Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1981, Page 134

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The Collection of Wild Birds’ Eggs and Nestlings in Sweden
this way was customary down to recent times. The custom of egg-
collecting has left traces also in the place-names, as in the case of
Holkoren (= Holkskáret, “Nesting-box Skerry”) on Gráso in Upp-
land, a name which has been known since 1686 (Stahre, 1952, pp.
68 f.). From this particular parish, there is evidence of the practice
in 1780, given by a topographical writer who, however, attributes
it to the period before the prohibition in 1762 (Alner, 1949, p. 286).
Naturally, it is possible that the prohibition had a restraining effect
to some extent, but it did not give rise to any great and lasting
change in this ancient method of food-gathering.
We read at an early date of nesting-boxes being in use among
the Lapps in the far north of Sweden. They are mentioned there in
accounts dating from the mid 17th century as being used for both
divers and goosanders (Tornaeus, 1900, p. 60; Lundius, 1905, pp.
16 f.). Linnaeus also observed them on his tour of Lapland in 1732
and made a quick sketch of one on the bank of the Ume River
(Linne, 1913, p. 39). In his valuable dissertation of 1749 on hunting
in Jámtland, Aeschill Nordholm gives a detailed description of the
use of nesting-boxes for goldeneye and merganser and says that
“every peasant who lives near water usually has 20—30 such boxes,
from which he can get 7 or 8 score of eggs in a year” (Nordholm,
1749, pp. 58 f.). He also depicts a nesting-box which is identical
with those used later in this province (E. u. 23406, including a series
of pictures from Hammerdal). The same method of trapping birds
is well known as far south as Sárna and Alvdalen in Dalarna.
From Hálsingland at the beginning of the 18th century, Olov
Broman gives detailed information about the use of nesting-boxes
for goldeneye and goosander (Broman, 1912—34, pp. 305 and 348).
However, egg-collecting boxes were in use also in more southerly
parts of Sweden. Their frequent occurrence in the archipelagoes
of Uppland and Sðdermanland is balanced by their appearance in
the coastal districts of Ostergotland and the adjacent parts of Smá-
land (Rietz (1867) knew the term “skrákk-stom” used in Ostergot-
land; information from the islands off Vástervik in Wallman and
Moberg, 1833, pp. 159 and 183). According to John Granlund, they
were set up on Runno Island in Doderhult parish for goosanders