26 HARDY ON PROVINCIAL ACCLIMATIZATION. 



pairs of rabbits turned in. They would soon tunnel the bank in all 

 directions, and as the families increased they might be allowed to 

 escape into the neighbourhood. A fair warren once established 

 would be the means of a quick colonization of the surrounding 

 country. And the true rabbit living so constantly under ground, 

 would enjoy much greater security from animals and birds of prey 

 than his indig-enous cong^eners. 



Still keeping in view the acclimatization of creatures intended to 

 exist in a state of nature and not for domestication, a division of 

 the subject which appears to be most feasible and best adapted to 

 the condition of this Province, let us next turn to the birds. 



We have already existing in our woods as game birds, two species 

 of Tetraonidcz, or the partridge tribe ; the T. umbellus, or the ruifed 

 grouse ; and the T. Canadensis, or spruce partridge — as permanent 

 residents ; and as summer visitors the two N. American Scolopacida, 

 the woodcock and snipe. There is but one representative of the 

 Phasianidce, or pheasant tribe, in North America, the only gift of 

 the new to the old world, whence the domestic race has sprung, and 

 that is the wild turkey. It certainly would appear that our large 

 woodland solitudes offer especial facilities for the introduction of 

 some new members of the grouse family, birds especially formed for 

 existence in cold climates. Formerly common in the Scotch pine 

 forests, now only to be met with in the north of Europe, in Nor- 

 way, Sweden, and Russia, the magnificent capercaillie or cock of the 

 wood, (T. urogallus,) equalling, in the case of the male bii'd, the 

 turkey in size, presents so tempting an experiment that it should be 

 almost introduced regardless of expense. It appears to feed 

 exclusively on pine shoots. Mr. Bernard, author of a recent work 

 called " Sport in Norway," says it is still common in all large forest 

 districts in that country. I believe this bird loves solitude, and 

 surely he would find it, if essential to his existence, in some of the 

 great expanses of coniferous forest which still prevail in most 

 portions of Nova Scotia. Next in size and beauty might be 

 selected the black game (T. Tetrix) of the wilder portions of the 

 British Isles, and numerous in Norway, where it is stated they not 

 unfrequently cross with the capercaillie. This bird is knoAvn to 

 subsist on the buds and seeds of the alder, on the berries of the 

 whortleberry, and on the bog cranberry, all of which are so abun- 



