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 recoi'd 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 beiii» 

 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, skott-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 the 

 amusement — then move forward together, the land division 

 marching 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 the outermost of the punts, whilst 



