THE CAPERCAILSIE. 281 



the protection and preservation of the capercailsie 

 in the rise of vast fir plantations, which are 

 their favourite place of resort. Some spirited 

 individuals have been endeavouring for these last 

 few years to get up again a stock of this noble 

 bird, and I trust the example will be followed by 

 other sporting proprietors making an effort to 

 perpetuate this king of the grouse species in all 

 localities congenial to him. This bird is still to 

 be found in Norway and Sweden in considerable 

 numbers, and many are exhibited in the London 

 markets. 



Grouse may be domesticated as well as the 

 partridge and pheasant, and as there is such a 

 furor now for the exhibition of all specimens of 

 the feathered tribe, from a Cochin China cock to 

 a canary bird, I think it would well pay to exhibit 

 some of these cocks of the wood, either in the 

 wild or domesticated state. 



It was prophesied by the opponents of the game 

 laws, some few years back, that when the sale of 

 game was legalised poaching would die a natural 

 death. It was also predicted by the peace-making, 

 fraternising Cobdenite school, that upon the repeal 

 of the corn laws a cheap loaf would be the inevitable 

 result ; yet neither of these consequences has fol- 

 lowed. Poaching is carried on to a great or 



