174 A SPEING AND SUMMER IN LAPLAND. 



lie would be led to expect, after perusing tlie 

 above exaggerated description. I recollect tlie 

 last day I was on the fells ; we had a large brown 

 setter with us, which doubtless the reindeer took 

 for a wolf; and one magnificent old white rein- 

 deer bull, with the finest pair of antlers I ever 

 saw, followed us and kept our company for hours, 

 stopping when we stopped, and never leaving us 

 till we came upon the herd of about 600, feeding in 

 a fell valley, when he trotted off and joined them. 

 I thought I never in my life saw a much finer 

 animal for its size; and there was an elasticity 

 and freedom in his steps as he trod the heather 

 which showed that he, instead of us, was the true 

 monarch of this rude fell tract. 



It was strange that there were no wild reindeer 

 in this district, although I believe about Gellivare, 

 and farther north in Lapland, they are to be met 

 with. 



The elk {Cervus alces, Lin.) is not met with 

 so far north. But, thanks to the care with which 

 they are now preserved, this noble animal is yearly 

 more and more spreading in Wermland ; and as, 

 through the kindness of a friend, in whose forest 

 they are now tolerably numerous, I have had more 

 than one opportunity of joining in the chase of 

 the elk, I trust that the following description of 

 an elk skall, in 1861, although not strictly re- 



