THE CHAMOIS IN NORWAY. 35 



winter, when the snow is on the ground,, the peasants 

 still pursue the reindeer on skie, and kill many of 

 them. This is not, however, easily managed, for the 

 reindeer proceeds at a much more rapid rate over the 

 snow than the elk ; and, when the snow is deep, the 

 animal keeps to the highest fjelds. 



The red deer has never been common in Norway, 

 and is now only to be found on Hitteroen, an island off 

 the coast of Throndjem, and on Smolen, an island off 

 the coast of Christiansund. The reason why they left 

 the mainland for the islands was because they suffered 

 so much on the former from the ravages of wolves. 



Fossil remains of the red deer have been found on 

 one or two of the larger islands off the west coast of 

 Finmark. 



An attempt has been made to introduce the chamois 

 into Norway. A herd of eight chamois was purchased 

 in Switzerland, and was set at liberty in the Gousta 

 Fjeld, near Tindsoen, a lonely inland lake in Thele- 

 marken. The locality was well chosen, but most of 

 the animals have perished, and no doubt the attempt 

 will be a failure. 



