EESTORATION. 47 



by a fresh relay of birds direct from Sweden (see details 

 under Arran) in 1846. Concerning an alleged independent 

 restoration of the species at Murthly by Sir William Stewaii;, 

 Bart., about 1844, I have good reason for stating that there is 

 no actual foundation for the report, the birds arriving there 

 as early as 1842, and coming of their own accord from the 

 Athole woods. Mr. Malcolm Dunn, who has given me so 

 much assistance under another heading {infra, p. 131), informs 

 me that he is not responsible for the statement to the effect 

 that they were there re-introduced, as stated in the ' Zoolo- 

 gist; 1875, p. 4338. 



Mr. John Colquhoun informs me that he inspected the 

 " colony of nests " at Taymouth. " The nests were close to- 

 gether, like rooks', and were thus more easily protected." In 

 the fine autumn mornings he has often w^atched them feeding 

 or disporting in full view of the w^ndow^s of the house ; and in 

 spring, and again in autumn, this can be seen still in the 

 quiet secluded parts of the forest, or even in more public 

 parts of the estates. 



For further details of the rearing of the birds see Yarrell's 

 ' History of Brit. Birds ' — first edition — and Knox's ' Game 

 Birds and Wild Fowl; p. 221. 



In 1845 David Carnegie, Esq., of Stronvar, brought over 

 two cocks and four hens, and kept them in confinement for 

 some years, hoping to get eggs to place in grey hens' nests. 

 The hens died in tw^o or three years, and the cocks were let 

 loose. The latter were found not long after, both dead. It 

 was believed they had fought and killed each other. They 

 had been enemies when in confinement, only separated by 

 an open wooden partition (D. Carnegie, Esq. in lit.) 



At Taymouth, and all along the Tay valley, as far as Dun- 

 keld, Capercaillies, after becoming fairly established, increased 

 in numbers rapidly for a number of years. The whole district 

 was in everyway admirably adapted to their habits, the Duke of 



