FAUNA. 283 
and of the H. bostrichus, The cray-fish (Astacus fluviatilis) 
is found in all the lakes and rivers of southern and central 
Finland, 
SEcTION B.—GAME AND Game Laws. 
In most countries in Europe the Chase, or Game and 
the Game Laws, is associated not only in the popular 
conception, but in the national legislation, with Forestry ; 
and to this subject the Commissioners appointed in 1865 
to enquire into all matters pertaining to the forests of the 
country gave their attention, and made it a subject of 
their report. 
The Game Law of Finland, issued under date of 10th 
February 1868, classifies all animals in a wild state, 
according as they may be more or less useful or noxious, 
under three categories, namely :—1. Useful game, the 
reproduction of which is assured by the prohibition of 
killing them during a specified period of each year; 2. 
Noxious beasts, and birds of prey, the destruction of which 
is encouraged ; 3. Other game, the destruction of which is 
permitted, but not specially encouraged. In the first class 
is comprised game, properly socalled, which serves for 
food. The pursuit of this is prohibited for a specified 
time—in general, from the 15th of March to the 9th of 
August. The law prohibits absolutely the hunting of the 
beaver, which seems now to have disappeared from Fin- 
land, and that of the elk, which is becoming more and 
more rare, On the other hand, the destruction of noxious 
animals—bears, wolves, the lynx, the glutton, martens, 
eagles, goss-hawks, ospreys, is expressly recommended ; 
it is permitted at all seasons to hunt them, both 
on the grounds belonging to the hunter and on grounds 
belonging to others, but always under this condition in 
the latter case, that the hunter shall compensate all 
damage done by the hunt to cultivated fields, enclosures, 
and plantations. All the communes grant a money 
