ITS CONSTRUCTION. 215 



which at times extends for nearly a couple of miles, is 

 constructed out of brush-wood and young trees. Openings, 

 at stated intervals, are left for the passage of the deer. At 

 either side of these openings are posts, bb ; the halter, a, 

 which consists of an inch-thick rope, is affixed to one of 

 these posts ; and the noose is retained in a circular form by 

 blades of grass, or other fragile substances, which give way 

 at the slightest touch of the deer ; and to prevent the fawns 

 from leaping through the noose without entangling them- 

 selves, two fine threads, d, are placed across it, as seen in the 

 sketch. 



When now the rein-deer meets with such a fence, he 

 follows it until he comes to an opening, through which he 

 attempts to force his way, in which case he commonly gets 

 his antlers or neck fast in the noose, and consequently 

 remains a captive. 



This device is chiefly brought into use in the early part of 

 the autumn, at which time the rein-deer resorts to wooded 

 districts ; but towards the approach of winter, when he 

 begins to make for the fjalls, the halters are removed, and 

 stored away in readiness for future use. 



Bears and wolves are also captured in Lapland in snares 

 somewhat similar to the above ; but to prevent the wolf 

 from gnawing asunder the halter as under ordinary circum- 

 stances would almost inevitably be the case the outer end 

 of it, instead of being fastened to the post, as with the 

 rein-deer snare, is roved through a hole at the top of the post, 

 and then attached to a heavy stone, so placed at some 

 distance from the ground as to fall at the slightest touch. 

 When therefore the beast is noosed, the stone falls, and at 



