236 SCARCITY. 



quite sure, indeed, if there be not still some few remaining 

 there. 



The notion is entertained by some, that this animal was 

 first introduced into Scandinavia by the great Gustavus Vasa 

 that is, about three hundred years ago ; but from fossil 

 remains having been found in the peat-bogs of Scania, 

 there cannot be much doubt as to his being indigenous to the 

 peninsula. Formerly he would seem to have been pretty 

 generally distributed, but at the present day these animals 

 are only found on one or two large properties in Scania, and 

 even there sparingly ; and on one or more islands lying 

 contiguous to the coast of Norway. Their disappearance 

 from the main land of Norway is attributed chiefly to wolves, 

 which have very greatly increased in that country in the 

 western portion of it, at least in later times. Those beasts, 

 indeed, have occasionally found their way to the islands in 

 question ; and if they have not extirpated the deer, they have, 

 at all events, greatly thinned their numbers. 



On that of Hittern, which is situated within less than one 

 hundred miles of Drontheim, the ancient capital of Norway, 

 there are a good many red deer still remaining several 

 hundreds it is said and more than one of my friends have 

 here enjoyed tolerable sport with the rifle. They describe the 

 ground as favourable for stalking; and say that no greater 

 difficulties stand in the way of obtaining permission to sport, 

 than a few pounds will remove ; but every one agrees in stating 

 that the deer found on this island are remarkably small one- 

 third less, at the least, than those in the highlands of 

 Scotland. These again are inferior to the German deer, so 

 that it would seem that either a deficiency of proper food, or 

 the severity of the climate, has caused the breed greatly to 



