130 FROM SPRING TO FALL. 



all the accounts of the wood - grouse should be 

 received with extra caution, for there were tricks 

 of the trade in those days. 



The following passages may be taken for what they 

 are worth : — 



"Lot 651. Hybrid grouse shot in Scotland. The rarest 

 of the grouse tribe. 



"Lot 651. Wood-grouse from the Highlands of Scot- 

 land. Male and female. Truly rare birds in the finest 

 possible condition." 



In a footnote the author states : — 



"In answer to enquiries as to whether there was any 

 specimen in the Edinburgh Museum of a hybrid grouse or 

 capercailzie from Scotland, that could have been referred 

 to in the above lot, Mr John Gibson assures me there is 

 not. 



" The latest capercailzie in the collection is a Norwegian 

 one purchased in 18 14 by Dr Jamieson for £4, 4s. Mr 

 Gibson considers that had there been a British example in 

 the collection at that time such a piece of extravagance 

 would not have been perpetrated." 



This quotation of a statement supported by two 

 authorities can be left to tell its own tale without 

 any comment of mine. Hybrid grouse are not 

 uncommon now. The reason for this is easily 



