92 THE CAPERCAILLIE. 



It is considered by a correspondent who is personally 

 acquainted with the lie of the valleys between Crianlarich, 

 Tyndrum, and Loch Fyne, that the probable route taken by 

 the birds was from Tyndrum, skirting the northern base of 

 Ben Laoigh, where there are some fragments of old (indi- 

 genous ?) Scotch fir, and then, on rounding the western base, 

 a point is reached which looks down on Loch Fyne, and also 

 through the Quurn or Cairn Pass into Glenfalloch. But the 

 distance from the straggling old Scotch firs on Ben Laoigh to 

 Loch Fyne is only between three and four miles, and this latter 

 would be the country which would first present itself to the 

 gaze of the pioneer birds. I am also informed by another 

 correspondent W. Colquhoun, Esq. that his brother thinks 

 that there are no woods which would lead them from the old 

 fir wood near Grianlarich by the Bhalloch into Glenfalloch, 

 and thence by the latter and across into Glenfyne, so I think 

 the route already indicated will prove to be the most likely. 

 By this route also the bird reported at the head of Loch 

 Lomond (v. Dumbarton, 1878) would probably arrive. 



About 1876-77 they made their appearance at Inveraray. 

 Two or three cocks and one hen were the first birds to arrive. 

 The hen killed herself on the deer-park fence in April 1877. 

 No more hens have made their appearance. The most seen 

 in one day were four cocks together, but there are a good few 

 hybrids ; one of these latter was killed lately by flying against 

 the telegraph wires. "Last season I got eggs from Arran, 

 and put them into grey hens' nests, and they hatched, but I 

 am sorry to say I have never seen any of the birds. If all is 

 well I shall try the same next year. The woods here are 

 quite adapted to the bird's habits ; and are four miles long by 

 an average width of half a mile. The Duke is very anxious 

 to get a few more. It is generally supposed that they came 

 here from Taymouth, but whether from Loch Awe side or by 

 Glen Fyne will be difficult to say. Ardkinglass is only five 



