of in 
 the Scandinavian Seas, 1")S, \ '>'.>; 
 the common Basse, 459; the Beryx 
 borealis, 4G<>; the Great Weever, 
 101,462; the Surmullets, li;:t: 
 the Gurnards, -104 ; the Sea 
 pion, 4ii-": (he Four spino.l Father- 
 l^asher, Hi" ; the Four h 
 Cottii-. His ; th.- Am,.-.! Bull- 
 head, 4i)'.i ; the Bergylt, 17n ; (lie 
 l.iti-n K .171; the Fil- 
 
 ii-eii spinnl SiicUrliii.-k. 472 ; the 
 
 Maigre, ib. ; the Sea Breams, 473- 
 474; the Mackerels, 474-476; 
 the Tin. ni.-. I7'i, 177 ; the Sword- 
 fish, 477 ; the Scad, ib.; theOpah. 
 478 ; the Vaagmaer, 479 ; the 
 Gyinnotrus Grillii, 180; the -Mu! 
 lets, 481 ; the Shanny, ib. ; the 
 Crested Blenuy, 482 ; the Luru- 
 peiius maculatus, ib.; the Lum- 
 penus nebulosus, 483 ; the Spotted 
 Gunnel, ib.; the Viviparous Blenny, 
 484; the Sea Wolf, 485; the 
 Gobies, 487, 488 ; the Drag.. nets, 
 489 j the Angler, 491 ; the 
 Lophius eurypterus, ll'L'; the 
 Chironectes arcticus, 493 ; the 
 Wrasses, 494-4!Hi : tin- Coinnion 
 Gar-fish or SM Pike, 499 ; the 
 Saury Pike, 501 ; the Salmonid>, 
 Hi. ; tlie Ostuerus arcticus, Fabr., 
 .".02 ; the Hebridal Smelt, ib. ; 
 the Argentina Silus, Nilss., 
 the Nordisk Prick-fisk, r.nt; 
 Scopelus glacialis, ib. ; the Ster- 
 noptyx Olfersii, Hi. ; the Common 
 lli'i-iiuLT, 505; the Sprat, 507; 
 the 1'iUliaril, ib. ; the Twaitu 
 Shad, ib. ; the Ancliovy, 508 ; 
 the Common Cod, ib. ; the Had- 
 dock, f>13 ; the Bib, or Pout, ib. ; 
 the Poor or Power Cod, .">1 1 ; 
 the Common Whitiny. ib. ; the 
 Gadus Poutassou, "'!! ; the 
 Pollack, ib. ; the Coal-fish, 518 ; 
 the Hak,. .Mil ; the Ling, 521 ; 
 the Molva Abyssoruin, '*-- ; the 
 llocklinu's "'--. "'-:'. ; (he Silvery 
 Cail.-. --'I ; the Tur^k, or Tusk, 
 ib.; the Great Forked Beard, 
 the Lesser Fork..l P.r.r.l, H>. ; 
 tin' Mai-rourus Striimii, .">2G ; the 
 Ma.-rounis rujw-stris, ib. ; the 
 (.'oiainon Plaice, -">27 ; the 
 Floun.i.M-, 52S ; the Dabs, 
 the Polo, or Craig Flnkr. 
 
GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 585 
 
 the Holibut, 532 ; the Turbot, 
 534; the Brill, 536; Muller's 
 Topknot, ib. ; Block's Topknot, 
 537 ; the Whiff, ib. ; the Rbom- 
 bus Cavdina, ib. ; the Common 
 Sole, 538 ; the Suckers, 538-541 
 the Conger Eel, 541 ; the Launces, 
 541, 542 ; the Pipe-fishes, 543- 
 540 ; the Short Sun-fish, 546 ; the 
 Common Sturgeon, 547 ; the Aci- 
 penser Lichtensteinii,i6. ; the Sea 
 Monster, or Northern Chitnsera, 
 ib. ; the Dog-fishes, 548, 549 ; 
 the Sharks, 549-553; the Common 
 Tope, 550 ; the Picked Dog-fish, 
 556 ; the Squalus Spinax, 558 ; 
 the Sea Fox, or Thresher, 559 ; the 
 Skates, 560, 561 ; the Kays, 562- 
 565 ; the Sea Lamprey, 565 ; the 
 Myxine, 567, 568 ; the Lancelet, 
 569 ; Swedish Herrings, 570 el 
 seq. (see Herring Fisheries). 
 
 Fjall-Ripa, the, 138 et seq. ; southern 
 limits, 139; moulting, 140; haunts 
 and food, 141 ; feeding at night, 
 142; its lek, 143; paterfamilias 
 a truant, 144 ; shooting at the 
 Lek-Stiille, 146; to the pointer, 
 147 ; migrations from the Fjiills, 
 148; how caused, 14-9; immense 
 packs of, 150 ; tracking, 152 ; 
 shot when treed, 153 ; caught 
 by bloss, 154; traps and snares for, 
 155; anecdote of the, 156 ; large 
 capture of, 157 ; the Snargftng, 
 158 ; preservation of, as game, 
 159. 
 
 Fjall, migrations from the, 148, 149. 
 
 Flaka, construction of the, 66. 
 
 Flapper-shooting, 272 ; laughable 
 incident connected with, 273. 
 
 Flat Fishes, 527 et seq. ; the Com- 
 mon Plaice, 527 ; the Flounder, 
 528 ; the Common Dab, 529 ; 
 the Lemon Dab, ib. ; the Sand- 
 
 necker, or Long Rough Dab, 530; 
 the Pole, or Craig Fluke, 531 ; 
 the Holibut, 532 ; the Turbot, 
 534 ; the Brill, 536 ; Muller's 
 Topknot, ib. ; Block's Topknot, 
 
 537 ; the Whiff, ib. ; the Rhombi, 
 537, 538 ; the Common Sole, 
 
 538 ; the Suckers, 538-541 ; 
 the Fresh-water Eels, 541; the 
 Launces, 541, 542 ; the Pipe- 
 fishes, 543, 545, 546 ; the Short 
 Sun-fish, 546; the Common Stur- 
 geon, 547 ; the Sea Monster, ib ; 
 the Dog-fishes, 548" et seq. ; the 
 Sharks, 549-559 ; the Skates, 
 560, 561 ; the Rays, 562-565; the 
 Sea Lamprey, 566 , the Myxine, 
 567 ; the Lancelet, 569. 
 
 Flounder, the, 528. 
 
 Flytt-Foglar, 7 n. 
 
 Fogel-hund, the, 47, 51 ; shooting to 
 
 the, 90, 91, 118. 
 Fogel-Nat, a net for snaring game 
 
 birds, 363 ; of ancient origin, 364; 
 
 how to use it, 365 ; its destruc- 
 
 tiveness, 366. 
 
 Fogel-ref, for catching wild fowl, 285. 
 Food of the Capercali, 5. 
 Forest Birds of Scandinavia consti- 
 tute the natural wealth of the 
 
 country, 157. 
 Forest scenery, 58, 59. 
 Forked Beards, the, 525 ; Great 
 
 Forked Beard, ib. ; Lesser Forked 
 
 Beard, ib. 
 Four-horned Cottus, 468 ; its curious 
 
 characteristics, ib. ; its habits, 
 
 469. 
 Four-spined Father- Lasher, 467. 
 
 G. 
 
 GAME, how to make a bag of, 52 ; 
 preservation of, 159 ; sent in large 
 quantities to Stockholm, 160. 
 
580 
 
 GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 Game (and) other Birds, scarcity of at 
 onetime, andabuudance at another, 
 1 1 ; the Capercali, 1 el seq. ; the 
 Black-Cock, 72; the Rackel- 
 Fogel, 103; the Hazel-Hen, 
 112 ; the Dal-Ripa, 121 ; the 
 Fj;ill-Ripa, 138 ; the Common 
 Partridge, 161 ; the Common 
 Quail, 177; theWoodcock, 187; the 
 Solitary Snipe, 214,270; the Com- 
 mon Snipe, 231, 270 ; the Kranis- 
 Foglar, 243 ; the Thrushes, ib. ; 
 the Redwing, the Ring Ouzel, 
 the Blackbird, the Fieldfare, 
 the Wax-wing, the Bullfinch, 
 the Fine Bullfinch, 243, 244; 
 the Wild Fowl, 270 ; the Great 
 Black-backed Gull, 270, 336; 
 the Caspian Tern, 270, 334, 3:'.!l ; 
 the Black Tern, 270, 334, 340 ; 
 the 31alh.nl, 270, 334, 340 ; the 
 Teal, L'70, 334 ; the Golden Eye, 
 270, 335, 370 ; the Widgeon, 270, 
 334 ; the Goosander, 270, 335 ; 
 the Merganser, 270, 334, 370 ; the 
 Black-throated Diver, 270, 334; 
 the Red-throated Diver, 270, 334 ; 
 the Common Gull, ib. ; the Com- 
 mon Tern, ib. ; the Golden Plover. 
 270, 335; the Lapwing, 170 j 
 the Jack-Snipe, ib. ; the Rntl', Hi. ; 
 the Oyster -catcher, 270, 335 ; the 
 Crane, 270; the Water-Rail, H>. ; 
 the Spotted Crake, ib. ; the Coot, 
 ib. ; the Dusky Sandpiper, ib. ; 
 the Green Sandpiper, ib. ; the 
 Red-shank, 271, 33.1 ; the Wood 
 Sandpiper, 271 ; the Common 
 Simdpiper, /''. ; the Ringed Dottrel, 
 I'Tl, 885 J the Lesser Ringed 
 Dottrel, ib. ; the Knot, 271. 
 ( h.- Lesser Black-backed G nil, 33 I; 
 the Herring Gull, ib. : the Arctic 
 T. i ii, ,'/.. ; Richardson's Sku 
 the Sheldrake, ib. ; the Black 
 
 Guillemot ib., ; the Cormorant, 
 ib. ; the Shag, ib. ; the Eider I >uek, 
 334-337; the Long-tailed Hareld, 
 335, 343, 370 ; the Gannet, 33.') ; 
 the Foolish or Common Guillemot, 
 ib. ; the Razor-bill, ib. ; the Puffin, 
 ib. ; the Roche, or Little Auk, ib. ; 
 the Smew, ib. ; the Red necked 
 Grebe, ib. ; the Great Northern 
 Diver, ib. ; the King Duck, ib. ; 
 the Hooper, or Wild Swan, ib. ; 
 the Grey-lag Goose, 16. ; the Bean 
 Goose, ib. ; the White-fronted 
 Goose, ib. ; the Brent Goose, <V.. ; 
 the Shoveller, ib. ; the Pintail, ib. ; 
 the Scaup Duck, ib. ; the Velvet 
 Scoter, ti. ; the Common Scoter, 
 /i. ; the Turnstone, ib. ; the Com- 
 mon Plover, ib. ; the Curlew, ib. ; 
 the Whiuibrel, ib. ; the Godwits, 
 ib. ; the Grey Plover, ib. ; the 
 Purple .Sandpiper, ib. 
 
 Game Laws in Sweden abrogated. 
 17.1. 
 
 Garfish, the Common, 4911 ; their 
 
 hal. its, :>00. 
 
 I Geese, their ]>edestrian excursions, 
 888. 
 
 Geese hunts, 2*7. 
 
 Cillrad. ii.", lit! ; a term used in 
 snaring Hawks anil other birds. 
 
 264. 
 
 I Gobies, the Black, the Freckled, and 
 the Slender, 4f7 ; the ditlereiit 
 specir>. 
 
 Golden-eye, the, 1'7'X 179. 
 
 Golden Plover, 270. 
 
 Goosander, the, 270; anecdote of the, 
 
 Goose, the Capercali making love 
 
 to a, L'7. 
 
 Goshawk, d;irin:,' of the. 17i'. 
 (Gothenburg, description of, 290; 
 
 its trade and commerce. '".'1 ; 
 
 Klfshorgn Castle, 292; J'mhus 
 
GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 587 
 
 Castle, 293 (gee Bonus) ; St. Eric's 
 Grotto, 309 ; Carlsten Castle, 
 310 ; Draconic laws of, 315, 316 ; 
 places in the vicinity of, 318 et seq.; 
 Bohus-Lan, 318; antiquities of, 
 319 et seq. 
 
 Goths, remembrance of the, still 
 preserved, 46 et n. 
 
 Great Seal, the, 408. 
 
 Green Sandpiper, the, 271 n. 
 
 Greenland Seal, 404. 
 
 Grey-Hen, and the Black-Cock, 73. 
 
 Grey Seal, the, 399 ; its habits, 401 
 (see Seals). 
 
 Grouse, Scotch, not found in Scan- 
 dinavia, 126. 
 
 Grytor (see Elf-Grytor). 
 
 Gulls, the, 270 et seq. ; different 
 species of in the Skargurd, 336 
 et seq. 
 
 Gunnel, the Spotted, 483. 
 
 Gurnard, the Grey, 463 ; Bloch's, 
 464 ; the Sappherine, ib. 
 
 Gyr- Falcon trap, 266. 
 
 H. 
 
 HADDOCK, the, 513 ; its habits, ib. 
 
 Hake, the, 519 ; its habits, 520. 
 
 Hiillristningar, figures cut in the 
 rocks, 321 et seq. ; their anti- 
 quity, 325 ; key to them, 327. 
 
 Hiing-Dona, a contrivance for snar- 
 ing birds, 250. 
 
 Hareld, the Long-tailed, in Skargard, 
 343 ; its beautiful plumage, 344 ; 
 its habits, 344, 345 ; its song, 346 ; 
 shooting of the, 355. 
 
 Harem of the Capercali, 23. 
 
 Harpooning the Walrus, 453 et seq. 
 
 Hawks, various traps for capturing, 
 260, 262, 266, 268, 269 ; versus 
 Owls, 268. 
 
 Hazel-Hen, the, 112 ; its geogra- 
 phical range, 113; accidental 
 
 varieties, 114 ; haunts and food, 
 115; nidification, 116; naturaliza- 
 tion in England, 117 ; mode of 
 shooting, 118; sagacity of the 
 dog in shooting, 119 ; Hjerp- 
 Pipa, 120. 
 
 Hemman, Sweden divided into, 
 158 et n. 
 
 Herkepii, Ensign, spoi-ting anecdote 
 of, 105 n. 
 
 Herring, the Common, 505 ; its 
 habitat and habits, 506. 
 
 Herring-fisheries of Sweden, 570 
 et seq. ; superstitions respecting, 
 572; enormous takes of, 573; 
 the herrings desert the coast, 
 574 ; reasons assigned for their 
 disappearance, 575 ; loss attend- 
 ant on the absence of the fish, 
 578 ; demoralized state of the 
 fishermen, 579, 580. 
 
 Highlands of Scotland, naturaliza- 
 tion of the Capercali in, 35, 36. 
 
 Hjerpe, the Hazel-Hen, 162. 
 
 Hjerp-pipa, the, 119, 120. 
 
 Hog-Nat, for catching the Partridge, 
 171. 
 
 Hciganas, shooting at, 211. 
 
 Hok-bur, a trap for capturing birds, 
 260, 261. 
 
 Holibut, the, 532. 
 
 Holm of Papa Westray, 392. 
 
 Hooded Seal, the, 410. 
 
 Horse, legend of his being turned 
 into a Snipe, 234. 
 
 Horse-Mackerel, the, 477 ; its habits, 
 478. 
 
 Hunting of the wild Otter, 381, 382 ; 
 the Walrus, 453 et seq. 
 
 Hybrids between the Black-Cock 
 and the Capercali, 82, 103 et seq. 
 
 ICE-FIELDS, sailing on, 436. 
 Icelus, the, 469. 
 
GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 Incubation of the Capercali, period 
 of the, 26 ; of Partridge eggs, 
 curious instance of, 164. 
 
 Ireland, Snipe- grounds in, 241. 
 
 J. 
 
 JACK SNIPE, very rare in theRonnum 
 country during summer, 235. 
 
 K. 
 
 KXxsii, a quarantine station, 292. 
 
 Kasse, a net for catching the Caper- 
 cali, 62, C3. 
 
 Keiller otter-trap, 387. 
 
 King-6sh, the, 472, 478; its habitat, 
 478. 
 
 Klafve, the, 167. 
 
 Kongelf, town of, 297 ; royal woc- 
 ings at, 298 ; bewitched, 299 ; 
 siege and destruction of, 300- 
 305. 
 
 " Kors-Drag," the, 204. 
 
 Krams-Foglar, the name of a class of 
 smallerbirds, 243; all the Thrushes 
 included in the, ib. ; their migra- 
 tory habits, 214 ; traps and snares 
 catching, 245 el seq. ; shooting 
 the, 257 ; great execution, 258. 
 
 Kroyer, H., a celebrated Danish 
 naturalist, 463. 
 
 Krypskytt, or Poacher, his plan for 
 deceiving the Woodcock, 206. 
 
 LACK, shooting by, 60. 
 L&ckning, process of. ''>:!. 
 Lager, the, 437. 
 
 I..HII, construction of the, 01 ; for 
 catching Woodcock*, ic., 213. 
 
 Lamprey, the Sea, 505 ; its habits, 
 506. 
 
 Lancelot, the, 569. 
 
 Land-stotning on the Swedish 
 coast, 571, 57.', .'.73. 
 
 Lang-Ref, a trap for catching Otters, 
 385. 
 
 Lapland, vast numbers of Ripa con 
 sumed in, K>7. 
 
 Lapwing, the, 270. 
 
 Larch, the, unknown in Sweden, 
 5n. 
 
 Lark-pipe, for attracting the Wood- 
 cock, 206. 
 
 Launces, the, 541, 542 ; the Large- 
 mouthed Lannce, 541; the Small- 
 mouthed, 542. 
 
 Leeg-vold, the, 88. 
 
 Lek of the Dal-Ripa, 130 et seq. ; 
 of the FjiillRipa, 143. 
 
 Lek-stalle, the, 39-41 ; combats at 
 the, 80 ; shooting at the, 86, 87, 
 88 ; shooting Ripa at the, 145, 
 146 ; selected by the Solitary 
 Snipe, 222 el seq. 
 
 Ligg-Nat, a net for capturing Seals, 
 424. 
 
 Ling, the, its habitat and habits, 
 521 ; the Molva Abyssorum. ;":.':.'. 
 
 Lintu-lauta, for capturing wild fowl, 
 L'.-c., 286. 
 
 Lofoden Islands, cod-fishing "at, '">! -. 
 
 J. dp- Dona, a contrivance for snaring 
 birds, 251. 
 
 Los-garn, for netting the Capercali, 
 61. 
 
 Lott-Sill, a small herring, 576. 
 
 M. 
 
 M M KKitKf., the Common, 474 ; its 
 
 habit>. 17 I. IT.'i : (lie Spanish. I7''>. 
 Macrourus Strimii, tlic, ~>-iJ ; ru- 
 
 >'i. 
 
GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 589 
 
 Magpies, snaring of, 269. 
 
 Maigre, the, 472. 
 
 Mallard, the, 270, 340 ; its aversion 
 to water, 341. 
 
 Mallard Drake, shooting of the, 
 277. 
 
 Mallard trap, the, 289. 
 
 Marbled Seal, 396 ; its love for its 
 offspring, 397 (see Seals). 
 
 Marstrand, fortress of, 306 ; town of, 
 307 ; its harbour, 310. 
 
 Merganser, the, 270 ; shooting of, 
 355. 
 
 Migrations from the Fjalls, 148, 149 ; 
 of the Woodcock, 196 et' seq. ; 
 always nocturnal, 199 ; of the 
 Solitary Snipe, 225 et seq. ; of 
 the Jack Snipe, 238 ; of the 
 Krams-foglar, 244 ; of wild fowl, 
 271. 
 
 Migratory Game Birds, 10, 11, 77. 
 
 Missel Thrush, the, 243, 246. 
 
 Moonlight, otter-shooting by, 384. 
 
 Morkull-drag(of the Woodcock), 191. 
 
 " Morkulla," Swedish name of the 
 Woodcock, 181. 
 
 Mosquitoes, a deadly pest, 135. 
 
 Moulting of the Dal-Ripa, 124 ; of 
 the Fjall-Ripa, 140. 
 
 Mountain-ash berries, 255. 
 
 Mullet, the Grey, 481 ; the Thick- 
 lipped, ib. 
 
 Myxiue, the, 567 ; its habits, 567, 
 568. 
 
 N. 
 
 NATUKALISTS, their love of splitting 
 hairs and inventing species for 
 their own glorification, 14w. 
 
 Nesting of the Jack Snipe, 237. 
 
 Nets for catching the Partridge, 1 70, 
 171 ; for catching Otter, 383. 
 
 Nils Bagge, epitaph to the memory 
 of, 308. 
 
 Norway, anecdote of travellers to, 
 
 156. 
 
 Norway Haddock, the, 470. 
 Ny-Byggare, Finnish, 287. 
 
 O. 
 
 ODMAN, Eev. J., his history of Bohus- 
 
 Liin, 458. 
 Olof Tryggweson, king of Norway, 
 
 298 ; his royal wrongs and unfor- 
 tunate end, 298, 299. 
 Opah, the, 478 ; its habitat, ib. 
 Orre - Benne, a simple device for 
 
 capturing the Black-Cock, 101, 
 
 102. 
 
 Orre-Lek, the, 87. 
 Orre-Tratt, a trap for catching the 
 
 Black-Cock, 98 et seq. 
 Otter, its characteristics and habits, 
 
 372, 373 ; its track on the snow, 
 
 374 ; preys on adult water-fowl, 
 
 375 ; caught in the act, 376 ; value 
 of its akin, 377 ; easily domesti- 
 cated, 378 ; then caters for itself, 
 379 j and for its owner, 380 ; mode 
 of hunting it, 38 1 ; otter-nets, 383 ; 
 otter-shooting by moonlight, 384; 
 traps for catching the, 385 ; the 
 Pansar-Nat, 386; the Keiller 
 otter-trap, 387. 
 
 Owls versus Hawks, 268. 
 Oyster-catcher, 270. 
 
 P. 
 
 PAIRING of the Black-Cock, 78, 81 ; 
 of the Woodcock, 192. 
 
 Pairing-grounds of the Capercali, 19, 
 20, 25 ; shooting Capercali at the, 
 37 et seq. ; shooting Black-Cock 
 at the, 85 ; of the Solitary Snipe, 
 228. 
 
590 
 
 GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 Pansar-Nat, a trap for capturing the 
 Otter, 386. 
 
 Parental affectiou of the Dal Kipa, 
 135. 
 
 Partridges, 1G1 etseq.; Scandinavian 
 and Northern, 162 ; their habits 
 and sufferings, 163 ; curious incu- 
 bation, 164 ; the partridge pipe. 
 165 ; sportmen's expedients, 106; 
 the Klal've, 167 ; training the 
 pointer, 168 ; Partridge-shooting, 
 169 ; the Tirass and Hug-Nat, 171; 
 the Ryssja, 172 ; stock birds, 174 ; 
 a strange church-goer, 175 ; the 
 Red-legged, 176. 
 
 Partridge-pipe for luring the birds, 
 165. 
 
 Partridge-shooting a favourite amuse- 
 ment in Scandinavia, 164,169, 170. 
 
 " Paternoster" rocks, 307. 
 
 Persson, Anders, his fearful adven- 
 ture with a seal, 431, 432. 
 
 Pheasant not found in Scandinavia, 
 176. 
 
 Phoca, the (see Seals). 
 
 Pilchard, the, 507. 
 
 Pine Bullfinch, the, 244. 
 
 Pipe - fishes, 543, 545, 546 ; the 
 Great Pipe-fish, 543; tin- l'..-p 
 nosed, 545 ; the Snake 1'ipe-lisli, 
 ib. ; the Straight-nosed, 546 ; the 
 Worm Pipe-fish, 546. 
 
 Plaice, the Common, ."'-7. 
 
 Pointer, the, 45 ; shooting to the, 
 89, 90 ; shooting Ripa to the, 
 117; shooting the Woodcock with 
 the, 208 ; shooting Sui^s with 
 the, 228, 229. 
 
 Pointers, their breeding and train- 
 ing, 166, 167. 
 
 Pole, the, 
 
 Pollack, the. "il'' ; its predatory 
 habits, 517. 
 
 Porbeagle Shark, 01". (00. 
 
 I'.mt, the, 513. 
 
 Power Cod, the, 514. 
 
 Prey (see Birds of). 
 
 Priestcraft, savage execution caused 
 
 by, 309. 
 Punt-gun, shooting with the, -7*',. 
 
 Q. 
 
 QUAIL, 177 et seq. ; its htil.its, 1 7'.' ; 
 prized for the table, ib. ; immense 
 flights of, ib. ; the Bishop of Quails, 
 180 ; how prepared by the Arabs, 
 ib. 
 
 . R. 
 
 RACKKI.-KIMIKI,, 82; a hybrid be- 
 tween the Ca]>ercaH and the 
 Black-Cock, 103 ; the male, 
 Rackel-Jlaue, and the female, 
 Rackel-Huua, 103, 104; its plu- 
 mage, 101; its parentage, l".'i ; 
 in captivity, 110 ; its spel, 111. 
 
 Rackel-llane, 104 ; habits of the, 
 110. 
 
 Rupphiiiis-pipa, for luring the Part- 
 ridge, 1 '>">. 
 
 Basch, H., the well-known Norwe- 
 gian naturalist, 12:.'. 
 
 Ratlines, for snaring Aquatic Birds, 
 307. 
 
 Ravens, snaring of, 2(J!'. 
 
 Rays, 562 et seq. ; the While Ray, 
 .1C,J ; the Shagreen. 563 ; the 
 Thoruback, ib. ; the Starry Ray, 
 I ; the Sting Ray, 565. 
 
 Red-shank, the, 271. 
 
 Kedwin- the, L'l.".. I'l''.. 
 
 Kettibur, King of the Wendiuns, 
 300, 305. 
 
 Reynard's Wiles. 1 
 
 Ring-dona, a contrivance for snaring 
 birds. L'l 7. 
 
 King-Ouzel, IT,. 
 
 Hinged iMtrel. 271. 
 
 Kip-lliii;. formation of t lie, K'.V 
 
GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 591 
 
 Rip-Orre, the produce of the Dal- 
 Ripa and the Black-Cock, 136. 
 
 Ripa, vast numbers caught, 156, 
 157 ; anecdote connected with, 
 156 ; shipped to different parts 
 of England, 157 (see Dal-Ripa, 
 and Fjall-Ripa). 
 
 Ris-hag, construction of the, 67. 
 
 Rocklings, the, 522, 524 ; the Three- 
 bearded Rockling, 522 ; the Four- 
 bearded, 523 ; the Five-bearded, 
 ib. 
 
 Rodings of the Woodcock, 191. 
 
 Ruff, the, 241 ; its combative pro- 
 pensities, 242, 270. 
 
 Runic inscriptions, 321 et seq. 
 
 Ryck-Niit, for snaring birds of prey, 
 269. 
 
 Ryssja, a net for catching the Part- 
 ridge, 171 ; modes of using it, 
 172, 173. 
 
 S. 
 
 SAILING on the ice, 435. 
 Salmonid, the, 501, 502. 
 Salt-water fishes of Scandinavia, 458 
 
 et seq. (see Fishes). 
 Sanduecker, the, 530. 
 Sandpipers, 270, 271. 
 Saury Pike, the, 501. 
 Scad, the, 477. 
 Scandinavian salt-water fishes, 459 
 
 et seq. (see Fishes). 
 Scania, migration of the Woodcock 
 
 to, 209 ; number of killed in, 209, 
 
 210 ; snipe-bogs in, 240. 
 Schooheit, J. H., savagely executed 
 
 by the priesthood, 309. 
 Scolopax genus, summer visitants of 
 
 Scandinavia, 214, 219. 
 Scotland, naturalization of the Ca- 
 
 percaliin, 33-30 ; of the Dal-Ripa 
 
 in, 136. 
 Sea-adder, the Great, 472. 
 
 Sea Bream, the Common, 473 ; the 
 Black, ib. ; Ray's, ib. 
 
 Sea Kings of Scandinavia, 318. 
 
 Sea Fox, the, 559. 
 
 Sea Monster, the, 547. 
 
 Sea Pike, the, 499. 
 
 Sea Scorpion, the, 405, 466. 
 
 Sea Wolf, the, 485 ; its organization 
 and habits, 485, 486. 
 
 Sedge-grass Snipe, 218. 
 
 Seal-hook, the, 426. 
 
 Seal-hunting, 413 ; dangers of, 419, 
 420, 430, 431. 
 
 Seal King, 405. 
 
 Seal-shooting, 410. 
 
 Sealing expeditions by water, 433 et 
 seq. ; cruelties attending the, 438 ; 
 hardships of, 439, 440 ; by land, 
 440 ; its dangers, 441. 
 
 Seals, 389 et seq.; the different 
 species, 389 ; the Common Seal, 
 ib. ; its love of music, 391 ; its 
 disposition, 392 ; its sagacity, 
 393 ; its breeding habits, 394 ; 
 its domestic habits, 395 ; the 
 Marbled Seal, 396 ; love for its 
 offspring, 397 ; inhabits fresh- 
 water lakes, 398 ; the Grey Seal, 
 399 ; description, 400 ; migratory 
 habits, 401 ; great pedestrian 
 feat, 403 ; the Harp or Green- 
 land Seal, 404 ; how hunted, 406 ; 
 the clapper hunt, 407 ; the 
 Bearded or Great Seal, 408 ; its 
 habits, 409 ; the Hooded or 
 Crested Seal, 410; its habits, 411 ; 
 how utilized, 412; Seal-hunting, 
 413; the Skiil-Sten, 414 ; cunning 
 of Seals, 415 ; Seal-shooting, 
 416; the Skal-Kikare, 417; a 
 drowsy Phoca, 418; "'ware seal," 
 419; the Staud-Nat, 420; its 
 construction, 421 ; how to use it, 
 
 422 ; its destructive properties, 
 
 423 ; the Ligg-Niit, 424 ; the 
 
592 
 
 GENERAL INDEX. 
 
 Skal-Kista, 425; the Seal-hook, 
 4211; tin- Skriiekta, 427; the Skiil- 
 Jern, 428; another kiud, 429; 
 the tables turned, 430 ; Persson's 
 adventure, 431 ; his fearful con- 
 test, 432; his fate nearly "sealed," 
 ib. ; Sealing expeditions by water, 
 433 ; the departure, 434 ; sailing 
 on the ice, 435 ; the Seal camp, 
 436 ; attacking it, 437 ; cruel 
 expedients, 438 ; hardships and 
 dangers, 439 ; Sealing expeditions 
 by land, 440 ; perilous situation, 
 441 ; value of the Seal, 442 ; its 
 medicinal properties, 443. 
 
 Shad, the Twaite, 50". 
 
 Shanny, the, 481. 
 
 Sharks, one destroyed by swallowing 
 the Common Angler, III. : 
 different species of, 548 el seq. \ 
 the Porbeagle, 549 ; the Basking 
 Shark, 551; the Greenland Shark, 
 553 ; their voracity, 554. 
 
 Sheldrake, shooting of the, 3~>~>. 
 
 Shooting the Capercali and other 
 Game Birds, 37, 38, et passim. 
 
 Shooting by Lack, 60. 
 
 Shooting of Wild Fowl, laughable 
 incident connected with, 273, 27 1. 
 
 Shooting of Seals, 11'i. 
 
 Shooting-tub for Wild Fowl, 284. 
 
 Sigrid, Queen of Sweden, her 
 revenge on Olof, King of Norway, 
 298; her sanguinary cruelty, 299. 
 
 Silvery Gade, the, 524. 
 
 Skal-Berg, the resort of nunier.ni> 
 Seals, 430. 
 
 Skal-Jern, the, for capturing Seals, 
 I2>. 12!), 431. 
 
 Skill Kikare, the Seal telescope, 1 1 7. 
 
 Skiil-Kistii, a net for capturing Seals, 
 U& 
 
 Skal Sten, the, 414, 427. 
 
 Skarbagar, wicker work frames for 
 walking on the snow, ;17 H. 
 
 Skargard, a belt of islands on the 
 coast of Scandinavia, 333 ; it* 
 wild scenery, Hi. ; its inlmbi 1 
 334 ; the various aquatic birds 
 frequenting it, 334 ft .'</. : slioot- 
 ing in the, 354 tt ./. : udven 
 tures there, 356 ; the author's 
 boat, 356, 357; bivouac. Hi.; 
 dangerous situation, 358 ; touch 
 and go, ib. ; a disagreeable swim, 
 359 ; how moored, 3G1. 
 
 SkUi-ardsflotta, of Sweden, 312. 
 
 Skate family, SCO el *</. : l-mig- 
 nosed Skate, 561 ; Sharp-nosed 
 or White Ray, 502. 
 
 Skipper, the, 501. 
 
 Skjut-ko, a contrivance in duck- 
 shooting, 280 ; the French one, 
 281. 
 
 Skiiickta, the, for capturing S. 
 127. 
 
 Slag-bur, for capturing Hawks, 2ii2. 
 
 Slag-Nat, for capturing Hawks. I'li/i. 
 
 Smelts, the, 502, 504 ; the llebridal, 
 502; the Civat Si! ver -fish, 503. 
 
 Snar-gang, in Sweden, 158. 
 
 Snares for catching the Capercali, 
 63; for taking the Kipa, }~>~> . 
 for capturing birds of prey, 2C9. 
 
 Snaring the Capercali, C7. 
 
 Snipes, 21 1 et sc<j. ; the Solitary 
 Snipe, 214 ; widely dispersed, 
 21.') ; its flight, 21G ; retired 
 habits, 217 ; an Alpine bird, 218; 
 shuns woodlands, 219 ; its find, 
 219, 220 et ,>. ; feeds only by 
 night, 221 ; its lek, 222 ; its 
 song, 223; nidification, 221 ; mi- 
 gration, 22"> ; shooting at the 
 pairing ground with the pointer, 
 22S ; n. -ts and snaivs tor raMiing, 
 230; the ('..Million Snipe, 2M ; 
 accidental varieties of the, 
 its breeding habits, 2.'!.'5 ; drum- 
 ming, /''. ; its varioub designations, 
 
GENERAL INDKX. 
 
 593 
 
 ib. ; legend of a horse being 
 
 turned into one, ib. ; the Jack 
 
 Snipe, 235 ; geographical range, 
 
 236 ; nesting, 237 ; migration, 
 
 238. 
 
 Snipe-shooting, 239. 
 Snow, the Capercali burrows in, 6 ; 
 
 the roosting-place of theDal-Ripa, 
 
 129. 
 
 Sole, the, 538. 
 Solitary Snipe (see Snipe), 214 
 
 et seq. 
 
 Solskott, a suffocating heat, 305. 
 Song Thrush, the, 243, 246. 
 Spelof the Black-Cock, 79 ; different 
 
 names of the, 81 n. 
 Sport, excellent, 51. 
 Sportsmen, their various expedients 
 
 for luring and trapping Partridge?, 
 
 166. 
 
 Sprat, the, 507. 
 Sprintel, a contrivance for snaring 
 
 birds, 252, 253. 
 Squalus Spinax, the, 558, 559. 
 Stalking of the Capercali, 54-57; of 
 
 the Black-Cock on foot, 95 ; in a 
 
 sledge, 97. 
 Stiillning, the, 64. 
 Stand-Fogel, the, 7 n., 1 15. 
 Stand-Hund, 89 ; shooting to the, 
 
 118 (see Pointer). 
 Stand-Nat, for capturing Seals, 420, 
 
 421 ; a very destructive engine, 
 
 423. 
 Stick-Nat, a net for catching the 
 
 Capercali, 61 ; its use in sporting, 
 
 91, 92 ; for catching the Partridge, 
 
 170 ; Solitary Snipes taken in the, 
 
 229, 230. 
 
 Stickleback, the Fifteea-spined, 472. 
 Stock Birds, treatment of, 174. 
 Stockholm, game sent in large quan- 
 tities to, 160. 
 Stomach of the Seal, 443. 
 Strack-Foglar, 7 n. 
 Sturgeon, the Common, 547. 
 
 9 
 
 Suckers, the, 538-541 ; the Bima- 
 culated Sucker, 538; the Lump 
 Sucker, 539 ; the Unctuous Sucker, 
 540; Montague's Sucking-fish, 
 541. 
 
 Sundevall, C. J., distinguished zoolo- 
 gist, 496. 
 
 Sun-fish, the, 546. 
 
 Surmullet, the Striped, 463 ; the 
 Red, ib. 
 
 Sweden, divided into Hemmans, 
 158 et n.; Herring fisheries of, 
 570 et seq. ; vast quantities of ti.-h 
 exported from, 572. 
 
 Sword-fish, the, 477. 
 
 T. 
 
 TEAL, the, 270. 
 
 Tegner, Bishop, lyric effusions of, 
 
 41. 
 Terns, the, 270 ; the Caspian Tern, 
 
 339 ; the Black, 340. 
 Thrushes, the different kinds of, 
 
 243, 246. 
 Tirass, a net for catching the 
 
 Partridge, 170. 
 Tobbehyttor, the, 267. 
 Topknots, the, 537. 
 Tope, the Common, 550. 
 Torsk, the, 524 ; its habitat and 
 
 habits, 525. 
 Tramp-Sax, a trap for capturing the 
 
 Otter, 380. 
 Trapping, system of, 67; in Sweden, 
 
 159. 
 Traps, for catching Game Birds, 98 
 
 et seq. ; for taking the Ripa, 155 ; 
 
 numerous in Sweden, 158 ; for 
 
 snaring the Krams-foglar, 245 
 
 et seq. ; for capturing the Otter, 
 
 385-388. 
 Tratt, the, 99. 
 Tunny, the Common, 476 : its 
 
 habitat, il>. ; a new species of. il>. 
 Turbo!, the, 5:U. 
 Tusk, the. 5l'k 
 
 Q 
 
.-)'.) 1 
 
 GENERAL 1NDKX. 
 
 U. 
 
 UNDERWATKK Shambles, for snaring 
 the aquatic Bird*, 3G8. 
 
 V. 
 
 VAAGMAEK, the, its habits, 479. 
 Vikiugar, attacks of the, 318, 323. 
 Vind-har, attached to the Dona, 
 
 254. 
 Vou Wright (see Wright). 
 
 W. 
 
 WAD, the, an enormous drag-net, 
 575 ; destructive to the Herring 
 fishery of Sweden, ib. 
 Waders, 270 ; various species of, in 
 
 Skargard, 335. 
 
 Walrus, the, 444 et seq. ; its habitat 
 and natural habits 444, 445 ; a 
 gregarious animal, 44G ; a sleeping 
 herd, 447 ; food of the, 448 ; its 
 fearlessness, 449, 450 ; encounters 
 with the, 450 ; maternal ufl'ectiou, 
 451 ; aWalrushunt. 4-">2 ; iu the 
 Arctic regions, 453 ; how har- 
 pooned, 404 ; dangerous sport, 
 455 ; a winter iu Cherry Island, 
 450 ; value of the, 4."i7. 
 Water-fowl, plan of shooting, 3GO; 
 diving powers of, 362 (see Aqiuitic 
 Birds). 
 
 Water-Rail, the, 270. 
 Watteu-Giller, for catching Seals, 
 
 425. 
 
 Wax -wing, the, 244. 
 Weever, the Great, 4G1 ; its habits, 
 ib. ; the spines of its dorsal tin 
 l*oisouous, 462 ; its bite often 
 fatal, ib. 
 Wriidians, their attack on Kongelt, 
 
 300 ; and capture, 30-".. 
 \\Vrmeland Finn Forests. 153 et n. 
 Wet tar, the, 279 ; an artificial decoy 
 
 Whilf, the, 5:!7. 
 
 Whiting, the Common, 514; iu 
 
 habits, 515, 516. 
 Widgeon, the, 2 70. 
 Wild Ducks, hatched by a cat, 342. 
 Wild Fowl, varieties of, 270; 
 migratory birds, 271 ; Flap) .i-r 
 shooting, 272 ; Duck-shooting, 
 27'2et#eq. ; modes of shootim,', 27 ~> ; 
 theduck-puut,276 ; the divingdog, 
 277; maimed birds, 278; the 
 Wettar, 27'J ; the Skjut-Ko, 
 Johnny Crapaud iu disguise, 281 ; 
 the Crinoline, 282 ; Keynard's 
 wiles, 283 ; the shooting-tub, 
 2SI; the Fogel-Ref, 285; the 
 Lintu-Lauta, ib. j geese hunts, 
 287; wandering gecM-, 2^- ; the 
 Mallard trap, 289. 
 Wiiiga-Keaeon, 2'.'2. 
 Witchcraft, belief in, by the Swedish 
 
 fishermen, 573. 
 Wolberg von Tuugelfelts, epitaphs 
 
 to the memory of, 307, 308. 
 Woodcock, the, 185 tt nt<j. ; scarce 
 in Scandinavia, 187; varieties of 
 the, 188; its habits, is'j; its 
 food, 190; mode of feeding, 191 ; 
 the call-note, 192; incubation, 
 193; carrying her young, l!l ; 
 maternal affection, 195 ; anecdote, 
 I'.iii migration, 197; always 
 nocturnal, 199 ; with the wind, 
 200; cause of migration, 201 ; 
 traps and snares for catching, 
 203 ; iu Scania, 209 ; in Zealand, 
 210; near HogauiiK, 211 ; on the 
 w.'st coast, 212; in the Moreu, 
 2 1 3. 
 
 Wnis-,-s, th.-. I'.' I I 1 .'" : '!" 
 
 111 I ; the I'.lui'-striped, 1'.'.". ; the 
 CSilt-hrad, I'."'- : J-airing of the, 
 41'7 ; .la.^.'s d.lii Sinny, 498 ; 
 the Small-mouthed, //-. ; the K.un- 
 bow, IU 1 .'. 
 
 Wright. \i. Wilhelm von, a iii.-l- 
 class naturalist, l'i> ' ;t. ; 11 1. 
 
LATIN INDEX OF SCIENTIFIC NAMES, 
 
 BY P. A. NCJTTALL, LLD. 
 
 A. 
 
 Abies Larix, Rich., 5 n. 
 Acantholabrusexoletus,Valenc.,49S. 
 Acipenser hospitus, Kroy., 547. 
 ... Huso, 547. 
 
 latirostris, Parn., 547. 
 Lichtensteinii, Bloch, 547 . 
 ... Sturio, Linn., -547. 
 Alauda arborea, Linn., 38. 
 Alosa Flinta, Cuv., 507. 
 Ammodytes Lancea, Cuv., 542. 
 
 Tobianus, Linn., 551, 542. 
 Amphioxus lanceolatus, Yarr., 569. 
 Anarrhichas Lupus, Linn., 485. 
 Anas Boschas, Linn., 340. 
 Anquilla Conger, Linn., 541. 
 Antennarius marmoratus, 494. 
 Argentina Hebridica, Nilss., 502. 
 
 ... Silns, Nilss., 503. 
 Ascaris Acus, 500. 
 Aspidophorus cataphractus, Linn., 
 4G9. 
 
 decagonns, Bloch, 470. 
 monopterygius, Bloch, 470. 
 
 B. 
 
 Batrachus borealis, Nilss., 493. 
 Belone vulgaris, Cuv., 462. 
 Blenniops Galerita, Nilss., 482. 
 Blennius Pholis, Linn., 481. 
 
 ... Yarrellii, Valenc., 482. 
 Bonasia Europsea, Auct., 112. 
 Botriocephalus Belones, Dnj., 500. 
 Brama Rayi, Cuv. & "Val., 473. 
 Branchiostoma lubricum, Costa, 569. 
 Brosmius vnlgaris, Cuv., 524. 
 
 C. 
 
 CallionymusDracunculus, Linn., 490. 
 
 Lyra, Linn., 489. 
 ... macnlatus, Rafin., 490. 
 Calocephalus discolor, F. Cuvier, 
 
 396. 
 
 Cantharus griseus, Cuv. & Val. ,473. 
 Caranx trachurns, Cuv., 477. 
 Cardium, 531. 
 Cliimaira monstrosa, Linn., 547. 
 
LATIN INDEX OF SCIENTIFIC NAMES. 
 
 Chironectes arcticun, 493 
 
 t 'lupr.i Harengua, Linn., 503. 
 
 ... Pilchardus, Bloch, 507. 
 
 ... Sehoneveldii, Krilyer, ."il'7. 
 
 ... SpraUu8(Linn.l),Nilss.,507 
 Cottua bubalis, Euphras., 467, 469. 
 
 ... Gobio, 468. 
 
 ... jioecilopuf, Heck., 465. 
 
 ... quadricornis, Linn., 408. 
 
 ... Scorjiiua, Linn, 465, 469. 
 Crangon, 665. 
 
 Crenilabrus Melops, Cuv., 496. 
 Ctenolabrus rupestria, Valeno., 
 Cyclopterus Lumpns, Linn., 539. 
 Cyprina Islandica, 539. 
 Cyprinus Idus, 481. 
 
 Jeses, 481. 
 Cystophora cri^tata, Erxl., 410. 
 
 D. 
 
 Distoma gibbosiim, .")00. 
 
 E. 
 
 Einpetrum nigrum, 127, 141. 
 Echinorhynchus angustatus, 500. 
 
 ... Pristis, 500. 
 Engraulia Encrasicliolua, Linn., 508. 
 
 F. 
 
 Fragaria vesca, .'>. 
 
 ilii.'itatu>. I I- 
 
 O. 
 
 Oadus ^Eglefinus, Linn., 51. '5. 
 ... Callarias, Linn.. 508. 
 .. carbonarius, Linn., ' 1 > 
 Rsinnrkii, Nil-- . "'1 s 
 
 Gadug luacus, Linn., 5 
 
 ... Merlangus, Linn., 511. 
 ... ininiitus, Linn., 514. 
 ... Morrhua, Linn., 508. 
 ... Pollachius, Linn., 517. 
 ... Poutassou, Risso, 516. 
 
 virens, Linn., 518. 
 Gobius albua, Parn., Yarr., 488. 
 bipunctatus, Yarr., is". 
 gracilis, Jenyns, 487. 
 ... microps, Kriiy., 188. 
 ... niinutn?,Gmel.,487,488,.v;i. 
 ... niger, Linn., 487. 
 ... Nilssouii, von Diiben & 
 Kort-o, 487. 
 
 pictus. Malm, 488. 
 ... Brthansparri, Eupliras.. 1 s ". 
 
 488. 
 
 ... Stuvitzii, 488. 
 Cunnellus vulgaris, Flem., 4 s "'. 
 Gymnetrus Grillii, Lindroth, l' su . 
 
 11. 
 
 Halichcmia Grypus, Nilss., "' 
 Harelda glaeialis, Steph., 343. 
 Heteracanthua pedatus, 500. 
 ... sagittatus, Dies., ."it'll. 
 Hippoglossna vulgaris, Flcni . 53L 1 . 
 Hippolyte, 565. 
 Hyperinse, ~>\~>. 
 
 Icellis fiiivi^iT. Malm, ll'i'.'. 
 
 J. 
 
 JuliH vulf,'.-irk Finn.. < 'uv. ,V \'alpnc., 
 ,Iuni|>cnis omnium'; 
 
LATIN INDEX OF SCIENTIFIC NAMES. 
 
 597 
 
 L. 
 
 Labrus cseruleus, Ascan., 496. 
 ... carneus, Ascan., 496. 
 ... dispar, B. Fries, 495. 
 exoletus, Linn., 498. 
 ... maculatus, Bloeh, 495, 496. 
 ... Melops, Cuv., 496, 498. 
 
 mixtus, Linn., 495. 
 ... rupestris, Linn. 498., 
 Lagopus alpina, Nilss., 121. 
 ... mutus, Auct., 121, 138. 
 ... Saliceti, Temm., 121. 
 subalpina, Nilss., 121. 
 Lampris guttatus, Retz., 478. 
 Larus can us, Linn., 338. 
 
 ... marinus, Linn., 336. 
 Lepidogaster bimaculatus, Flem., 
 
 538. 
 
 Lipai-is barbatus, Ekstrom, 540. 
 ... Montagui, Yarr., 541. 
 
 vulgaris, Flem., 540, 541. 
 Lophius eurypterus, von Diiben & 
 Koren, 492. 
 
 piscatorius, Linn.. 490. 
 Lota Molva, 521. 
 
 ... vulgaris, 540. 
 Lumpenus maculatus, B. Fries, 482. 
 
 nebulosus, B. Fries, 483. 
 Lupus marinus, 486. 
 Lutra vulgaris, Desm., 372. 
 
 M. 
 
 Machetes pugnax, Linn., 241. 
 Macrourus Fabricii, 526. 
 
 Norvegicus, Nilss., 526. 
 
 rupestris, Bloch, 526. 
 
 Strbmii, Sund., 526. 
 Maurolicus Miilleri, Kroy., 504. 
 Merluccius vulgaris, Fletn., 519. 
 Molva Abyssorum, Nilss., 522. 
 
 vulgaris, Nilss., 521,523. 
 Motella argenteola, Yarr., 524. 
 
 Motella Cimbria, Struss., Linn., 523. 
 
 ... glauca, Jen., 524. 
 
 ... Mustek, Jen., 523, 524. 
 
 ... tricirrata, Nilss., 523. 
 
 ... vulgaris, Cuv., 523, 524. 
 Mugil Capito, Cuv., 481. 
 
 ... Chelo, Cuv., 481. 
 
 septentrionalis, Giinther, 481 . 
 Mullus barbatus, Linn., 463. 
 
 ... surtnuletus, Linn., 463. 
 Mytilus edulis, 503, 548. 
 
 ... modiolus, Miill., 524. 
 Mysis, 531. 
 Myxine glutinosa, Linn., 567. 
 
 O. 
 
 Ophiura, 531. 
 
 Ortliagoriscus Mola, Schneid., 546. 
 Osmerus arcticus, Fabr., 502. 
 ... Eperlanus, 502. 
 . . . Hebridicus, Yarr., 502, 503. 
 Otis Houbara, Linn., 184. 
 tarda, Linn., 1 80. 
 tetrax, Linn., 184. 
 Oxycoccus palustris, Pers., 4. 
 
 P. 
 
 Pagellus centrodontus, Cuv., 473. 
 Palsemon, 565. 
 Perca Labrax, Linn., 459. 
 Perdix cinerea, Briss., 161. 
 
 ... Coturnix, Lath., 177. 
 
 rufa, Mont., 176. 
 Petromyzonfluviatilis, Linn., 566. 
 
 ... marinus, Linn., 566. 
 Phasianus Colchicus, Linn., 176. 
 Phoca annulata, Nilss., 396. 
 
 ... barbata, Fabr., 408. 
 cristata, Gmel., 410. 
 
 ... discolor (Auct.), 396. 
 
 . . . dorsata, Pall, 404. 
 
r>98 
 
 LATIN INDEX OF SCIENTIFIC NAMES. 
 
 Phoca fffitida, Fabr., 399. 
 
 ... Groenlandica, Mill]., 404. 
 ... Grypuu, Fabr., 399, 438. 
 ... hispida, Schreb., 399. 
 ... vitulina, Linn., 389,396. 
 Pholis laevis, Flem., 481. 
 Phycis fnrcatus, Flem., 525. 
 I 'inns Abies, Linn., 5. 
 
 Larix, Linn., 5 n. 
 sylveKtris, Linn., 5. 
 Platessa Flesus, Linn., 527, 528. 
 ... Flesus, var., Nilss., ">L'S. 
 Limanda, Flem., 529. 
 limandoides, Jen., .530. 
 ... roicrocephalus, Flem., 530. 
 ... Pola, Cuv., 531. 
 ... saxicola, Fab., 531. 
 ... vulgaris, Flem., 527, 528. 
 Platyearcinus Pagurus, 533. 
 Polygonum viviparum, 127. 
 Polyprion cernium, Cuv. & Val., 
 
 4GO. 
 
 Prunus Padus, Linn., 255. 
 Pterycombus Brama, B. Fries, 473. 
 
 R. 
 
 Raja Batis, Linn., 50n. 
 
 clavata, Linn., 503. 
 fnllonica, Linn., 5'i.'t. 
 ... lintea,B. Fries, :.t,-. 
 ... oxyrhynchus, Linn., 5<!1. 
 Pastinaca, Linn., . r >r..V 
 radiata, Donov., .~iC,(i, "Hi 1. 
 ... Vomer, B. Fries, 561. 
 Raniceps trifurcatus, Flem., .'-'>. 
 1 Ranunculus aquatilis, 289. 
 Rhamnu.s Frangula, Linn., L'.V.. 
 Rhombus Cardina, B. Fries, 5:17. 
 ... hirtus, Abildg., .VtO. 
 ... liirt\is, Yarr., .">:17. 
 ... maximiiB, Linn., . r ).'54, 530. 
 MegaHtoma,Donov.,r<37, . r >3 
 ... jmnctntus, Yarr., Ml. 
 
 Rhombus soleneformis, Malm, 538. 
 
 ... vulgaris, Cuv., 536. 
 Rubns arcticus, Linn., 127. 
 
 Chamiemorus, Linn., 127. 
 
 Idwns. Linn., ">. 
 
 Salix herbacea, 127. 
 ... lanata, 218. 
 Salmonidre, 501. 
 
 Scirena Aquila, Cuv. <k Val., 472. 
 Scolex jwilyinorphus, 500. 
 Scolopax Gallinago, Linn, 231. 
 ... Gallinnla, Linn., 235. 
 ... major, Gmel., 214. 
 
 msticula, Linn., IS'L 
 Scomber Colias, Gmel., 47ii. 
 Scombrus, Linn., 474. 
 Thynnus, Linn., -IT'i. 
 Scotnberesox Camperi, Lcpp., ">o| 
 Scopelus borealis, Nilss., 
 
 glacialiii, Reinh., -"'' 
 ... Humboldtii, Cuv., .'.o 
 Scyllium, Cuv., 550. 
 
 ... melanostomum, Bonap., 540. 
 Sebastes dactyloptcrns, Delaroche, 
 
 471. 
 ... imperialis, Cuv., 471 . 
 
 Norvcgicus, Cuv., 47<>, 474, 
 
 :.<i:i, 525. 
 
 viviparus, Kriiyer, 471. 
 I Solea viilgaris, Cuv., ."i.'is. 
 ; Somateria tnollissimn, Leach, .'M7. 
 Sorliua aucuparia, Linn., L'.V>. 
 Spinachia vulgaris, Cuv., 17^'. 
 Squalus Acantliias, Liui'.. .">.");. 
 annulatns, Nilss.. "il!. 
 borealis, Scurcsliv, .">.")1. 
 ... Canicula, Linn., . r its, ."it'.t. 
 ... Catulus, Linn., . r > l!. 
 ... Cornubicus, Fain-., . r >l'.i. 
 Qdtra, I -inn, 551, 9. 
 
LATIN INDEX OF SCIENTIFIC NAMES. 
 
 599 
 
 Sijualus maxiinus, Linn., 551, 553, 
 555. 
 
 niger, Bonap., 559. 
 Sjjinax, Linn., 558, 559. 
 ... Vulpes, Guiel., 559. 
 Sterna Caspia, Pall., 339. 
 nigra, Liun., 340. 
 Steruoptyx Olfersii, Guv., 504. 
 Syngnathus Acus, Ekstrom, 545,546. 
 ... Acus, Linn., 543. 
 sequoreus, Linn., 545. 
 lumbriciformis, Yarr., 546. 
 ... Ophidion, Linn., 546. 
 
 rostellatus, Gyllenstjerna, 
 Nilss., 545. 
 
 ... Typhle, Linn., 545. 
 ... Typhle, Malm, 545. 
 
 T. 
 
 Tellina, 531. 
 
 Teredo navalis, Linn., 312. 
 Tetrao Bouasia, Linn., 112. 
 ... Eremita, 3. 
 
 Lagopus, Linu., 121. 
 ... Perdrix, Liun., 72. 
 ... Urogallus, Linn., 1. 
 Thynuus Thuuuiua, Cuv. <fe Val., 
 477. 
 
 ! Tbynuus vulgaris, Cuv., 476. 
 ] Trachinus Draco, Linn., 461. 
 
 .. Vipera, Cuv. > Val., 461. 
 Trachypterus arcticus, Nilss., 480. 
 
 ... Bogmarus, Cuv. & VaJ.,479. 
 Triohechus Rosmarus, Linn., 444. 
 Trigla Blochii, Yarr., 464. 
 ... Gurnardus, Linn., 463. 
 
 Hirundo, Linn., 464. 
 Tringa alpina, 238. 
 
 V. 
 
 Vaccinium Myrtillus, Liun., 5, 127. 
 
 Oxycoccos, Linn., 4. 
 
 Vitis Ida?a, Linn., 4, 5, 127. 
 Viburnum Opulus, Linn., 255. 
 
 X. 
 
 Xyphias Gladius, Liun., 477. 
 
 Z. 
 
 Zoarces viviparus, Cuv., 484. 
 
 MUUX AMI SONS, PBINTKKS, GKEAT CJUEEN STKEET, LONDON, Vf.C.