FAUNA. 283 



and of the H. bostrickus. The cray-fish (Astacus fluviatilis) 

 is found in all the lakes and rivers of southern and central 

 Finland. 



SECTION B, GAME AND GAME LAWS. 



In most countries in Europe the Chase, or Game and 

 the Game Laws, is associated not only in the popular 

 conception, but in the national legislation, with Forestry ; 

 and to this subject the Commissioners appointed in 1865 

 to enquire into all matters pertaining to the forests of the 

 country gave their attention, and made it a subject of 

 their report. 



The Game Law of Finland, issued under date of 10th 

 February 1868, classifies all animals in a wild state, 

 according as they may be more or less useful or noxious, 

 under three categories, namely : 1. Useful game, the 

 reproduction of which is assured by the prohibition of 

 killing them during a specified period of each year ; 2. 

 Noxious beasts, and birds of prey, the destruction of which 

 is encouraged ; 3. Other game, the destruction of which is 

 permitted, but not specially encouraged. In the first class 

 is comprised game, properly so called, which serves for 

 food. The pursuit of this is prohibited for a specified 

 time in general, from the 15th of March to the 9th of 

 August. The law prohibits absolutely the hunting of the 

 beaver, which seems now to have disappeared from Fin- 

 land, and that of the elk, which is becoming more and 

 more rare. On the other hand, the destruction of noxious 

 animals bears, wolves, the lynx, the glutton, martens, 

 eagles, goss-hawks, ospreys, is expressly recommended; 

 it is permitted at all seasons to hunt them, both 

 on the grounds belonging to the hunter and on grounds 

 belonging to others, but always under this condition in 

 the latter case, that the hunter bhall compensate all 

 damage done by the hunt to cultivated fields, enclosures, 

 and plantations. All the communes grant a money 



