142 Practical Game Preserving. 



resembles that of the grey-hen, one of almost pure 

 whiteness a phenomenon which we further see in the 

 mountain hare, the stoat, &c., and which is of use in 

 affording the bird or animal so characterised greater im- 

 munity from the extremes of cold associated with the exposed 

 regions it inhabits. The haunts of the ptarmigan may 

 be described as the highest, most barren, and stony, of all 

 the mountain districts of Scotland, north of the Grampians. 

 They seem to choose the parts most exposed and showing 

 least signs of verdure; indeed, anyone unaccustomed to the 

 habits of this bird would consider it impossible for it to find 

 sustenance on some of the expanses where it is most 

 plentiful. There is no need to notice here all its habits, 

 and to detail the points in which it differs from the grouse, 

 for to all practical intents the mode of life is the same 

 in both. Game preserving can hardly be made to reach 

 these birds, although they are game, and highly esteemed 

 as such by many sportsmen who are great enthusiasts for 

 ptarmigan shooting. 



To the Capercailzie, however, the game preserver may 

 with great benefit extend his sheltering arm, for, in the 

 absence of that protection, it had already once become 

 extinct; but, thanks to several ardent admirers of this noble 

 game bird, it is once more reinstated in our preserves ; still 

 it will want much considerate care before again becoming 

 fairly general as a bird of sport. It may therefore be not 

 uninteresting to recapitulate the history of its re-intro- 

 duction. 



It was in 1827-8 that an attempt was made for the first 

 time after the complete extinction of the bird to re-introduce 



