152 A SPRING AND SUMMER IN LAPLAND. 



I never was in a worse district than this for 

 snipe, and I never conld account for the absence 

 of this bird from a country so well suited to its 

 habits; but there are so many little secrets in 

 nature hidden from us, that the more we study 

 the habits and economy of the animal creation, 

 the more are we puzzled at the various anomalies 

 which we meet with. I saw only three snipe all 

 the time I was up — one double and two full birds. 

 This circumstance strikes me as most singular, 

 for I know the jack-snipe breed further north, at 

 Munioniska, and the double snipe, I am told, is 

 tolerably common up near the Alten. 



The woodcock appears to be unknown here, 

 and I don't believe they come so far north. 



A high-couraged setter is the best dog for 

 these fells, where there is never want of water in 

 the summer; and a heavy retrieving close-hunt- 

 ing spaniel, that will face water, is indispensable 

 for the woods and lowlands. English powder, 

 and, above all, English caps, should be brought 

 up, for the foreign rubbish won't fit an English 

 nipple; and it is a good plan for the sportsman, 

 before leaving England, to have a couple of small 

 nipples fitted into his gun, in case from necessity 

 he should have to turn to foreign caps. Never 

 keep your English caps mixed with the foreigners. 

 If you do, the foreign caps will creep inside the 



