DAMAGE TO FORESTS. 147 



Deeply aware of the imperfections of this part of the 

 subject, I still hope it may lead to a more perfect treat- 

 ment of it.^ 



^ Since the above was written I have received a report upon the contents 

 of four crops of Capercaillies from Dr. Buchanan White, but as these are, 

 except in one case, unaccompanied by dates, they are not of much service. 

 Three contained fir-needles, and a few buds and small stones. The fourth 

 (7th October 1878) " a very little reddish grumous matter." As already 

 seen, we want reports upon crops of birds killed in summer, and both of old 

 birds and young, and without dates these reports are next to useless. 



