London, Published by Colburn & Bentley New Burlington Str 1830. 300 Fathoms Side Skreens 200 Fathome 200 Fathoms 200 Fathoms 300 Fathoms CHAPTER XVI. Winter Wolf-skalls. WOLF-SKALLS are not unfrequent during the winter, in the vicinity of Stockholm. These, as I have said, are conducted at that period of the year in a very different manner to what is usual in the summer-time. I had hoped to have been a spectator on one of these occasions, but unfortunately no chasse took place during my stay in the capital. The annexed plan represents a skall-plats, or hunting-place for wolves, situated at less than four miles from Stockholm. This was an area marked out in the forest by a pathway of about four in width. It was in the form, as may paces be seen, of a sugar-loaf, and two thousand four hundred fathoms, or four thousand eight hundred yards, in circumference. In the centre of the area, the lure, or carrion, to attract the wolves,* The better to attain this object, people are prohibited, under certain penalties, from exposing carrion of any kind within twenty-one miles of a skall-plats, similar to that of which I speak. was deposited; at its upper end are five skreens, or lodges; these are intended for the accommodation of the sportsmen when a skall takes place ; that in the centre is reserved for the use of such parts of the royal family as may think proper to participate in the amusement. As soon as the snow falls, this skall-plats is watched both night and day by persons appointed for the purpose. When therefore it is discovered by the tracks that a sufficient number of wolves are congregated at the carrion, a singular expedient is adopted to prevent those animals again retreating from the area. This is effected by extending a piece, or rather many pieces of canvass (Jagttyg), on poles previously driven into the ground for the purpose, around the whole skall-plats. On this are painted, in very glaring colours, the heads of men, animals, &c. If the wolves be once surrounded by this artificial, barrier, it is said that the hideous figures, thus dangling in the wind, usually deter those animals from leaving the place. As every thing is in readiness on the spot, this operation ought not to occupy more than two hours when it is completed, information is sent off to the authorities, and the requisite number of people to form the cordon is instantly ordered out. When the men are assembled, a line of circum vallation is at once formed about the area. The nets are now set up around the smaller end of the skall-plats; these may be about seven feet in height, and may extend for one thousand or one thousand five hundred paces in length. The people at this point remain stationary, whilst those who are placed at the broader extremity of the figure advance upon their comrades. The transverse lines marked upon the drawing represent pathways cut through the trees. On rearching these, the driving division halts and rectifies disorders. Thus the wolves, or other wild beasts, are gradually forced towards the skreens, or lodges, where they are of course readily slaughtered. The above plan of killing wolves in the winter season is adopted in many parts of Sweden. Mr. Greiff has treated rather fully upon the several ways in which wolves may be destroyed. I subjoin a few of that gentleman's observations regarding the winter-skalls. "The inducement to form a place of lure must be derived from the reports which come in to the governor from the country, of the damage done by wild beasts during the summer. "When the Öfwer-Jägmästare, or head forestranger, has received intelligence on the preceding point, he examines the woods in those tracts where the wolves have done most damage, and |