86 SPORT IN NORWAY. 
CHAPTER II. 
. THE WILD REINDEER AND ELK OF NORWAY, THEIR 
HISTORY, HAUNTS, AND HABITS.* 
- 
Prernars of all sport (let us exclude lion and tiger 
hunting—hear-shooting is comparatively tame), that of 
hunting the wild reindeer is the most inspiriting, and 
possesses the greatest attractions. Glorious sport as 
salmon-fishing may be and is, yet, to come up on the 
fjelds after having been pent up in the valleys for six 
weeks, and to breathe the pure, fresh mountain air, 
affords a relief to body and mind which experience 
alone can fully appreciate. Grouse are generally 
abundant (not the red grouse of Scotland, though I 
believe they are exactly the same species, the difference 
in plumage being only caused by climatic influences), 
and ptarmigan may be found everywhere on the high 
fjelds. But reindeer-hunting is the peculiar charm of 
the mountains of Norway. Iam not goimg to indulge 
* This account of the reindeer has lately appeared in the ‘ Field.’ 
