TO THE POINTER. 147 



But that first-rate shooting of hoth species of Ripa is 

 obtainable in all the more northern parts of Scandinavia 

 is certain. Indeed, from the number of those birds that 

 I myself met with when wandering during the summer 

 months amongst the mountains of Norway and Lapland, 

 I feel perfectly confident that had it been the proper 

 season, and that I had been well appointed with dogs 

 and markers, I could any day have loaded a horse 

 with the spoil. 



Several of our countrymen have had exceedingly good 

 Ripa shooting on the Scandinavian fjiills, and I have now 

 letters before me from friends speaking of their having 

 bagged from fifty to sixty brace of those birds in the 

 course of a very few days. 



Good, however, as is the shooting on the mainland, 

 still better, by all accounts, is to be had on the Lofoden 

 and other islands lying off the north-west coast of 

 Norway. Some of them were a few years ago visited by 

 the late Sir Hyde Parker, for the purpose of shooting, 

 and the success he had was something extraordinary; 

 but not having his letters by me, I can neither state 

 the number of birds killed, nor the species, though I 

 imagine the whole, or the greater part of them, to 

 have been Dal-Ripa. 



The Fjall-Ripa abounding, as shown, on all the alpine 

 ranges of the Peninsula, one may everywhere have shoot- 

 ing of these birds to his heart's content. To my notion, 

 however, they afford but poor sport, for in the early part 

 of the season they sit like so many pigeons amongst the 

 grey rocks, and are, moreover, so tame that even if one be 

 shot out of a brood, the rest usually fly only a short 

 distance before again alighting. " At times, indeed, they 

 sit so close that should the fowler accidentally come 

 directly upon them, he is obliged to retreat somewhat 

 before firing, unless- he would blow them to pieces." 



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