264 SPIGOTING THE GROUSE 



they could easily have killed 60 brace or more. This, 

 especially considering the date, October 9, is the 

 best day I ever heard of for two guns. 



Of capercailzie, probably no greater quantity 

 has ever been killed than on the day mentioned by 

 Mr. Millais, 70 in one day, on the Dowager Duchess 

 of Athole's ground near Dunkeld ; while the 35 cocks 

 shot at Ballinling by a party of whom Mr. Millais was 

 one, is seldom, if ever, likely to be equalled. 



These birds having many years ago become 

 extinct in this country, were, as is well known, re- 

 introduced by the second Marquess of Breadalbane at 

 Taymouth, and have spread over most of the lowland 

 counties of Scotland. So far as I have seen they keep 

 very much to themselves, and I should say without 

 doubt contrive to drive away black-game from their 

 especial haunts, though they remain on fairly friendly 

 terms with pheasants, woodcocks, and other game. 

 They have never been found yet on the English side 

 of the Border, though black-game have been killed in 

 nearly every county in England and Wales, some- 

 times within a short distance of London itself. Mr. 

 Millais mentions the curious instance of a black- 

 cock and a hansom cab coming within the range of 

 his acute vision at the same time in the neighbourhood 

 of Aldershot. There is only one way to ' transplant 



