CHAPTER XII.^ 



EXTENSION IN STIRLINGSHIRE. 



Stirlingshire, there can be little doubt, forms a natural link 

 in the chain which wUl in time lead the Capercaillie into the 

 southern counties of Scotland. The avenues of advance into 

 the county are probably two in number; one leading from 

 the separate introduction at Tulliallan in 1856 and 1864 

 (vide Perthshire) ; and the other, and perhaps less isolated, 

 and more generally adopted route, from the south of Perth- 

 shire — from Stirling westwards. The largest '' loavcs of 

 distribution " seem to have pressed through the narrow pass 

 near Stirlmg, rounding tlie spur of the Gargunnock hdls, and 

 flooding the liill slopes and wooded uplands, reacliing as far, 

 at the present time (1877), as Chasefield covers, near Denny, 

 which are forty nules from Taymouth ; or even farther, as, in 

 1877, CapercaiUies bred for the first time at Dougalston, 

 Milngavie, near Glasgow (46 miles from Q ), certamly the 

 farthest south-westerly point at which we can record the 

 arrival of birds bred from the origmal Taymouth stock. 

 Their next steps of advance soutliward, in all probability, will 

 be to the extensive woods of Callendar, near Falkirk, and 

 thence eastward and southward. As mentioned under " Out- 



' From Stirlingsliirc I liave 32 returns, whicli must fairly rfpresent all the 

 estates of importance in the county which are suitable for the safe harbourage 

 of the species. 



