324 ROYAL SKALLS. 



sketch, copied by a friend, from a picture at the Royal 

 Palace of Drottningholm, represents those used by King 

 Frederick, they must have been large and powerful animals ; 

 and with a full-grown bear courage and strength, as we 

 have seen and shall see presently, are much needed. In 

 point of fact, I do not believe a score dogs, however big, 

 would stand the shadow of a chance with such a beast as that 

 at present in the Zoological Gardens, in the Regent's Park. 



No. 16. "Elk Skall, 6th of September, 1727, in the 

 forest of Botbo, and parish of Moklinta. The Skall-plats an 

 irregular triangle, the wings five hundred and five* paces in 

 length ; with an extensive Sido-Dref from the parish of Nora. 



" At this Skall, which I had the honour to arrange for his 

 Majesty, fifteen elks were killed, the greater part by the King 

 himself. Three or four bears had also been seen the day 

 before within the Skall-plats ; but during the preceding 

 night (as I myself ascertained when going my rounds), some 

 mischievous person had purposely thrown down a portion of 

 the Jagt-tyg, thereby causing a large opening, by which the 

 beasts had made their escape. It was great good fortune, 

 therefore, that the elks remained, and that his Majesty had 

 the gratification of shooting them. But the individual 

 who committed this infamous deed, was acquainted, it would 

 seem, with the nature of the animals, and well -knew that 

 bears, when they are driven and afterwards confined, are 

 constantly in motion, and endeavouring to find an opening 

 whereby to escape ; whereas elks, on the contrary, will, if 

 undisturbed, remain stationary, at one and the same spot 

 during the darkest hours of the night." 



No. 17. "Elk Skall, 13th of September, 1727, in the 

 * It would almost seem as if a figure were omitted. 



