THE ELK IN NORWAY. 127 



quick ; and this again is remarkable, for in comparison 

 to the size of the body the eye is very small. But 

 lest this should not prove a sufficient compensation 

 for their defective organs of smell, Nature has granted 

 them a most extraordinarily keen sense of hearing. And 

 it is principally for this reason that they are so difficult 

 of approach. 



When resting, they select rising grounds, where eyes, 

 nose, and ears will be most likely to give them timely 

 notice of approaching danger. When the weather is 

 thick and foggy they will keep to the densest part 

 of the forest, but resort to more open spots on clear and 

 frosty days. 



The Norwegian hunters use large-bored rifles in elk, 

 reindeer, and bear hunting: these are usually made 

 up in the country, and are not, therefore, remarkable 

 for external beauty and finish. Still many of them 

 carry well. Within the last two or three years, how- 

 ever, the Kongsberg rifle is getting gradually dispersed 

 over the whole country. It is a breech-loader ; and 

 doubtless many of my readers will have noticed speci- 

 mens at the late Exhibition. The barrel is on the 

 Whitworth principle; and the breech-loading part is 

 after their own invention, and is to my mind a most 

 clumsy and unpractical contrivance. However, they 

 are very cheap, costing only about three pounds. 



The infection of rifle-shooting has reached Norway 



