ROYAL SKALLS. 317 



" The royal party having arrived, the Dref moved forward, 

 and when the people had advanced half-way, the bear showed 

 himself three to four times near to the King's Skitirm, or 

 screen.* But his Majesty always allowed the beast to pass 

 unmolested, that the Prince might have the pleasure of 

 shooting him. At length he came near to his Serene Highness, 

 who fired, but only wounded him. The bear, on receiving 

 the ball, immediately rushed towards the Jagt-tyg opposite, 

 threw down two men, one of whom he wounded in the 

 leg, and the other in the knee, and breaking through the 

 line, made his escape. The dogs were sent in pursuit, but 

 could never overtake him. 



" His Majesty afterwards shot a lynx and four foxes, as 

 also a number of birds and hares; and his Serene Highness the 

 Prince, six foxes, together with abundance of smaller game." 



No. 2. " Bear Skall, 22nd of September, 1720, in the 

 forest of Forssby, and parish of Skultuna, Westmanland. 

 One wing was six thousand one hundred and forty-nine 

 paces in length, the other eight thousand six hundred and 

 sixty-eight paces. 



" I had the honour to conduct this Skall to his Majesty's 

 high gratification. On this occasion the King, with his own 

 high hand, shot a large she-bear, and wounded a smaller 

 one, which was afterwards killed by the gentlemen present. 

 A moderately large bear was besides wounded, and then 

 worried to death by his Majesty's dogs. A wolf and five 

 foxes, together with a tolerably large number of hares and 

 birds, were also killed. All the foreign ministers and other 

 foreigners of distinction, were present at this Skall." 



* A kind of hut, composed chiefly or wholly of boughs, erected just within 

 the Skull-plats, for the accommodation and protection of the King and others. 



