185 



CAPEKCAILLIE. 



WOOD GEOTTSE. 



Tetrao urogallus, PENNANT. MONTAGU. 



Urogallus major, BRISSON. 



Tetrao From the Hindoostanee. Urogallus. Urus A bull. 



GallusA. Cock. 



THIS chieftain Grouse, the pride of the northern forest, has 

 long since disappeared from the scene where his race for ages 

 dwelt: the gallant Capercailzie of Scotland is no more. The 

 year "45' was a 'memorable' one in the records of the clan, 

 for then he last was seen in Strath Spey, though he held his 

 own in Strath Glass and Glen Moriston till 1769. The warning 

 to Lochiel might have been applied to the bird, the 'Lowlands' 

 proved the destruction of both. Still he claims a place in my 

 'History of British Birds,' and though the native branch of 

 his family is extinct, collateral ones continue to hold sway 

 in other lands, and individuals from them have several times 

 been introduced with a view to their re-naturalization here, 

 and with some success. In 1838 and 1839, Lord Breadalbane 

 received fifty-four adult birds from Norway; and their 

 descendants in large numbers dignify the old woods about 

 Taymouth Castle, Drummond Hill, Kenmore Hill, Croftmorraig 

 Hill, and others, and several move down every year to Strath 

 Tay, Blair Athol, Dunkeld and Crieff, so that the 'king of 

 the game birds may now be said to be restored to his hereditary 

 dominions.' Lord Fyfe also introduced a pair at Mar Lodge, 

 about the beginning of January, 1828, and a second pair in 

 February 1839. The Duchess of Athol had some sent to her 

 at Blair. They are said to have been formerly found in Ireland. 



The Capercaillie inhabits the northern countries of Europe, 

 as far as the pine tree nourishes, which is very nearly to the 



