174 SPORT IN NORWAY. 



and the proprietor are shot ; on which occasions, an 

 experienced Lapp is brought off from the mainland, 

 with whom to miss would be an indelible disgrace. 

 Moreover, no one is allowed to land there without 

 special leave from the proprietor. 



When the time approaches for the eggs to be 

 hatched, people are kept on the watch ; for the down 

 ought to be taken before twenty four hours have elapsed 

 from the time when the young ones leave the shell, and 

 should rain fall on it, it is spoiled. 



On an average, each nest yields about one ounce of 

 cleaned down. As soon as all the down has been 

 taken from the nests, the grass and dirt are carefully 

 picked out with the hand ; but there are always so 

 many broken pieces of birch twigs intermixed with it. 

 that recourse is had to another expedient. The down 

 is either spread out to the influence of the sun, the 

 heat of which is great in those northern latitudes, or 

 else slowly baked in ovens. The twigs thus become 

 quite brittle. The down is next laid on smooth boards, 

 and rolled with a heavy rolling-pin, which treatment 

 effectually breaks up the brittle wood, and reduces it 

 to dust It is next placed on a frame in shape some- 

 thing resembling a French bedstead, across the bottom 

 of which are arranged laterally pieces of packthread, 

 at intervals of about one-quarter of an inch, and is 

 stirred quickly backwards and forwards with two light 



