436 STALKING THE HOOPER. 



as people erroneously imagine, on fish the flesh has not 

 the slightest oily taste." Though a tough old swan and 

 cabbage may be Kung's-mat, or king's-food as the Swedish 

 peasants say of anything specially good for a German 

 stomach, I am very doubtful if our epicures would willingly 

 agree to the doctrine. 



Had I been properly appointed, some good swan-shooting 

 might have been had at Ronnum, as well during the winter 

 time in the rapids immediately near to the house, as during 

 migration, when those birds not only frequently alighted in 

 the neighbouring lakes, but remained there for a considerable 

 time. But having no proper gun, I never thought it worth 

 while to go regularly in pursuit of them. Apparently they 

 were not very difficult of approach, and evinced much less 

 fear than many other kinds of water-fowl. 



" On the neighbouring coast," M. von Wright tells us, 

 " a good many are shot during the winter time, either when 

 on the ice, or in the open water. In the former case it 

 often happens that the sportsman, with the aid of a horse 

 and sledge, is enabled to approach within rifle-shot ; and in 

 the latter, the bird allows itself to be driven towards the spot 

 where one is ambushed. This must be done cautiously, 

 however, and against the wind, for if the contrary, the bird 

 will rather take wing when a long way off, than be driven 

 down the wind." 



In other parts of Sweden many hoopers also fall to the 

 gun. Near to Chris tianstad in Scania, by which town flows 

 a pretty broad river, upwards of one hundred were shot, 

 M. Malm told me, one particular winter. Speaking generally, 

 however, and considering their numbers, these birds are not 

 nearly so much sought after in Scandinavia as one might 



