NATURALIZATION IN SCOTLAND. 35 



arrival of the first batch of twenty-nine, he wrote me as 

 follows: — "I have just returned from Taymouth, where I 

 have been reminded of you very frequently by the Capercali. 

 I saw eighteen of them in excellent health and plumage a 

 few days ago; the other ten, six hens and four cocks, were 

 turned out, and there is reason to hope they are doing 

 well — so that, thanks to your energy in collecting them, 

 Larry's care in bringing them over, and Lord Breadal- 

 bane's anxiety for their welfare, our experiment is likely, 

 I trust, to succeed; and Scotland to be restocked with this 

 noble bird. They are greatly admired by every one, and 

 very deep interest is felt about them." . . . . " Nothing 

 can surpass the woods into which they are to be turned 

 out, and the protection they will receive," the writer goes 

 on to say ; " and as Lord Breadalbane's territory is so 

 large, I hope they will not be disposed to leave such 

 excellent quarters." 



Sir Fowell's anticipations as to the success of the 

 experiment, owing to the good management of Lord 

 Ereadalbane, Avere fully realized, as will be seen by the 

 accompanying note from his Lordshiji to myself, dated 

 11th October 1841, that is some five years after the 

 introduction of the birds in Scotland. 



" I have great pleasure in informing you that the Ca- 

 percali have thriven most excellently. The experiment of 

 putting the eggs under the Grey-IIen w'as attended with 

 perfect success, and there are now a goodly number of 

 these birds hereabouts." 



It is vei'y satisfactory to add that the Capercali have 

 subsequently flourished in the Highlands in an extraor- 

 dinary manner. Less than four years ago, indeed, Lord 

 Ereadalbane himself told me he imagined there were then 

 fully one thousand of these birds on the Taymouth pro- 

 perty. His head keeper, moreover, in a letter to a friend 

 estimated them at double that number. 



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