38 THE CAPERCAILLIE. 



overhanging wood for a hundred yards, and soon after reach- 

 ing the road, which runs parallel with the river on its right 

 side, I observed a wooden palisade or enclosure on the slop- 

 ing bank above me. On reaching it, I found it so closely 

 boarded up that I had for a time some .difficulty in descrying 

 any inmates, but my eye soon fell upon a magnificent bird, 

 which at first, from its bold and almost fierce expression of 

 countenance, I took rather for some great bird of prey than for 

 a Capercailzie. A few seconds, however, satisfied me that it 

 was what I had never before seen, a fine living example of 

 that noble bird. I now sought the company of Mr. Donald 

 Mackenzie, Lord Fyfe's gamekeeper, the occupant of the 

 neighbouring cottage. He unlocked the door of the fortress, 

 and introduced me to a more familiar acquaintance with its 

 feathered inhabitants. These I found to consist of two fine 

 Capercailzie cocks and one hen ; and the latter, I was de- 

 lighted to perceive, accompanied by a thriving family of 

 young birds, active and beautiful. 



" The first importation of these Capercailzies arrived from 

 Sweden about the end of the year 1827, or early in January 



1828. It consisted of a cock and hen, but the hen unfortu- 

 nately died after reaching Montrose Bay. As the male bird 

 alone arrived at Braemar, the experiment was judiciously 

 tried of putting a common barn-door fowl into his apartment 

 during the spring and summer of 1828. The result was that 

 she laid several eggs, which were placed under other hens, 

 but from these eggs only a single bird was hatched, and when 

 it was first observed, it was found lying dead. It was, how- 

 ever, an evident mule or hybrid, and showed such unequivocal 

 marks of the Capercailzie character as could not be mistaken. 



" The second importation likewise consisted of a cock and 

 hen, and arrived safely in this country in January or February 



1829. The female began to lay in the ensuing April, and 

 laying, in general, an egg every alternate day, she eventually 



