Nordland. 263 



or the country-side ; the cleg alights uoiselessly upon 

 your hand, and immediately attends to business, now 

 and again relieved from duty by the angry wasp. 



Very few elk have been seen in the neighbourhood 

 within the last dozen years, but bears are more numerous, 

 as from three to five are killed each winter. 



Wolves penetrate from Sweden, and do a deal of 

 damage amongst the herds of goats and sheep, but 

 fortunately they are not abundant. 



The capercailzie I have seen within a few yards of 

 the house ; rype, ptarmigan, black-game, woodcock, and 

 snipe may be found during summer within a few hours' 

 walk of the river, and of course during winter low 

 down in the valley, and the hare is an all-year-round 

 inhabitant, but to the best of my knowledge this valley, 

 and the hills which Hank it, afford but indifferent sport 

 for the gun. 



Better and, I believe, really first-class rype shooting 

 can be obtained on the borders of Sweden, where at the 

 first frontier station of Merkenses quarters are obtainable, 

 but it is advisable not to attempt it until a few nights 

 of frost have cut down the mosquitos. 



Most of the shooting-ground about Storjord is Govern- 

 ment property, and in order to pursue and kill game a 

 licence is requisite from Christiania, otherwise a fine of 

 Kr.200 is likely to be incurred. The Government reward 



