GEESE HUNTS. 287 



geese, who always in the first instance alight in the 

 water, see the tempting fare before them, they land and 

 make towards it. Presently, however, they are " brought 

 up," as sailors say, by the wire or string, as the case may 

 he ; but instead of endeavouring to pass over or under it, 

 they follow the obstruction to the first opening, where a 

 snare is placed, which generally proves their bane. 



The greatest destruction, however, made amongst wild 

 geese, and other aquatic birds in Lapland, is during the 

 moulting season. This usually begins in the middle of July, 

 and continues for about three weeks ; but its commence- 

 ment and duration much depend on the state of the 

 weather ; for if the summer be cold and rainy, it begins 

 later and lasts longer. Whilst moulting, the geese seldom 

 frequent the great lakes, but resort chiefly to the numerous 

 small tarns studding the face of that desolate country. 

 In the night-time they are much in the water, but during 

 the day generally ashore, and often at a considerable 

 distance from the strand, seeking their food, or reposing 

 amongst the tussocks in the neighbouring morasses. " Dur- 



o o o 



ing the moulting season," so we are told by Lieutenant F. 

 Robson, " the Finnish Ny-Byggare, or squatters, as also 

 the Lapps, get up regular hunts. Provided with several 

 dogs, they proceed to the bogs whore geese are known to 

 resort, and which, although very wet and difficult to traverse, 

 are not impassable. Fire-arms are needless, it being con- 

 sidered superfluous to waste powder and shot when the 

 birds may be otherwise obtained, and the men, therefore, 

 are only provided with stout sticks. When arrived at the 

 scene of action, the dogs are slipped from their couplings, 

 and start the birds, whose only means of escape is by 

 reaching the nearest water. If they succeed in this, they 

 commonly manage to get off ; but should they not be so 

 fortunate, the dogs soon come up with them, and by a bite 

 in the head or neck presently put them out of their 



