The Capercailzie. 143 



it, but it failed, and not till 1837 were any serious endeavours 

 repeated. Under the directions of the late Sir Thomas 

 Buxton and the late Mr. L. Lloyd, a number were imported 

 from Sweden and turned out in the woods at Taymouth. 

 Rearing by hand was, at the same time, tried, but practically, 

 failed. In 1841, however, eggs were hatched under wild 

 grey hens, chiefly in the woods of Drummond Hill, and this 

 mode of rearing, coupled with subsequent successful hatching 

 under fowls and hand - rearing, resulted, in the year 1865, 

 in the Marquis of Breadalbane counting some 1500 head upon 

 his estate. From this centre the breed has increased and 

 become fairly plentiful all along the valley of the Tay as 

 far as Dunkeld, the estates of the Duke of Athole and Lord 

 Breadalbane being peculiarly suited to the habits of these 

 birds. They have now extended, in greater or less number, 

 into the surrounding counties, and eventual abundance in all 

 suitable parts of the country is only a question of time, 

 interest, and money. At the time we write, however, 

 there appears to be some uncertainty as to whether the 

 capercailzie is legally a game bird, although hitherto 

 always regarded as such by sportsmen. It is necessary 

 that this point should be cleared up, and if there be 

 any technical peculiarity excluding it from the pro- 

 tection afforded its congeners, the sooner it is rectified 

 the better. 



The capercailzie is essentially a bird of the woods, 

 although not by any means confining its life to an existence 

 in the trees. The greater portion of its time is spent beneath 

 the boughs, but during cold and snowy weather and at 

 night time the bird perches, and prefers to remain amongst 



