94 THE CAPERCAILLIE. 



direction, and half a mile broad ; and the present keeper has 

 instructions to introduce them again next year — 1879 — by- 

 birds. 



Former occurrence of the species in this county is men- 

 tioned under previous heads {antea, pp. 16, 20, 26). 



ABERDEEN. 



For an account of an unsuccessful attempt at introduction 

 at Mar Lodge, see antea, pp. 37-42. The Capercaillie is not 

 spoken of in MacGillivray's ' List of the Birds of Deeside and 

 Braemarl (1853.) 



For notice of its former occmTCuce on the " Brea of Marr," 

 see under previous heading, p. 18. 



In 1873 eggs were hatched out at Inverernan, Strathdon ; 

 but some of the birds eventually found their destmation in the 

 Museum of the Marischal College of Aberdeen, having been 

 sent to Mr. Eobb, the curator, for preservation. 



Any other statistics I hold from this county are strongly 

 negative. I have elsewhere pointed out what I believe to be 

 the most natural avenue into Aberdeenshire, but it is also 

 possible that another route may be chosen by the birds, viz., by 

 Glen Tilt from Blair Athole ; but at this point there are some 

 10 miles of unsuitable country intervening, and I rather incline 

 to the route by Kincardineshire ($'. i'.) 



