THE CAPERCAILLTE. 227 



game preservers of old. King James the First, whose " Acts" 

 appear to have been but indifferently respected during his reign in 

 Scotland, found himself in no better plight when he tried to 

 govern his poaching subjects in the South, and thus states his 

 own particular grievance to the Lords and Commons of Parlia- 

 ment, at Whitehall, in 1609: 



"Now as to the last point concerning matters of Pleasure, it 

 consists in the presenting of Game, which is now almost utterly 

 destroyed through all the kingdom. And if you offer not now a 

 better Law for this than was made in the last Session of Parliament, 

 I will neuer thanke you for it. But I pray you, how can the Game 

 be maintained, if Gentlemen that have great Lordships shall breed 

 and preserue them there, and so soone as euer they shall but flie 

 ouer the hedge, and light in a poore fellowe's close, they shall be 

 all destroyed 1 ? Surely I know no remedie for preseruing the Game 

 that breedes in my grounds, except I cast a roofe ouer all the 

 ground, or else put veruels to the Partridges feet, with my Armes 

 upon them as my Hawkes haue; otherwise I know not how they 

 shall be knowen to be the King's Partridges, when they light in a 

 Farmour's Close." After some further remarks on the " Stealing 

 of Deer," he then proceeds : " I know you thinke that I speak 

 partially in this case like a Hunter; but there is neuer a one of 

 you that heares me, that cares the least for the sport for preserua- 

 tion of the Game, but he would be as glad to haue a pastie of 

 Venison if you might get it as the best Hunter would?" 



This appeal, temptingly enough put by his Majesty, did not, 

 however, avert the fate of the next species another of the royal 

 favourites that ultimately extinguished itself in some "poore fel- 

 lowe's close." 



THE CAPERCAILLIE. 



TETRAO UROGALLUS. 



Cabar Coille. 



PERTHSHIRE and Forfarshire are at present the stronghold in 

 Britain of this fine game bird. In these counties it breeds ex- 

 tensively, and has become so firmly established that proprietors 

 of the forests in which it is found do not now object to its falling 

 to the sportsman's gun. In some places, indeed, it has been 



