THE ELK IN NORWAY. 21 



marken, especially in Osterdalen. It is to be occa- 

 sionally seen in the neighbourhood of Christiania, and 

 it is even said that once upon a time an elk was killed 

 in the streets of the Norwegian capital. I have seen 

 the head and horns of an elk which was shot in the 

 Eingerige district in November, 1862. The bondo 

 who had shot the animal was offering the venison for 

 sale in the Christiania market at 4<d. per pound. 



The elk is now strictly preserved in Norway; the 

 time for shooting it extends from August 1st to 

 October 31st. The owner of a landed estate may only 

 shoot a single elk on his property during the season. 

 He may transfer his right of shooting to another^ but 

 in that case he must refrain himself. The penalty for 

 killing an elk out of season is as high as 60 sp. dollars ; 

 but, notwithstanding this, many elks find their way 

 into the peasant's pot at unlawful times. The Norse- 

 man is a hardy hunter, and nothing will detain him 

 from his favourite pursuit ; while it must be confessed 

 that elk-hunting is most exciting sport. When a Nor- 

 wegian peasant kills an elk, he either sells it in the 

 nearest town, or salts it down for winter use. Almost 

 everything in the shape of animal food that comes into 

 the possession of the bonde goes into his pickle-tub. 

 He exhibits a decided preference for salt provisions. 

 He eats his ham, salmon, or red-herring raw, and has 

 a strong penchant for the smoked breast of a goose, 

 which would be considered spoilt by him if cooked. 

 Salted elk and reindeer venison, and salted herrings, 

 form the staple winter food of the Norwegian pea- 

 santry. 



The elk in summer abides in the shady recesses of 

 the forest. Its food then consists of the bark and 



