PRECAUTION. 503 



bottom of the sledge, as on the spot where the carcase is 

 deposited. When all is in order, the entrails, &c., of 

 animals that have not been poisoned, are strewed around. 

 No one afterwards must go within one hundred paces of 

 the Luder-plats in common shoes, unless wrapped round 

 with pieces of old and clean linen, containing a portion of 

 fresh horse-dung ; but he must either ride or use Skidor ; and 

 one must be specially careful not to spit, or commit other 

 uncleanness near to the spot. A Slap, consisting of any 

 kind of rotten flesh, or what is better, the hind- quarters of a 

 recently-skinned female wolf, should be trailed after a sledge 

 everywhere in the neighbourhood." 



In many districts certain individuals on receiving a trifling 

 remuneration, which is levied as a tax on the inhabitants, 

 take upon themselves the office of poisoning the wolves and 

 other wild beasts, and for this purpose cause the carcases of 

 animals, prepared somewhat as described, to be laid out every 

 here and there in the forest. Such was the case at Sollebrunn, 

 situated, as said, some twenty miles to the south of Ronnum. 

 One winter, when passing through that village, I remember 

 seeing two wolves which had just been picked up dead near 

 to the Luder-plats, and were then lying before the house of 

 the post-master, who was at that time the public exter- 

 minator. 



Fortunately, poison is seldom exposed excepting in the 

 winter time; but in the districts where it is resorted to, 

 English sportsmen will do well to bear in mind that dogs at 

 all seasons of the year run some risk. For, though only 

 bleached bones may remain at the Luder-plats, or in the 

 vicinity wolves and other animals often drawing them a 



