370 BIRD CLOUDS. 



" Fogel-Niit," nor the " Ratlines" are had recourse to in 

 the winter for the capture of wild fowl, that object being 

 effected by more simple and primitive means. A " screen" 

 is constructed of ice-blocks near to a " Wak " (on the 

 side next tlie shore) frequented by birds that obtain their 

 food by diving. Two men, each armed with a long pole, 

 lie in ambush at some little distance from the opening ; 

 and when they observe a considerable number of fowl 

 congregated, they, on hands and knees, creep stealthily 

 up to the " screen " in qv\estion. On reacliing the latter, 

 they suddenly and simultaneously rise from their recum- 

 bent position, staff in hand, and, uttering loud cries, 

 rush forAvard to the " Wak." Some few of the fowl may 

 take wing, but the greater part are so intimidated by the 

 sudden and uproarious attack as to he incapal)lo of so 

 doing, and therefore resort to the equally ready expedient 

 of diving. But tliey are soon compelled to come again 

 to the sui-face to breathe, on which their persecutors mer- 

 cilessly knock them on the head with their weapons ; and 

 thus, in the course of a few minutes, the greater part of 

 a flock are destroyed. By this most murderous system 

 several hundreds of such fowl as procure their sub- 

 sistence at the bottom are at times slaughtered in the 

 course of a day. 



The quantity of aquatic birds — such as "Widgeon, 

 Golden-eye, and Long-tailed Hareld — 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 " ice-boat " was 

 crossing the Great Belt, then entirely frozen over, with 

 the exception of a very narrow channel in the middle, he 

 saw such multitudes of fowl as filled him with astonish- 

 ment : — " Billions," said he, " would give no idea of 

 their numbers ; and when they took wing it was not 

 simultaneouslv, but in succession, like unto clouds of 



