151 MY BLOSS. 



on the upper branches of which Dal-Ripa were often to 

 be seen perched ; that an acquaintance of his was accus- 

 tomed, morning and evening, to lie in ambush near to 

 this tree ; and when the birds came to feed, he shot them 

 with his pea-rifle. 



In winter the Dal-Ripa is sometimes shot when "treed" 

 in the night-time by means of "Bloss," or torchlight. 

 " One would have supposed," says M. Falk, " that 

 these birds, which, when flushed in the daytime from tin- 

 ground, always settle there again, would also pass tlir 

 night upon it ; but this is not the case. Here ( Risiiter, 

 Wermeland), where I reside, are extensive aspen woods 

 near the lake Rada. Some years ago, when great numbers 

 of Dal-Ripa visited us, it was customary for the people* 

 to shoot them after dark, when perched on these trees, 

 where they were readily seen. I contend, therefore, not 

 that the Dal-Ripa never pass the night on the ground, 

 but that this is not always the case. The probability is, 

 that they roost both on the ground and in the trees." 



We are further informed by Professor .Nilsson that 

 when at Bratteforss, in Norway, he was told by the 

 inhabitants that they were accustomed in the winter to 

 shoot the Dal-Ripa by torchlight in the night-time when 

 roosting in the willow bushes." 



Although many Ripa fall to the gun in the sevenil 

 ways described, the number is inconsiderable as com- 



-'ttlers, and to the Finns in partii-ular, of \sliirli tlir latti-r, owing t<> war 

 mill famine in their nati\c land, \\riv not slow ( avail llirniM-hi-s. 

 Ili-nre I.H^I' Iraets of the foroitH in i|iii-stin]i. :i-i also of tliose in I 'aleearlia, 

 -.. li\ tin- de-i^natioM ..f /'///// *l.nyar or Finn Forests. Totliisda\. indeed, 

 one meet* witli <li>tiiict colonirs of tlior Finns, or mtlirr thrir lUwciulanto, 

 i ii]i and down in tin- wildenUM, wliicli. if not already known lo 

 l>e Hiicli. may bo eaHily recogtii /"<! liy tlir |M-O|I|<- n lainini; many !' 



tin- i-ll^lolll- .(' llli'll alu-i-.|..|>. \vl|..M lallLJU.!^'-. l,.-id.-. -ulilc of lli.ln 



