NORWAY. 4 3 



timber are very great; one-tenth of which is paid to the king of 

 Denmark, and forms no inconsiderable part of his revenue. 



Animals.. ..Tne horses, and in general the other cattle of Norway, 

 are small, but strong, hardy, and active. The wild animals are the 

 elk, tne rein-deer, the hare ; the rabbit, the bear, the wolf, the lynx, 

 the lox, the glutton, the leming, the ermine, the marten, and the 

 beaver. The elk is a tall ash-coloured animal, its shape partaking 

 at once of the horse and the stag ; it is harmless, and in the winter 

 social ; and the flesa of it tastes like venison. The rein-deer is a 

 species of stag ; but we shall have occasion to mention it more par- 

 ticularly hereafter. The hares are small, and are said to live upon 

 mice in the winter time, and to change their colour from brown to 

 white. The Norwegian bears are strong and sagacious. The Nor- 

 wegian wolves, though fierce, are sny even of a cow or goat, unless 

 impelled by hunger : the natives are dexterous in digging traps for 

 them, in which they are taken or killed. The lynx, by some called 

 the goupes, is smaller than a wolf, but as dangerous; they are of 

 the cat kind, and have claws like tigers ; they dig under ground, and 

 often undermine sheep-folds, where they make dreadful havoc. The 

 skin of the lynx is beautiful and valuable, as is that of the black fox. 

 White and red foxes are likewise found in Norway, and partake of 

 the nature of that wily animal in other countries ; they have a parti- 

 cular way of drawing crabs ashore, by dipping their tails into the 

 water, which the crab lays hold of. 



The glutton, otherwise called the ervan, or vielfras, resembles a, 

 turnspit dog, with a long body, thick legs, sharp claws and teeth ; 

 his fur, which is variegated, is so valuable that he is shot with blunt; 

 arrows, to preserve the skin unhurt : he is bold, and extremely 

 ravenous. 



The ermine is a little creature, remarkable for its shyness and 

 cleanliness ; and its fur forms a principal part even of royal magni- 

 ficence. 



The leming, or Norwegian mouse, is a singular creature, of a red- 

 dish colour, and about five inches in length. Vast multitudes of these 

 animals sometimes proceed from the mountains towards the sea, 

 devouring every production of the soil, and spreading desolation like 

 the locust. When they have consumed every eatable, it is said they 

 at last prey on each other. 



No country produces a greater variety of birds than Norway, espe- 

 cially water-fowl. The auks, which breed on the rocks, frequently 

 appear in such numerous flocks that they darken the air, and the 

 noise they make with their wings resembles a storm. Various kinds 

 of wild ducks and pigeons are also found here. The Norwegian 

 cock of the wood is a noble bird : he is of a black or dark gray colour, 

 with an eye resembling a pheasant ; and is said to be the largest of 

 all eatable birds. Eagles of different species breed among the moun- 

 tains and rocks of Norway, some of which are of a prodigious size 

 and strength, and will seize lambs and kids ; and it is said, have been 

 known to carry off a child of two years old. The sea eagles some- 

 times dart on large fishes with such force, that, being unable t6 

 extricate their talons, they are dragged into the water and drowned. 

 The bird-men of Norway display remarkable agility and address in 

 mounting the steepest rocks, and bringing away the young birds and 

 their eggs -. the tatter cT which are nutritive food, and are parboiled io 

 vinegar. 



Vol. I. M 



