CHAPTEE IX. 



Permanently inhabited by the species, Fife can, however, 

 hardly claim to be distinctively a Capercaillie country, as the 

 woods are not, as a rule, of very great extent, as in Perth and 

 Forfar. At one or two localities, however, they are increasing 

 steadily in numbers, as, for instance, at Lathirsk, east of Auch- 

 termuchty, where they were introduced a few years ago, and 

 where, in 1877-8, there would be from 20 to 30 birds. 



1863. The first Capercaillie seen in Fife, so far as I can 

 learn, was shot fifteen or sixteen years ago at Eankeillor, to 

 the west of Cupar (37 miles from Q ), after a long continued 

 gale from the north — auct. Pobert Tullis, Esq. It is true, 

 Captain 11. AV. Feildcn informs me that lie has an indistinct 

 recollection of a Capercaillie having been kiUed at Falkland 

 Castle, where there are extensive fir woods, as early as 1847, 

 Ijut I have been unable to obtain more exact statistics. 



18G4. Straggh-rs a])])('ar('d altout Colessie, near Auchter- 

 muclity, and around tliat neiglibourhood, and at several 

 locabtics along tlie Fife-Pertli march, but it was not until 

 much later iliat the birds appeared to take a hold on tlie 

 county. 



1808. A great blank now occurs, and we hear nothing more 

 of tlie Capercaillie in Fife until 18G8, when the birds arrived 

 ' I find I have returns from at least twenty localities in Fife. 



