486 THE VARG-GROP. 



sidered all farther pursuit worse than useless, and returned 

 home." 



Numbers of wolves are captured in Sweden in the Varg- 

 grop, or wolf-pit ; which, as described in " Northern Sports," 

 is usually ten to twelve feet in depth, by the same measure- 

 ment in diameter. Many are square, some octagonal, and 

 others circular. As well for the purpose of preventing the earth 

 from falling into the pit, as wild beasts, that may be incar- 

 cerated, from working themselves out, the sides are usually 

 built up with wood or stone. The proper construction of the 

 pit-fall would seem to be still a mooted question in Scandi- 

 navia ; but all agree in this, that it should be sunk in a 

 dry and open situation, and in preference free from trees, 

 bushes, fences, &c. ; as also at not more than two hundred 

 to three hundred paces from the Ladu-gdrd, or cattle-house ; 

 for singularly enough the more distant the Varg-grop is 

 from that building, the more the suspicions of wild beasts are 

 excited. 



Great execution is at times done in these pit-falls. In 

 one instance, Dr. Willman informed me, no less than eight 

 wolves were captured at one and the same time. Others 

 had also been engulphed, as was evident by the marks in 

 the snow, but had subsequently escaped, and, as it was 

 believed, by making the backs of their fellows serve as 

 scaling-ladders. On the occasion in question, a fox was 

 likewise made captive, and though surrounded by his most 

 deadly enemies, was still alive and unhurt. 



Bipeds as well as quadrupeds sometimes fall into the 

 Varg-grop, from which, owing to the perpendicularity of 

 its sides, and its depth, escape by their own exertions, 

 has been found impracticable. A somewhat amusing adven- 



