CHAPTER XXVI. 



CONCLUSION. 



I HAVE now brought together all the information I have 

 been able to collect upon these points in the history of 

 the Capercaillie, which presented themselves to my mind 

 as most worthy of attention in this country. I am, I trust, 

 aware of my own imperfections in arranging these materials, 

 and planning the form in which to lay them before my 

 readers. I am aware esj^ecially of the unfinished state of 

 the last two chapters — perhaps the most interesting to the 

 landed proprietor and forester — but as I waited long after 

 the other portions were brought up to the date of my 

 latest items of information for fuller and more minute data 

 regarding the destruction done to forests, but without re- 

 ceiving any additional statistics, and the summer having 

 passed without my having the opportunity of examining a 

 single Capercaillie's crop, I decided upon placing my MS. in 

 the printer's hands, leaving till a future opportunity the more 

 thorough investigation and treatment of tliis part of the subject. 

 I have not entered into the subject of the habits of the 

 species for two reasons. First, that has already been most 

 amply treated of by abler pens than mine; and second, having 

 had comparatively few opportunities of narrowly watching the 

 species, I am unable to add anything of sufficient novelty to 

 this portion of its history, and I feel that were I to extend this 



