VI PREFACE. 



but little in the shape of personal adventure to relate, 

 as the title of the book would imply, it is still to be 

 hoped that the reader the sportsman and the naturalist 

 at least will find matter of sufficient interest to enable 

 him to while away a passing hour. 



Mine is a simple story, and told in simple language 

 necessarily so indeed, from total incapacity of perpetrating 

 anything like fine writing. But even if gifted with the 

 pen of a Macaulay, I would still confine myself as much 

 as possible to " facts and anecdotes," which, as a valued 

 friend truly observed, " are the things wanted, and not 

 eloquence or sentiment." 



The Chasse of the bear the king of Scandinavian 

 wild beasts forms, as will be seen, a prominent feature 

 in these volumes. Though so much has been said of 

 this animal in my former Work, I trust that the new 

 matter will not be deemed altogether devoid of interest. 



Considerable mention is made of the wolf, the lynx, 

 the glutton, the fox, the elk, the rein-deer, and other 



mankind than other individuals. One must not believe, nevertheless, that 

 his work is only interesting to the lovers of the 'chase, for from a great portion 

 of what he says of the inhabitants of this country, many interesting and 

 previously unknown details can probably be gathered. With a similar interest 

 one follows him from the savage beasts which prowl through our forests, to 

 social life, as well in the circles of the great, as in those of the humbler 

 classes. Throughout he shows the same open-heartedness ; and unlike 

 Acerbi, who met with whales in the Malar Lake, he only speaks of what 

 he has himself seen and experienced, or of what he has received from the 

 best authorities/' 



