the Capercailzie to the Forest of Braemar. 165 



of an accident, after living in a very healthy state for several 

 weeks. Two of those hatched by the common hen died of some 

 disease, the nature of which is not known, after lingering for a 

 considerable time. It follows that there are only two young 

 birds remaining. These are both females, and when I last 

 heard of them some months ago, were in a thriving condition. 



The whole progeny were fed at first, and for some time, with 

 young ants, — that is, with those whitish grain-shaped bodies, 

 which are the larvae and crysalids in their cocoons of these in- 

 dustrious creatures, though commonly called ant's eggs. At 

 that period they were also occasionally supplied with some ten- 

 der grass cut very short. As soon as they had acquired some 

 strength, they began to eat oats and pot barley, together with 

 grass and the various kinds of moss. They are now fed like 

 the three old birds, chiefly on grain and heather tops, with the 

 young shoots, and other tender portions of the Scotch fir. I am 

 informed that the distinction between the sexes had become very 

 obvious before the death of the young males. The plumage of 

 the latter was much darker, their general dimensions were great- 

 er, their bills larger and more hooked. These characters be- 

 came very apparent during November and December. 



The old males have never yet had access to the young birds, 

 so that it has not been ascertained whether they entertain any 

 natural regard for their offspring, or would manifest any enmity 

 towards them. From the continued wildness of the old birds, 

 especially the males, it was found difficult to weigh them, with- 

 out incurring the risk of injuring their plumage. However, the 

 male which arrived in 1829^ and which then appeared to be a 

 bird of the previous year, was lately weighed, and was found to 

 be eleven pounds nine ounces avoirdupois. Judging from ap- 

 pearances, it is believed that the weight of the old hen would not 

 much exceed one half. There is, indeed a striking disparity in 

 the dimensions of the sexes in this specie^, 



I have not yet heard the result of this season's courtship. The 

 intention is, as soon as some healthy broods have been reared in 

 confinement, to liberate a few in the old pine woods of Braemar, 

 and thus eventually to stock with the finest of feathered game 

 the noblest of Scottish forests. 



WooDviLLE, 6/A June 1832. 



