230 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



Which consideration, and the known commoditie yee have to provide, 

 capercaillies and termigantis, have moved Us very earnestly to 

 request you to employ both your oune paines and the travelles 

 of your friendis, for provision of each kind of the saidis foules, to 

 be now and then sent to Us be way of present, be means of Our 

 deputy thesaurer, and so as the first sent thereof, may meet us 

 on the 19th of April at Durham, and the rest as we shall happen 

 to meet and rancounter them in other places on our way from 

 thence to Berwick. The raritie of these foules will both make 

 their estimation the more pretious and confirm the good opinion 

 conceaved of the good cheare to be had there. For which respectis, 

 not doubting but that yee will so much the more earnestlie en- 

 deavour yourself to give Us good satisfaction anent the premises, 

 as yee will do Us acceptable service, we bid you farewell. At 

 Whitehall, the 14th Marche, 1617." 



From this letter it would appear that the capercaillie had been 

 one of the delicacies of the royal table during the reign of James 

 in Scotland; and it is amusing to observe the somewhat impatient 

 directions given to have birds forwarded to Durham to meet him 

 there on a certain day, and others as he should " happen to ran- 

 counter them " in his route northwards. Modern taste would 

 hardly seem to confirm the good opinion " conceaved " by his 

 Majesty of these birds, but their "raritie" was perhaps more 

 esteemed than the flavour of their flesh. The species, as we have 

 seen, probably continued scarce for another century, and finally 

 disappeared about the year 1758. 



It is not quite so certain that " termigantis " have ever been in 

 danger of extinction. 



THE BLACK GROUSE. 



TETRAO TETRIX. 

 Colleach dubh (mas.) Liath-cheare (fwm.) 



THIS fine game bird is common on all the mountain ranges, hilly 

 districts, and patches of upland heath, extending from the north of 

 Sutherlandshire to the Mull of Galloway. It is likewise found 

 plentifully on many of the Inner Hebrides. On Mull it is much 

 commoner than the red grouse, as I have been informed by Mr 

 Graham; and on Islay, according to Mr Elwes, it is increasing 



