30 THE UAPERCAILLIE. 



In Deno van's sale catalogue (1818) several passages occur, 

 wliicli have been kindly ({uoted for me by Professor Newton 

 and Mr. J. H. Giirney jun., but I consider that these should 

 be received with extra caution, or indeed be rejected altogether. 

 As Professor Newton suggests, in those days there were tricks 

 of the trade as well as now. I quote these passages for what 

 they are worth : — 



''Lot G51. Hybrid grouse. The rarest of the grouse tribe; 

 was shot in Scotland ; very fine ; Edinburgh Museum.^ 



" Lot 652. Wood grouse ; Highlands of Scotland. A hand- 

 some glazed case, including both sexes of these truly rare 

 birds, in the finest possible condition." 



To cap the above : — " Lot 832. Wolf, a noble animal, in 

 large glazed case. The last wolf killed in Scotland by Sir E. 

 Cameron." 



1837. In a ' Treatise on the Game Laics of Scotlajidl by 

 Alexr. Grigor, Edin. 1837, p. 9, " Capercayllies " are mentioned 

 amongst pre-existing game birds. He did not, however, 

 a}»pear to be aware of their restoration. 



IRELAND. 



1357-87. CJinddu.s Canibrcnsis in liis ' Topograplda Hihcr- 

 niae* (lib. ii. p. 47), says: — " Pavones silvestres hie abundant." 

 It remains uncertain if he alluded to the " Capercaillie " or not. 

 We find again, however, that Kanulphus Higden, the monk of 

 Chester, whodif.Ml about 1 300 {v. Harting on ' TlicEjtind Brituh 



* In answer to inquiries as to wliether any specimen at present exists in 

 the ^Minburgh Museum of a hybrid grouse or Capercaillie from Scotland that 

 could have been referred to in the above lot, Mr. John Gibson assures me there 

 is not. The olde^jt Capercaillie in the collection is a Norwegian one, pur- 

 chased in 1814 by Dr. .Tamieson for £4 : 48. Mr. Gibson considers that had 

 there l>een a British exnnii)le in the collection at that time, "uch a piece of 

 extravagance would not have been perpetrated. 



