RESTORATION. 41 



tain any natural regard for their offspring or would manifest 

 any enmity towards them. From the continued wildness of 

 the old birds, especially the males, it was found difficult to 

 weigh them without incurring the risk of injuring their 

 plumage. However, the male which arrived in 1829, and 

 which then appeared to be a bird of the previous year, was 

 lately weighed, and was found to be eleven pounds nine ounces 

 avoirdupois. Judging from appearances, it is believed that 

 the weight of the old hen would not much exceed one-half. 

 There is, indeed, a striking disparity in the dimensions of the 

 sexes in this species. 



" The intention is, as soon as some healthy broods have 

 been reared in confinement, to liberate a few in the old pine 

 woods of Braemar, and thus eventually to stock with the 

 finest of feathered game the noblest of Scottish forests." 



Eegarding the above-mentioned attempt to restore the 

 species, it may not be out of place to make a few remarks. 

 Since the above was first penned by Mr. Wilson, we know 

 that the attempt ended in failure and complete annihilation 

 of the birds, old and young. But subsequent attempts 

 have — as will be seen farther on — resulted in their complete 

 Restoration, and the experience thus obtained goes far to 

 prove that the causes of failure in the Mar Lodge attempt 

 were probably as follows : — 



1st. The imported birds were too few in number, and the 

 proportion of males and females not balanced as in nature, 

 where the females of nearly all polygamous species exceed 

 the males in population, and where, accordingly, one male is 

 sufficient to serve a number of females. 



2d. The confinement was probably against the complete 

 health of the young birds, and, indeed, also of the old birds. 

 Experience tells us that not one of the attempts made at 

 Eestoration, in which the birds have been too long confined 

 has succeeded. 



