342 TETRAONIDJE. 



at Blair ; and several were sent to the late Earl of Derby at 

 Knowsley, in whose aviary five young birds were hatched, 

 four of which were reared. 



By a reference to the interesting work on Game Birds 

 and Wild Fowl, by A. E. Knox, F.L.S., I am enabled 

 to add a few particulars of the present state and con- 

 dition of the Capercaillie at Taymouth (July, 1850), fur- 

 nished by the intelligent head keeper, Mr. Guthrie, to 

 whose judicious management their establishment and pre- 

 servation are in a great measure to be attributed. Mr. 

 Guthrie found that the treatment of the chicks, after the 

 eggs had been hatched under domestic hens, was attended 

 with much more difficulty than in the case of the Pheasant. 

 Experience showed him that it was necessary to move the 

 coops to different parts of the forest, according to the 

 state of the weather ; placing them, on a sunny day, under 

 the shadow of trees, or among tall grass or fern ; but 

 during damp or wet weather, removing them to dry, bare, 

 or sandy spots. While transporting them from one place 

 to another, he put the chicks into a small woollen bag, 

 and the hen into a basket covered with a cloth to keep her 

 in the dark. When a fortnight or three weeks had elapsed 

 he did not think it necessary to move the coops. After a 

 time, Mr. Guthrie remarks, I gave the young birds very 

 little food out of hand, except wild berries, and as soon 

 as I got them to feed on the larch branches, I considered 

 them safe. The Scotch fir is rather hard for their bills 

 when young. 



At first some of the old birds were liberated in the 

 forest, and others kept in a large aviary for the purpose of 

 procuring the eggs. The plan of placing these in the 

 nests of Grey hens, subsequently pursued by Mr. Guthrie, 

 proved eminently successful. The birds have steadily 

 increased of late years, and now all the old woods about 



