490 THE VARG-GARD. 



The plan recommended by the late M. von Greiff em- 

 bracing a pit-fall as the more ready means of destroying 

 wolves when imprisoned, instead of hunting them down with 

 men is perhaps preferable to all others. Its nature, with the 

 assistance of the annexed drawing, will be readily understood. 



Fig. 1, it should be premised, shows the ground-plan of 

 the Varg-gard as a whole ; Fig. 2, the same in profile, the 

 inclination of the fence, &c. ; Fig. 3, the angle of the Varg- 

 gard at the Trumma, or covered way, as also the pit-fall 

 seen in front ; Fig. 4, the Trumma and pit-fall, seen in 

 profile ; and Fig. 5, the fixed, as well as the artificial covering 

 of the pit-fall. 



The Varg-gard so M. von Greiff tells us may be con- 

 structed in any place where there is wood, and the ground 

 not too stony; but in preference where the wolves have 

 their Strdk that is, the line of country they are in the 

 habit of traversing when passing from one place or district 

 to another. The locality selected should be near sand ridges, 

 small morasses, &c., and surrounded by eminences where 

 a pit-fall can be sunk that is not subject to inundation. An 

 open, exposed country, or one to which the wind has free 

 access, will not answer the purpose ; for in the event of an 

 unusually snowy winter, the snow-drifts would be so high near 

 to the fence, as greatly to facilitate the escape of the wolf. 



The circumference of the Varg-gard should be about 

 twelve hundred feet, but a few feet more or less are not 

 of consequence. In preference, its shape should be oval 

 (Fig. 1), with the exception of the corner where the fences 

 meet and form a right angle, where the pit-fall a a a a is 

 situated. 



The forest thereabouts should be left undisturbed as much 



