CAPEKCAILLIE. 17 



skin hi in. We had put the old cock in a cage by himself, and two in each apartment. 

 This was a busy day with me, in doing all things for the birds. — Saturday, 6th. This 

 morning I found the birds in the house were fighting; but what was the cause I knew 

 not. I now and then put some of them into other apartments to see if it would be 

 over; they were, however, not so easy to be put off, for one of their legs was broken. 

 "We were forced to put them in the coops by themselves. I was so sorry to see them 

 fight, as I did not know when it would be over. We were all employed after the birds, 

 as they seemed to be coming from the forest to us in good style. The cock that died 

 weighed nine pounds. My leg was very painful to me. — Wednesday, 10th. This morning 

 I did all things for my feathered tribe. The cock that I said was hurt; this day he 

 is dead; his leg was broken in two places. — Saturday, loth. This day I skinned two 

 of the great cocks, aud as I was dressing the skin of one of them, a drop of the stuff 

 flew in the corner of my right eye: it is very painful to me. I keep watching every 

 day for some of the eggs, but no sign of them yet. 



Sunday, 14th. This day I was obliged to keep at home to keep the people from 

 tormenting my little feathered family, as I had them now to attend to in this country. 

 They all look well, with the exception of one hen. She feeds well, but did not go up 

 to the roost. — Monday, 15th. This is a great holiday with them in this part of the 

 world. We got a hen, (Black Game,) also some eggs. I went into the woods with a 

 man, to see if he could show me a kind of grass the birds are fond of; but I am sorry 

 to say it was not grown that he could find it. We again returned home with plenty of 

 moss out of the woods to make some nests for the hens to lay in, in my houses, or to 

 try if they would lay in them; they are all doing well, and I am happy to have it to 

 say of L. Lloyd, Esq. that he is doing all in his power to get all he can for my master, 

 as he says there were four or five dozen on the road, or ten, or perhaps more. Cold at 

 night. It rained this day. — Wednesday, 17th. At this present time we have only one 

 Capercaillie's egg, two Black Game eggs; they call them 'arro' in this part. — Saturday, 20th. 

 A man came to inform Mr. Lloyd that he had got a Capercaillie in a house, also a Blackcock, 

 one egg of the Black Game, and four of the Capercaillie. — Monday, 22nd. This morning 

 I was well pleased to hear the Black Game that were in the house playing the same as 

 when in the wood. It is a fine bird. The Capercaillie cocks have played a long time, 

 which is amusing to any one to hear them. — Sunday, 28th. I waited on my birds. It 

 is hard work on Sundays to keep the people from tormenting my birds, and I do not 

 like to be too hard on them. — Tuesda)'', 30th. I was chiefly fishing; as to my birds I 

 had them all settled in the coops; it put me out to find at night that the housekeeper 

 wanted Mr. Lloyd to alter the birds again ; but I asked his honour for what did he want to 

 do so? is it not an old saying, 'let well alone?' which he agreed with. Any wild creatures 

 the more seldom they are disturbed, the better for the birds or beasts; also for them 



