32 



THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



mation that they shall, in conformity to orders from au- 

 thority, transport them to the hunting or lure-place, and 

 give the necessary orders for their skinning, and also that 

 a huntsman is at hand to direct that the carrion should be 

 laid in the proper place. 



" As soon as the ground is frozen, the hunting-cloth is 

 brought out, which must be smoothed well down and 

 beaten with fir branches, so that all shall be in order for 

 the first falling snow; for the hunts which can be formed 

 by the traces on the first snow, or before Christmas, are 

 the surest. 



" Two huntsmen must be ordered to keep watch at the 

 skall-plats, the day on which the snow has fallen ; and 

 they should go round it three times a day, morning and 

 evening, and once during the night with a lantern of tin, 

 made so that it only tlirows light from the bottom ; the 

 marks of the animals going in and out are to be carefully 

 noted each time, and written down in a journal, and 

 whether they follow each other in numbers, or go singly. 

 " An experienced huntsman will soon discover at what 

 time the animals visit the carrion; the 8th, Uth, and 14th 

 day is usually the period, after they have once eaten of it. 

 It happens that Wolves, early in winter, get into the skall- 

 plats and lie there several days, without their traces being 

 discovered; and on such occasions, it is neccssarj'- 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 (Skallgatan,) 

 the marks should be immediately swept out. Birds of 

 prey, such as ravens and crows, must not be frightened 

 away, because they entice the wild beasts by their cries, 

 and give them confidence. 



" The huntsmen examine each his side of the skall- 

 plats : should it be found, when they meet, that traces of 

 animals having entered are sufficiently numerous to fasten 

 up the hunting-cloths, the men for that purpose are called 

 out immediately, and the fastening is to be executed with 

 all possible expedition, and the whole ought to be finished 

 within two hours. 



<< 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 so employed return each along his allotted distance, 

 and rectifies what he finds amiss: the pieces of cloth ought 

 to hang tliree feet from the ground. The huntsmen then 



reconnoitre the skall-plats, to ascertain whether the ani- 

 mals have escaped during the fastening; if that be the case, 

 the hunting-cloths are immediately taken down, wound up, 

 and laid in their places. 



" When it is found that the animals are enclosed, mes- 

 sengers, who ought to be always in readiness, should be 

 immediately despatched, to apprise the people of tlie time 

 of assembling for the hunt, and of the number required, 

 according to the size of the skall-plats, reckoning eight, 

 and at the utmost ten, hunting joaces between each person. 



" From the moment it is ascertained that tlie animals 

 are enclosed, and until the hunt takes place, the utmost 

 silence should be observed at and about the skall-plats. 



" When the people are assembled, and the numbers 

 communicated to the head ranger, they are to advance 

 silently to the skall-plats: they are to be 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 inform 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 hunting-staff or 

 spear. 



" The sk.nlfogd.nr, or subordinate officers of the hunt, 

 are to be chosen from trusty people, who are acquainted 

 with the locality ; soldiers are preferable : these, together 

 with the superfluous huntsmen, are to be distributed among 

 the body which is to advance, and should, for the preser- 

 vation of better order, be distinguished by some badge. 



" Should there be any of the Royal Family present, the 

 head-ranger himself should advance in the centre ; other- 

 wise, 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 effected without shots or cries; 

 only they are to strike the trees with their hunting-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 to be conveyed 

 to the King's skreen. 



" No other than good marksmen shall be allowed to 

 carry a gun." 



Mr. Greiff has given some farther directions regarding 

 the manner in which the Wolf-skall is to be organized and 

 conducted. 



" During my stay at Stockholm, I visited the skall-plats 

 of which I have just been speaking: — this was along with 

 Mr. Arenius, the head-ranger of the district, who was 



