CHAPTEE XVIII. 



ARKAN. 



We now come to Arran, the centre of a separate introduction. 

 Its isolated position, the fact of its being formerly frequented 

 by the species prior to its extinction in Scotland, and of the 

 successful re-introduction and self-stocking, gives it a right 

 to be considered apart from the other centres of introduction 

 on the mainland. 



It is doubtful, I tliink, if any localities on the mainland 

 can come to be populated naturally by Arran birds, i.e., from 

 a natural outward pressure of population, so that, though a 

 centre, it cannot be expected to exert an impulse of similar 

 extent to what Taymouth has done. 



The Capercaillie formerly abounded in Arran, as we are 

 informed by the Eev. J. Headrick (' Viciu of Arran,' 1807), 

 but had apparently become extinct at the time he wrote. 

 It was re -introduced in 1843, and for some time the 

 birds were kept in an enclosure near Brodick Castle. It 

 became common, and spread to the limits of the fir planta- 

 tions, while an odd bird occasionally wandered as far as 

 Lamlash, by 1870. It became still more abundant in 1872 

 (K. Gray, ' The Birds of Arran,' Glasgow, 1872), "when thirty 

 to forty birds might be seen in a day's walk, and twenty nests 

 be found in a season." 



Mr. Croll was head keeper at the time of their introduc- 



