CAPERCAILZIE SHOOTING. 435 



nearly the whole of their sustenance." Since he 

 wrote this, several brace of these birds have been 

 sent over from Sweden ; and, on the forest lands of 

 the Marquis of Breadalbane, the experiment of 

 localising them is now in the course of trial, and 

 we doubt not that the cock of the wood will be- 

 come permanently established in the Scottish High- 

 lands. It may be inferred that the same de- 

 scription of country (the heaths and forests being 

 on a more extended scale,) which suits black-game, 

 would likewise suit the capercailzie, since they oc- 

 casionally breed together, the product being a hy- 

 brid which does not perpetuate its species. 



" In the forest," Mr. Lloyd observes, " the 

 capercali does not always present an easy mark ; 

 for, dipping down from the pines nearly to the 

 ground, as is frequently the case, they are often 

 out of distance before one can properly take aim. 

 No. 1 or 2 shot may answer very well, at short 

 range, to kill the hens ; but for the cocks, the 

 sportsman should be provided with much larger. 



" Towards the commencement of, and during the 

 continuance of winter, the capercali are generally 

 in packs ; these, which are usually composed wholly 

 of cocks, (the hens keeping apart,) do not separate 

 until the approach of spring. These packs, which 

 are sometimes said to contain fifty or a hundred 

 birds, usually hold the sides of the numerous lakes 

 and morasses with which the Northern forests 

 abound ; and to stalk the same in the winter-time 

 with a good rifle is no ignoble amusement." 



