24 THE NATURALIST IN NORWAY. 



lieved that a ring made from its hoof, and worn on the 

 finger, is a sovereign remedy for colic and cramp ; a 

 draught of the blood, swallowed warm, is supposed to 

 make the person that drinks it strong and courageous. 

 An electuary made of the horns pulverized is considered 

 a certain cure for epilepsy. 



The elk is turned to various uses in Norway. The 

 handles of knives, and other articles, are manufactured 

 from its horns. The hide is tanned and makes excel- 

 lent leather. The under part, on the belly, makes soft 

 gloves. The hoofs are boiled down into glue. 



It is sometimes necessary for the hunter to be on 

 his guard when pursuing this animal, for, when hard 

 pressed, it will turn back, and attack the hunter with 

 great determination and courage. The Norwegian elk 

 is an excellent swimmer, but drinks little during the 

 winter months. In the rutting season, and in hot 

 weather, it is of a thirsty nature. 



In winter, the Norwegian hunters pursue the elk on 

 skie, or snow-skates. These skie are made of wood, 

 are not wider than the feet, and are 10 feet in length. 

 They are turned up at the end, and are pointed. They 

 are fastened round the feet by short straps. The 

 hunter is able to proceed over the snow at a great 

 speed when he has skie on his feet. The skie-loler, or 

 runner, propels and guides himself by a pole, which he 

 holds in his hand. He goes downhill at a breakneck 

 pace. As a proof of the rapidity of travelling with 

 skie when they are used by a practised skater, I may 

 relate the following, which is a true story : 'During a 

 severe winter in Norway, when the snow was unusually 

 deep, intelligence reached Christiania that a klokker, or 

 clerk, was required in a parish about twenty miles dis- 



