1849. 



[Edinburgh], January 3rd. In a poulterer's shop here is a 

 fine male capercailzie, which was killed in a wood a few miles 

 south of Edinburgh. 



Mr Dickson (the gunmaker) tells me tha a pure white egret 

 was killed three years ago in Fifeshire. Also that a gerfalcon 

 was killed on the Pentland Hills after a severe storm a few 

 years ago. 



During this very severe weather, our hawks, both the merlin 

 and the Iceland falcon, seem to thrive best when left out during 

 the night with no shelter whatever. 



January Qtk. Mr Watson (Forth Street, Edinburgh) showed 

 me a hybrid between the blackcock and the grouse. This bird 

 had undoubted characteristics of the two species the head most 

 like that of the grouse ; the breast nearly black, with white bars 

 like many grouse ; the back with five brown and black stripes, 

 scarcely darker than many grouse which I have killed ; the tail 

 larger than that of the grouse, and very slightly forked ; the 



