THE TOBBEHYTTOR. 267 



was much practised both in Norway and Iceland, when 

 falconry was the fashion is represented ahove when 

 " gillrad," or set. 



In the foreground of the sketch is shown a short 

 wooden peg, to which a live Pigeon is tethered by a piece 

 of string three feet in length, the bird being so far allowed 

 its liberty that, by its flutterings, the attention of the 

 Quarry may be the more readily attracted. About six 

 feet behind the peg in question, is a stout post five 

 feet high ; against the base of it rests a circular net 

 six feet in diameter, the top of which, to facilitate its 

 fall, is loaded with stones. The upper line, or that 

 supporting the net until the moment of capture, as also 

 the lower line, the outer end of which is attached to the 

 leg of the decoy-bird, are held by the fowler, who lies 

 concealed in a so-called Tobbchytte,* a half underground 

 hut constructed of loose stones, etc., at a distance of from 

 one hundred to two hundred paces. 



When the Gyr-Falcon espies the tethered Pigeon, 

 he makes several gyrations in the air, to see that all is 

 safe, and then swoops down upon it, and often with such 

 force as to sever the head from the body. Afterwards, he 

 usually leaves the bird for a while, and makes renewed 

 gyrations to satisfy himself that no lurking foe is nigh, 

 when he again descends to the earth, and drives his 

 talons deep into its body. On seeing this, the fowler, 

 with the lower line, pulls the dead Pigeon, together with 

 the Palcon, who clings to his victim with death-like 

 tenacity, under the net, and at the same instant lets go 

 the upper line, or that supporting the net, on which the 



* Corruption of the German word Tanlenhiitte, i. e., pigeon-hut, German 

 and Dutch falconers being formerly in the habit of resorting to Scandinavia, 

 particular!/ some parts of Norway, for the purpose of pursuing hawks, 

 falcons, and other predatory birds. 



