2 , , THE NATTTEALIST IN NOEWAY. 



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' An eminent ^Norwegian naturalist once remarked to 

 me, "My country can well spare some of its wild 

 animals and birds of prey." In a single year in Nor- 

 way (1855), 205 bears, 235 wolves, 125 lynxes, and 

 2559 eagles and other birds of prey, were killed or 

 taken alive. This number includes only those that 

 were brought to the foged, or sheriff, by the peasants, 

 for the sake of the head-money. If we add to this 

 list those animals and birds that were destroyed by 

 sportsmen and others, we can form an estimate of this 

 kind of sport in Norway. 



The following are the Game Laws of Norway now in 

 vogue : 



The reindeer may be hunted from August 1st to 

 April 1st. 



Elk hunting continues for only three months in the 

 year, viz. during August, September, and October. 



The Norwegian hare (Lepus varidbilis) may be killed 

 from August 15th to June 1st. 



The blackcock, male capercaillie, eider-duck, and 

 lijerpe (hazel grouse), from August 15th to June 1st. 



The gray hen and female capercaillie, from August 

 15th to the middle of March. 



The partridge from the beginning of September to 

 the beginning of January. 



The penalty for shooting an elk out of season varies 

 from 40 to 60 sp. dollars ; for a reindeer, 10 sp. dollars ; 

 for a hare, 2 sp. dollars ; for birds, 1 sp. dollar. The 

 Type (white grouse) is not preserved by law. 



The game laws are not strictly enforced in Norway. 

 I have seen elk venison offered for sale in the streets 

 of Christiania during the close season, and most game- 

 birds are snared in this country at forbidden seasons. 



