CHAPTEE XII.^ 



EXTENSION IN STIRLINGSHIKE. 



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

 in the chain which will 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 " ivaves of 

 distribution " seem to have pressed through the narrow pass 

 near Stirling, rounding the spur of the Gargunnock hills, and 

 floodmg the hill slopes and wooded uplands, reaching as far, 

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

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

 1877, Capercaillies bred for the first time at Dougalston, 

 Milngavie, near Glasgow (46 miles from O ), certainly the 

 farthest south-westerly point at which we can record the 

 arrival of birds bred from the original Taymouth stock. 

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

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

 thence eastward and southward. As mentioned under " Out- 



^ From Stirlingshire I have 32 retiu'iis, whicli must fairly represent all the 

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

 of the species. 



