THE SJO-TROLL. 81 



tus, Linn.), which he had drawn under the water and suffo- 

 cated." 



The Rev. M. M oiler, informed me, moreover, that he 

 himself, on one occasion, had taken a moderately large pike, 

 with the skeleton of a kite, or large hawk, still attached 

 to it. 



"Again, in the lake Wettern in Eastgothland, as also 

 in that of Ringsjon in Scania," so said Dr. Willman, " pike 

 have heen caught with the skeleton of an eagle on their 

 backs. The one taken in the Wettern had for a number 

 of years exhibited the skeleton above the surface of the 

 water; and the fishermen, who believed it to be the har- 

 binger of misfortune, always, when aware of it, made for 

 the shore as quickly as possible. The flesh having rotted 

 away from the bones, the skeleton had assumed a greenish 

 hue, probably in consequence of some algae, or the like, 

 with which it was overgrown, causing it at a distance to 

 resemble a bush." 



" My brother, Captain Axel Westfeldt, Lieutenant J. 

 Lekander, and the fisherman Modin," writes a friend, on 

 whose word I place every reliance, " were one day fishing 

 with Ldng-ref, that is a line of great length, with several 

 hundred hooks attached of which more presently in a 

 large lake in Fryksdal, in Wermeland. When they had 

 proceeded a considerable distance from the land, Modin 

 suddenly pulled the boat right round, and in evident alarm 

 commenced rowing with all his might towards the shore. 

 One of the party asked the man what he meant by this 

 strange conduct ? * The Sjo-troll, or water-sprite, is here 

 again,' replied he, at the same time pointing with his 

 finger far to seaward. Every one in the boat then saw 



VOL. ]. G 



