woLF-nuNTiKG.] THE DOGT, AND ITS VAEIETIES; [deee-houni>. 



it is necessary to drive them gently out again, 

 in order to ascertain their number. 



Each time of going round the area, every 

 track is to be swept out with a long broom ; 

 and if the huntsman at any time have occasion 

 to step out of the pathway, the marks should 

 be immediately obliterated. Birds of prey, 

 such as ravens and crows, must not be fright- 

 ened away, because they entice the wild 

 beasts by their cries, and give them confi- 

 dence. 



The huntsmen then examine each his side 

 of the skall-plat : should it be found, when 

 they meet, that traces of such animals as have 

 entered are sufficiently numerous to fasten up 

 the hunting-cloths, the men, for that purpose, 

 are called out immediately; and the fasten- 

 ing should be executed with all possible ex- 

 pedition, and the whole finished within two 

 fiours. 



The fastening ought to commence either at 

 the top or at the bottom of the skall- plats, 

 where two rolls of cloth should be lying ready. 

 One man unloosens the roll — the other carries 

 the pole on which it is wound. They advance 

 along the line, unwinding as they go. The 

 roll should be wound round the pole, so that 

 it unwinds correctly and easily. A third man 

 fastens the cloth round the end of each stake. 

 "When the hunting-cloth is fastened up, the men 

 who have ,been so employed return each along 

 his allotted distance, and rectifies what he finds 

 amiss. The pieces of cloth ought to hang 

 three feet from the ground. The huntsmen 

 then reconnoitre the skall-plat, to ascertain 

 whether the animals have escaped during the 

 fastening. If that be the case, the hunting- 

 cloths are immediately takeu down, wound up, 

 and laid in their places. 



When it is found that the animals are en- 

 closed, messengers are immediately dispatched, 

 to apprise the people of the time of assembling 

 for the hunt, and of the number required, 

 according to the size of the- skall-plat, reckon- 

 ing eight, and, at the utmost, ten, huntiug- 

 paces between each person. 



I'rom the moment it is ascertained that the 

 animals are enclosed, and until the hunt takes 

 place, the utmost silence is to be observed at 

 and about the skall-plat. 



When the people are assembled, and the 

 numbers communicated to the head-ranger, 

 410 



they advance silently to the skall-plat, and are 

 formed in two divisions, either at the top or at 

 the bottom. A huntsman goes before each 

 division, and a huntsman after. They place 

 each peasant in his proper situation, and in- 

 form him what he is to attend to ; namely — to 

 stand on the outside of the hunting-cloths ; to 

 remain silent, and not to go from his post ; but, 

 if the animals show themselves, he is to shake 

 and strike against the cloths with his hunt- 

 iug-staflf or spear. 



The Skalfogdar, or subordinate officers of 

 the hunt, are chosen from trusty people, who 

 are acquainted with the locality ; soldiers are 

 preferable. These, together wnth the super- 

 fluous huntsmen, are distributed among the 

 body which is to advance, and should, for the 

 preservation of better order, be distinguished 

 by some badge. 



Should there be any of the royal family 

 present, the head-ranger himself advances in 

 the centre ; otherwise, a trusty huntsman, who 

 should preserve a steady pace in his advance. 



The driving division ought to advance slowly, 

 because too much haste brings the people sooner 

 into disorder. The movement ought to be 

 efi'ected without shots or cries ; only they are 

 to strike the trees with their huuting-poles, 

 and examine carefully if any animal has hidden 

 himself, or lies dead. 



When the people have advanced to the 

 farthest point, the wild animals which have 

 been shot are conveyed to the king's skreen. 



No other than good marksmen are allowed 

 to carry a gun. 



Such is the importance of the arrange- 

 ments made, even at this day, in Scandinavia, 

 for the slaying of the wolf. 



THE HIGHLAND DEER-HOUND. 



The Higldand deer-hound has the general 

 appearance of a high-bred greyhound, espe- 

 cially in all the points on which speed and 

 power depend ; but he is built more coarsely, 

 and altogether on a larger and grander scale. 

 The shoulder is also more elevated ; the neck 

 thicker ; the head and muzzle coarser ; and the 

 bone more massive. He stands from tvventy- 

 eiglit to thirty inches in height at the shoulder ; 

 his coat is rough, and the liair strong; colour 

 usually sandy yellow, iron grey, or white. All 

 colours should have the muzzle and tips of the 



