_Of their Birds and Fish._
I come now to the Birds, of which here is great store. _Samuel Rheen_
mentions these, Swans, Geese, Ducks, Lapwings, Snipes, all sorts of
water Birds, and wild fowl, as Heathcocks, Stock-doves, Partridges,
Woodcocks; he makes a distinction between water fowle and those that
are bred in Woods, and proves that they abound with each sort, because
the country has so many pools, ponds, and woods. Of these birds, some
are in other countries, some only in these Northern parts. Swans,
Geese and Ducks, are known every where: he means wild ducks, for they
have no tame ones. _Olaus Petri_ takes notice of the same thing. It is
remarkable in these wild foul, that they come from the South into the
North, where they build their nests, hatch and breed up their young
ones, which is not frequent elsewhere. I believe it is because they do
not find such security nor plenty of food in other places. The Snipes
I suppose are scarce found any where else, their back and head are
black, and most part of their wings, white on their breast and belly,
red bills, very long, and set with teeth, short feet and red with skin
between their claws, as all water fowle have. As you may see in the
next page.
[Illustration]
To this we may add that sort of Bird called _Loom_, which _Samuel
Rheen_ omitted, unless he comprehended them under the water-fowle in
general, for there is such a number of them, and so various, that
the particulars would take up too much time: _Olaus Wormius_ has a
draught of this bird, it is no sort of duck, as appears by its bill,
which is not broad but sharp. This bird peculiarly goes not upon land,
but alwaies either flies or swims, it hath feet very short for the
proportion of its body, and standing so much back, that tho they are
very convenient for swimming, yet it cannot so poise its body on land
as to be able to go: hence it is called _Loome_, which signifies lame
or unable to go. Of the wild fowl that which _Samuel Rheen_ calls
_Kiæder_ and we render _Wogallon_, intimating the biggest sort, is
named _Cedron_ near _Trent_, if _Gesner_ may be credited, who describes
the rest very probably: but as to the color of the Hen, which he
affirms does differ nothing from the Cock, he is mistaken; for the
color is quite yellow with black specks. The same may be observed of
the Stock-doves which he calls the lesser _Urogalli_, for the hen
differs from the cock, he being all black, and she yellow, like the hen
of the Heathcock, from which she is distinguist by nothing but bigness.
_Olaus Magnus_ because the Color was not exactly yellow, called it
ashen, for sometimes it is composed of both these, most enclining to
an ash. There are no other sort of wild cocks, then those the _Sweeds_
call _Orrar_ and the Latines _Tetraones_ or _Urogalli minores_: their
combs are the same with the _Urogalli_, placed not on the top of their
heads, but above each eie, which the painter not understanding drew
them from his own tame cocks. Some call these birds Pheasants, but
whoveer compares them, will discern two distinct species. Both sorts
are found in _Lapland_, but the latter not so frequent; nor are the
others equally plentiful every year, for in some there are none. I come
now to the woodcocks, which I think is the right name; the _Swedes_
have a bird which they call _Jærpe_, and the _Germans_ _Haselhun_, but
it is doubted whether these are the same with the woodcock, for they
do not frequent marshes as the woodcocks do, but live altogether in
woods and groves, whence _Rheen_ reckons them among that sort of fowle
which inhabit the woods. However, there is plenty of these birds in
_Lapland_, and they afford good meat for the inhabitants; but no bird
abounds there more then the White Partridge, not only in the woods but
on the highest Mountains, even then when they are covered with Snow.
I call it _Lagopos_ which _Samuel Rheen_ sometimes _Fialriipor_ or
_Snioeripor_, the _Germans_ and especially the _Helvetians_ term is
_Schnæhuner_, _i. e._ Snow-hens, or _Shnævoigil_, _i. e._ Snow-birds,
because they delight in Snow and to dwell on the top of the Alpes.
They have a kind of hair instead of Feathers, and hears feet, whence
they are called _Lagopodes_. _Samuel Rheen_ describes them thus, that
in the Winter they are as white as Snow, having not one black feather,
but that which the Hen has under her wing: when spring comes they
turn grey like hen pheasants, and keep that color till Winter. _Olaus
Magnus_ mentions a sort of snow birds, which naturally changes its
white into ashen, but I can scarce believe he means the _Lagopodes_,
because he speaks of their red feet, such as Storkes have, whereas
the _Lagopodes_ much differ. Another thing _Samuel Rheen_ observes,
that the _Lagopodes_ never sit on trees, as _Olaus_ his Snow-birds are
painted, but are alwaies on the ground very active, scarce ever sitting
still. Their shape is this.
[Illustration]
The next is their Fish, of which they have incredible store;
_Zeiglerus_ saies their draughts are so great, that they are forced to
transport some of them into other Countries. _Jovius_ speaks too of
great plenty they reap from the Seas, because he is describing those
_Laplanders_ which live near _Muscovy_: whereas the rest can have
plenty enough out of the rivers. The best sort they have is Salmon, for
which _Olaus Magnus_ saith there is not better fishing in any part of
_Europe_, then in the Bothnic towards _Lapland_; whose mountains send
down vast rivers of fresh water, against which the Salmons come in such
shoales, and with such vigor, that the Fishermen find them at the head
of the river on the top of the mountains. _Samuel Rheen_ too prefers
these fish before all the rest, and saith that they swim up all rivers
that they are able, and come down again about S^t _Matthews_ tide. And
that is much worse when it returns, then when it went up, which seems
to be, because tis wearied and spent in strugling against the stream,
and engendring; which it alwaies does in those parts of the river which
are most remote from the Sea: when he comes up the river they call him
_Salm_, at his return _lax_.
The 2^d sort of fish are Pikes, _Olaus Magnus_ speaking of this saith,
that in _Lapland_ there are marshes of fresh water, 400 _Italian_ miles
in length, and 100 in bredth, in which there is such abundance of Pike
and other fish, that they do not only supply 4 Kingdomes, but are dried
and transported farther into _Germany_ to be sold: these fish alwaies
use fresh water, and are every where known having long heads, the lower
jaw hanging out, many sharp teeth, which the Germans call _Hecht_. They
are found sometimes to exceed men in length. _Olaus_ affirms, that if
they have fresh water and food enough, they will attain to 8 foot in
length.
The 3^d sort are those which the _Swedes_ call _Syck_, not much
differing from the Carp; only they have longer mouths, and not so
broad, they are commonly not so big as carps, but in _Lapland_ they are
found extraordinary, sometimes weighing 10 or 12 pounds.
The 4^{th} sort is _Abbor_ which is with us a perch: this is very
plentiful too, and frequently of an incredible bigness. There is to
this day in a Chappel at _Luhlah_, kept one of their heads dried,
which is from the top to the under jaw 2 spans thick. There are found
water-weezels red and white, chiefly in the pools near the Sea.
_Samuel Rheen_ speaks of 2 sorts which the _Swedes_ call _Ræding_, and
_Ærlax_; whether they are any where else found I know not. _Rheen_ thus
describes the first sort. _Ræding_, has its name from the red color
on the lower part of its belly. The latter is very like a Salmon but
not so big. Some take them for Salmons not come to their full growth,
but this is an error, for these fishes are taken in pools, which are
on every side parted from the Sea, and are known never to have any
Salmons. I had rather refer them to the trout, or _Trutta_, because it
scarce differs in shape, only the Trouts flesh is redder and softer.
Besides these there are many other fish in _Lapland_, but not regarded,
because they serve not for food, for which reason I pass them over:
only _Olaus Petrus_ gives us this doubtful account of their names,
_Salario, Cobitis, Barbatula, Rubellio, Borbocha ocutala, Prasinus,
Cyprinus, Cobitis aculeata_. This Country breeds not many reptiles, no
serpents: but this is meant of the upper Regions towards the _Norway_
Mountains, for in the low woody places they are found tho not many.
There are but few insects; as for fleas they are quite unknown; but
they receive much injury from gnats, which infest man and beast,
especially the Rain-deers, which upon that account are driven away to
the top of the highest Mountains. The men arm themselves against them
by keeping a continual smoak in the house. If they sleep, they put a
blanket over their body and head: when they go abroad they put on a
garment made of hides, and on their heads cloth caps. I have bin told
by the Natives, that many to defend themselves from this insect, dawb
their faces all over, except their eies, with resine and pitch.
Besides these, there are great wasps which trouble the Rain-deers,
and sting them so deep, that sometimes they leave marks behind them
even when the beast is flayed: those little holes which they make with
their stings the vulgar call _Kaorme_. The only remedy for the Raindeer
against these, is smoak, which if not present they dip themselves in
water: and let this suffice for their Animals.